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Project Name: Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships (A22)
Applicant Title: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
Abstract Text: The purpose of this project is to increase the number of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) providing care, especially to rural and underserved populations, with the goal of helping eradicate health disparities and create equitable opportunities for people to live healthy lives. The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) will train a diverse, culturally competent, and sensitive workforce of CRNAs to work towards the Healthy People 2030 goal of improving access to quality health care to medically underserved communities (MUC). Graduates of the NAP are eligible to apply and test for the nurse anesthesia certification examination and become CRNAs. Through the preparation, composition, and distribution of the graduates of the CRNA program, access to quality healthcare will be improved, especially in the rural and urban areas. Additionally, by placing students in facilities located in the rural and urban areas for clinical training, the program will contribute to the diversity of nurse anesthesia graduates and provide linkage with hospitals in Maryland and other states with individuals affected by health disparities. The Nurse Anesthesia Traineeship Grant is imperitive in helping to financially support students in the NAP at the UMBSON in their efforts to be provided with an evidenced-based didactic education, as well as in the clinical arena. These evidence based principles are supported by the didactic and clinical instruction to support students to practice independently and collaboratively within interprofessional teams and to deliver evidence-based, high quality, and safe anesthesia and pain management services. This project also contributes to the diversity of CRNAs and provides linkages with hospitals in Maryland and other states serving individuals with health disparities, and affected by the social determinants of health. Additionally, upon graduation the CRNA will be more likely to work in MUCs. This makes the support of this nurse anesthesia grant crucial in helping provide access to care for patients who need anesthesia services for diagnostic and surgical procedures. UMBSON NAP is a full-time program and it does require the full-time attention of the student, making it very difficult for the student to be employed. This is due to the high demand of classroom time, as well as clinical requirements. This grant will be beneficial in assisting students with their financial burden of the costs of tuition, books and fees. In addition to receiving tuition and associated fees, students would receive funds for required books/e-books and reasonable living expenses.