Nurse Anesthesia (NA)
Semester Course Descriptions
NA 600 Research Methods and Statistics. This course will introduce the student to clinical
research methods and review concepts involved in descriptive and inferential Statistics. Topics
covered include, overview of the research process, literature review, research hypothesis, research
designs, sample selection, measurements methods, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics.
3 hours.
NA 601. Gross Anatomy. Structure and function of human body examined through laboratory
dissection, lecture, models, and preceptorials. Laboratory sessions complement lecture
presentations through regional dissection of thorax, abdomen, pelvis, perineum, back, and
extremities with special emphasis on head and neck. Emphasis on radiological anatomy and clinical
correlations.
4 hours.
NA 610. Medical Physiology . This course will introduce the student to the fundamental and
advanced concepts of medical physiology. Topics will include all major physiology systems with
emphasis placed on those that are more pertinent to the practice of anesthesia.
5 hours
NA 620. Anesthesia Pharmacology I This course is designed to provide the nurse anesthesia
student with knowledge of various non-anesthetic pharmacological agents and their anesthetic
implications. This is accomplished through lectures, presentations, and reading assignments.
3 hours
NA 621. Anesthesia Pharmacology II This course is designed to provide the nurse anesthesia
student with a basic pharmacologic foundation of medications used during an anesthetic. Included
are the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, doses, side effects, uses and effects on various
patient populations. This is accomplished through lectures, presentations, and reading assignments.
3 hours
NA 630. Biochemistry for Anesthetists.
Chemistry and metabolism of biologically important
compounds and common pathways of metabolism. Regulation and chemical structure of
electrolytes, pH balance, and biochemical nutrition.
3 hours
NA 640. Principles I. Principles and theories of anesthesia practice. Topics will include
mechanisms of anesthesia equipment, methods of patient monitoring and fundamental concepts of
related to the practice of anesthesia .
2 hours
NA 641. Principles II. The study of basic principles and monitoring techniques as they relate to
the delivery of anesthesia. Topics includes a review of airway and various patient monitoring
techniques the nurse anesthesia student will need in order to provide anesthesia.
3 hours
NA 645. Professional Aspects. Psychosocial, ethical, and legal aspects, department organization
and management and history of anesthesia.
2 hours
NA 646. Legal Issues & Practice Management. Malpractice and quality assurance concerns in
the practice of anesthesia. Emphasis on how to avoid malpractice suits through appropriate
departmental quality assurance programs.
1 hour
NA 650. Regional Anesthesia. Commonly used regional techniques including spinals, epidurals,
supper extremity blocks to include brachial plexus and bier blocks, ankle blocks and retrobulbar
blocks in relation to technique, positioning and pharmacology of local anesthetics
2 hours
NA 660. Obstetrical Anesthesia. Basic concepts concerning physiological changes that
accompany pregnancy and their implication on anesthesia management of pregnant patients
1 hour
NA 661. Anesthesia for Extremes of Age. Principles of anesthetic management in the pediatric
and geriatric patient.
2 hours
NA 670. Anesthesia Pathophysiology I - Detailed review of disease and major systems with
emphasis on pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Specialized or advanced anesthetic
management techniques for physiological and pathological states encountered in surgical patient
4 hours
NA 671. Anesthesia Pathophysiology II - Continuation of NA 670 Major system emphasis on
renal endocrine, neurological, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal systems.
3 hours
NA 672, 673, 674, 675 and 676 Clinical Practicum I ,II, III, IV & V - Operating room
experience providing for application of theoretical principles of anesthesia management. Clinical
course sequence provides anesthesia care for more complex surgical procedures
672 & 675 (8 hours each) 673,674,676 (10 hours each)
NA 678. Advanced Electrocardiography. Supplements content from pathophysiology and
advanced practice courses relative to cardiovascular electrophysiology and its implication in
perioperative period.
2 hours
NA 680. Anesthesia and Surgical Specialties Review of major surgical specialties with
emphasis on orthopedic, neurological, ENT, head and neck, gynecological, thoracic, open
heart/vascular, urological, transplant and plastic procedures Advanced anesthetic management
technique for specialized surgical procedures.
3 hours
NA 698 Graduate Project. Plan, organize, synthesize and execute a state of the art paper on
some relevant topic in anesthesia that meets the qualifications for submission to a peer reviewed
journal.
2 hours
NA 695 - 697 Special Topics. Review of specialty concepts as presented in NA 670,671, and 680
3 hours each
rev. 6/7/04