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Project Name: Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships (A22)
Applicant Title: Florida Gulf Coast University
Abstract Text: Project Title: FGCU Nurse Anesthetist Traineeship Program Applicant Organization Name: Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees Academic Affairs, Office of Research Address: 10501 FGCU Boulevard South Fort Myers, FL 33965 Project Director Name: Virginia Londahl Ramsey, DNAP, CRNA, APRN, CHSE Contact Phone Numbers: Voice: xxx-xxx-xxxx; Fax: xxx-xxx-xxxx E-Mail Address: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx Web Site Address: https://www.fgcu.edu/mariebcollege/nursing/nurseanesthesia-msn.aspx Grant Program Funds Requested: $385,370.00 (Funding Opportunity No.: HRSA-23-002) Statutory Funding Preference: 80% of 2023 graduates serve rural/underserved populations Special Consideration: 80% of 2023 graduates are employed in HPSAs The purpose of the Florida Gulf Coast University Nurse Anesthetist Traineeship (FGCU NAT) Program is to improve the national workforce distribution of nurse anesthesia practitioners in underserved and rural areas, increase the number of diverse and culturally competent nurse anesthesia practitioners in the workforce, and transform health care delivery by increasing the number of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who are well-qualified to practice independently within collaborative, interprofessional teams to deliver the full continuum of anesthesia and pain management services in a manner that is responsive to HRSA’s priority of combatting the opioid crisis / improving mental health. The objectives of the FGCU NAT Program are to: 1) prepare registered nurses (RNs) to become CRNAs who are well qualified to practice independently within collaborative, interprofessional teams to deliver evidence-based, high-quality, and safe anesthesia and pain management services in a manner that is responsive to combatting the opioid crisis; 2) increase diversity within the nurse anesthesia profession by attracting, retaining, and graduating students from underrepresented minority (UM) and disadvantaged backgrounds at a rate that exceeds the national average of minority representation in the nurse anesthesia workforce; 3) prepare RNs to become CRNAs who deliver anesthesia and pain management services to rural populations and medically underserved communities (MUCs) in a manner that is respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients; and, 4) demonstrate that at least 60% of FGCU Nurse Anesthesiology (FGCU NA) Program graduates will be employed in clinical practice settings that are in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and/or serve rural populations and MUCs. The FGCU NA Program prepares graduates to deliver the full continuum of holistic anesthesia and pain management services to populations across the life span. Students suspend their careers as critical-care nurses to pursue full-time nurse anesthesia education. Since its inception in 2007, 128 graduates have passed the NCE and are employed as CRNAs. Of the May 2021 FGCU NA graduates, 80% are employed in HPSAs. The percentage of FGCU NA students from UMs and disadvantaged backgrounds rose from 0% in 2007 to approximately 33.3% in 2023, which exceeds the national average of approximately 12% minority representation in the nurse anesthesia workforce as reported in the 2021-2022 [American Association of Nurse Anesthetists] Annual Report. The proposed FGCU NAT Program will prepare CRNAs who are well qualified to meet the needs of rural populations and MUCs and deliver holistic anesthesia and pain management services within collaborative, interprofessional teams in a manner that is responsive to combatting the opioid crisis in regions where they may eventually serve.