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Project Name: Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships (A22)
Applicant Title: SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
Abstract Text: Overview of Project: Samford University Nurse Anesthesia program is an entry level Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. The program goal is to prepare nurse anesthetists with excellent clinical judgement and skills, cultural and spiritual sensitivity, and a focus on care needs of rural and underserved health populations. The curriculum is a comprehensive program of study that addresses the full anesthesia scope of practice, based on professional standards and current state-of-the-art practice models. Multi-modal analgesia as well as service and cultural competence are emphasized throughout the curriculum, service-learning component, and clinical experiences. Primary objectives of the Samford University Nurse Anesthesia Traineeship project are to: 1) Prepare students to practice at the highest level for all patient groups, but especially rural and medically underserved patients across the lifespan in Alabama and the Southeast; 2) Increase students’ awareness of their impact on the opioid crisis and on their own wellness; 3) Increase students’ involvement in community service, culturally-appropriate health promotion and addressing health disparities; and 4) Maintain greater than 60% of graduates serving in rural, healthcare provider shortage (HPSA), and underserved (MUA) areas of Alabama and the southeast. Project Processes: Traineeship funds provide Samford nurse anesthesia students with necessary resources to complete their education, grow in empathy, and pursue career goals. With the rigor of the curriculum and inability for students’ employment during the program, this funding is critical to their success. Full-time students who receive funding must be in good standing with the program and university. The curriculum integrates student wellness, opioid-sparing techniques, and multimodal analgesia through significant contact hours. To encourage graduate employment in rural, MUA, and/or HPSA sites, approximately 80% of clinical education occurs in such sites. Recruitment efforts focus on applicants from these areas who mirror the patient population. In the most recent graduated cohort, 80% are employed by rural, MUA, or HPSA designated facilities. Considering all trainee-supported students, 67% are from culturally diverse, rural, and/or disadvantaged backgrounds. Through the service-learning component, students expand their empathy, learn about diverse people groups, and enhance the care provided. Traineeship support allows students this rich experiential growth. The Samford University Nurse Anesthesia program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). All graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Based on the School of Nursing’s Systematic Evaluation Plan and HRSA requirements, an inclusive evaluation plan will measure the effectiveness of the project.