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Project Name: Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships (A22)
Applicant Title: THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
Abstract Text: Project Title: Nurse Anesthetist Traineeship Applicant Organization Name: The University of Iowa Address: 2 GILH, Iowa City, IA 52242 Project Director Name: Cormac O'Sullivan, PhD, CRNA, ARNP Contact Phone Numbers: Voice: xxx-xxx-xxxx FAX: xxx-xxx-xxxx E-Mail Address: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Web Site Address: nursing.uiowa.edu/anesthesia Grant Program Funds Requested in Application: $1,492,107 The purpose of this grant is to assist any qualified registered nurse, with a baccalaureate degree, to meet the costs of obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree with a specialization in nurse anesthesia (DNP-CRNA). Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are the sole provider of anesthesia and pain management in all 82 of Iowa's critical access hospitals and 75% of all Iowa hospitals. Many Iowa CRNAs are older and plan to retire in the next 5 years. Without a CRNA, rural hospitals will close, reducing access to healthcare services, forcing rural Iowans to travel for basic health care and pain management. This program enrolls 14 students annually to meet Iowa's need for anesthesia and pain management practitioners. The University of Iowa has the only CRNA program in the state and it focuses on preparing CRNAs for underserved rural communities in Iowa and other states. The total amount of funds being requested to help continue providing CRNAs to Iowa and other rural hospitals throughout America is $1,492,107. This traineeship grant helps eliminate barriers to health care access by exposing CRNA students to surgical, obstetrical, and pain management services in underserved rural communities. Over the past three years, the program has increased the number of enrolled underrepresented students from 9% to 36% of the cohort. We hope these graduates will serve underrepresented patients more effectively. The program also added a clinical rotation at an inner-city county hospital to increase exposure of students to diverse patient populations. All students in the program complete 4 months of mentored clinical practice in 3 separate rural critical access hospitals. Case experience gained and types of care provided will be monitored for each student. This experience will increase student interest in entering rural practice in underserved critical access facilities upon graduation. Measurable objectives of this project include: 1) graduates accepting jobs in critical access facilities, 2) job placement rates in underserved areas, 3) board exam pass rates of all graduating cohorts, and 4) maintaining a cohort makeup of at least 25% underrepresented students. Funding received through this project will be applied directly to students' tuition bills to lessen the economic burden of completing their degree. All students in the program are required to complete a minimum of four months of rotations at multiple different rural facilities throughout Iowa. While on rotation, the SRNAs live in the rural community and are on call to the facility for the entire month. Student progress at all clinical sites is monitored by program staff through weekly evaluations and annual site visits by program faculty. Graduate placement rates will be monitored annually in July after students complete the national boards exam. Board exam pass rates will also be monitored annually in July-August. Curricular adjustments will be made based on student and employer outcomes evaluations conducted annually and on boards pass rates. Program adjustments will be made to improve student outcomes and board pass rates for all students and additional changes will be made if needed for individual students. This traineeship is the only source of grant support for these students. The total amount of funds being requested to help 116 doctoral students achieve their educational goals of becoming the next generation of remarkable CRNAs to work in rural and critical access hospitals is $1,492,107 over the four-year program period.