Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia Course Descriptions

AFN-510. Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia. Course covers the legal, ethical and political implications of anesthetic practice. Discussions will also include quality assurance, risk management and how to be an effective professional. 2 s.h. Fall.

AFN-511. Chemistry and Physics of Anesthesia. The principles of physics concerning solids, liquids, gases and vapors are covered. The physics and chemistry of inhalation appliances, as well as CO₂ absorption, and flammability of gases and vapors are presented. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the operating principles of anesthesia machines and patient monitors. 4 s.h. Spring.

AFN-525. Basic Principles of Anesthesia Practice. Presents the fundamentals of anesthetic management to include topics such as preoperative preparation, induction, airway strategies, positioning, monitoring and fluid/blood therapy. Also covers regional anesthetic techniques such as spinal, epidural and plexus blockade. 3 s.h. Spring.

AFN-526. Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice. Provides in depth coverage of anesthesia for different patient populations, coexisting diseases and specialty procedures. Patient populations include obstetrics, pediatrics and geriatrics. The unit on coexisting diseases presents anesthetic implications of various forms of cardiopulmonary, endocrine, renal, hepatic and other pathophysiology. The course concludes with anesthetic management of patients undergoing specific types of neuro, thoracic, vascular and cardiac operations. 6 s.h. Summer.

AFN-527. Human Anatomy for Nurse Anesthetists. This course is a detailed study of the structure of the human body with cadaver dissection. The respiratory, circulatory and peripheral nervous systems will be stressed in a regional approach. Anatomic features of neural blockade will be discussed in depth. 5 s.h. Fall.

AFN-532. Introduction to Clinical Anesthesia. Course exposes the first year nurse anesthesia student to the clinical practice of anesthesia. Experiences include small group laboratory. lecture, simulation and clinical observation. 4 s.h. Summer.

AFN-541. Anesthesia Practicum. A continuation of AFN-532. Emphasis is placed on developing and increasing skills and responsibilities in the administration of anesthetic drugs, predicting drug interactions, and clinical application of anesthetic techniques. 9 s.h. Fall.

AFN-581. Anesthesia Seminar. Includes student participation in discussion of clinical experiences, case presentations, and mortality-morbidity conferences; also presentations of current articles from anesthesia literature at the Journal Club. 1 s.h. Spring.

AFN-582. Anesthesia Seminar. A continuation of AFN-581. 1 s.h. Summer.

AFN-583. Anesthesia Seminar. A continuation of AFN-582. 1 s.h. Fall.

AFN-584. Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology for Nurse Anesthesia. Advanced physiology and pathophysiology for nurse anesthesia students.  Course will cover systems integral to the parctice of nurse anesthesia. 5 s.h. Fall.

AFN-628. Advanced Pharmacology: Anesthetic Drugs. Builds on the basic principles of pharmacology and discusses drugs necessary for the administration of anesthesia and their implications. 4 s.h. Spring. 

AFN-630. Research Methods for Nurse Anesthesia. This course will introduce the Health Professions student to the research process as informed consumers and potential future participants in research. Topics covered include the characteristics of a research study, methods of control in experimental research, internal and external validity, experimental research designs, evaluation of research, statistics and test construction. Also addressed are scientific writing, strategies for conducting literature searches, research ethics and elements of a research proposal. 3 s.h. Fall.

AFN-631. Intro to Clinical Pharmacology.  Introduction to the clinical concepts of pharmacology for the healthcare professional. Topics to be covered will include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system, pharmacology of the respiratory system, cardiac pharmacology, endocrine pharmacology and other topics. 3 s.h. Fall.

AFN-641. Anesthesia Practicum. A continuation of AFN-541 with special emphasis on predicting, preventing, identifying, and solving anesthetic problems as well as increasing skills and responsibility. The student selects and operates all equipment necessary for various anesthetic cases. 11 s.h. Spring II.

AFN-642. Anesthesia Practicum. A continuation of AFN-641 with special emphasis on developing the set-up and management of complex anesthetic cases and problems and developing greater responsibility in anesthetic management and independent learning. 11 s.h. Summer II.

AFN-643. Anesthesia Practicum. A continuation of AFN-642. The student develops total anesthetic management with minimal supervision from the anesthesiologist or the certified registered nurse anesthetist consulting with the anesthesiologist. The student is involved in evaluating self and generating discussion of same. 11 s.h. Fall III.

AFN-650. Advanced Health and Physical Assessment for Anesthesia. Advanced physical assessment for the nurse anesthetist.  This course covers all skills necessary for performing a physical assessment prior to surgery. 2 s.h. Fall.

AFN-652. Research Methods II. This is a follow-up to RS-650. Applying the principles taught in that class, students will be writing and presenting a clinically relevant research proposal under the direction of the course directors. 3 s.h. Fall.

AFN-681. Research Seminar. A continuation of AFN-581 series. Includes student participation in discussion of clinical experience, case presentations, mortality/morbidity conferences, and presentations of current articles from anesthesia literature at the Journal Club and the conferences at Medical University Hospital, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Charleston Naval Hospital and Trident Regional Medical Center. 1 s.h. Spring II.

AFN-682. Research Seminar. A continuation of AFN-681. 1 s.h. Summer II.

AFN-683. Research Seminar. A continuation of AFN-682. 1 s.h. Fall III.