The UAB Master of Nurse Anesthesia Program not only provides students with coursework designed to learn the skills they need, the program also focuses on the theoretical and clinical aspects of anesthesia. Students spend much of their time in clinical settings receiving valuable experience.
Clinical experiences give students hands-on practice in the field of anesthesia. After their clinical experiences, nurse anesthesia graduates can:
- evaluate and assess patients pre, post, and intra- operatively;
- plan the anesthetic management and immediate pre and post-anesthesia management;
- develop and implement an appropriate anesthesia plan designated for patients of all ages with a variety of pathological conditions;
- recognize emergency patient conditions and perform skills required during emergency life support situations; and
- recognize, evaluate, and prevent anesthesia complications.
Clinical Assignments
Nurse Anesthesia students participate in several clinical assignments:
- First year students will receive their first assignments in May during their first year. The first schedule is designated as the summer semester schedule (first year student schedule) and extends from July through August.
- The second clinical schedule (fall semester schedule) extends from September through October.
- The second year clinical rotation schedule covers a 12-month period that begins in November and ends in October.
- One last schedule is made in September or October of the last semester in the program. This lists where graduate students will finish their clinical education during the month of November. Some students request this assignment be the site where they have accepted employment. A priority is placed on these requests and all attempts are made to fulfill them.
Graduate students who have begun their clinical rotations are designated on most program forms as SRNAs (student registered nurse anesthetists). SRNAs at clinical sites are under the direction of the Clinical Coordinator. The Clinical Coordinator is a CRNA clinical faculty who serves as the principal contact person for the program and is in charge of the SRNAs clinical training at a particular clinical site.
Clinical Coordinators, CRNAs and Anesthesiologists also serve the students by:
- being available to render clinical assistance in the operating room suite or other areas where anesthesia services are required;
- apprising the student of clinical responsibilities;
- serving as a role model; and
- providing constructive criticism and evaluation of the students.
Rotations
Clinical rotations are adjusted in a manner that will address individual student needs. Students cannot be assigned to all affiliates, but the program will attempt to provide each student with equal types of clinical experience.