University Catalog 2022-2023

Program Description

The La Salle Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is in response to the call for health care improvement and innovation. The Post-BSN curriculum plan is designed in accord with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Position Statement on Doctoral Education, The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice, and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs. 

The post-BSN for nurse anesthesia is 51 months in length. The first two years are delivered fully online, and include yearly on-campus Immersion experiences.  After the first 24 months, Post-BSN students complete a 29 month clinical residency on-site at the Frank J. Tornetta campus, and a final DNP Project. Upon completion of all degree requirements the student will be awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from La Salle University and after recommendation from the Anesthesia Director, will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination to gain NBCRNA certification.

Mission

The mission of the La Salle university Nursing Programs is to provide scientifically based nursing curricula to educate clinically competent, caring, nursing professionals with a commitment to excellence in practice, service, life-long learning, and scholarship.

The Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia mission can be found here:

http://fjtsa.com/mission/

Program Goals

• Educate professional nurses for interprofessional practice in advanced nursing roles across
  community and health care settings.
•  Meet the health needs of diverse individuals, families, groups, communities and populations.
• Support faculty and student scholarly activity that informs quality and safety in healthcare
  systems

The Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia program terminal objectives can be found here:

http://fjtsa.com/program-terminal-objectives/

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the DNP program, the student will be able to:

• Apply theoretical and research-based knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to plan and implement safe, quality health care for vulnerable individuals and groups in an APRN or advanced nursing practice (APN) role
• Facilitate inter-professional collaboration to provide patient-centered, quality, ethical and safe healthcare
• Analyze the impact of evidence based healthcare interventions on patient outcomes
• Evaluate health promotion and disease prevention efforts and outcomes to achieve quality healthcare
• Analyze the influence of public policy decisions on the health promotion, disease
  prevention, and health restoration services provided to diverse populations
• Enhance practicum judgment and decision-making abilities to address health promotion/disease prevention efforts for individuals, aggregates, or populations
• Utilize advanced communication and leadership skills to lead quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
• Promote culturally congruent and comprehensive healthcare services to all
• Analyze healthcare information systems/technologies to improve healthcare outcomes
• Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for ongoing professional development

Program Specific Information

Students enroll in the post-BSN program on a full-time (six credits/semester) basis after acceptance by the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia.  Admission criteria can be found at http://fjtsa.com/admission-requirements/

The Post-BSN nurse anesthesia curriculum plan is accredited by Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Full details regarding the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia can be found at: www.fjtsa.com

The DNP Student Handbook and DNP Project Manual can be found at https://www.lasalle.edu/doctor-of-nursing-practice/

Academic Requirements

The post-BSN program is 51 months in length- fall, spring, and summer.  Students complete the first two years of Core and Advanced Core course work completely online with an opportunity to continue paid employment. 

Core (3 credits per course)

• NUR 702 - Theoretical Foundations of Doctoral Nursing Practice
• NUR 703 - Professional Ethics
• NUR 609 - Health-Care Economics

Advanced Core (3 credits per course)

• NUR 695 - Public Policy Initiatives: Local to Global
• NUR 637 - Epidemiology
• NUR 704 - Statistics and Biostatistics

Additional online course work during the 29-month clinical residency include:

Residency (3 credits per course)

• NUR 705 - Patient Safety and Health-Care Outcomes
• NUR 750 - Translating Evidence into Practice
• NUR 751 - Clinical Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration
• NUR 880 - DNP Project 1 (4 credits)
• NUR 882 - DNP Project 2 

Fourteen anesthesia courses NUR 711 through NUR 738 are completed on site at the Tornetta School beginning the summer of  year II.

DNP Project Requirement

The DNP  Project (DNP-P) is a scholarly experience using principles of evidence-based practice and research translation that is designed to provide students with a guided opportunity to address a meaningful practice concern relevant to nursing and meaningful to healthcare systems, processes, and/or outcomes.

Working closely with faculty members, students identify an issue or question within nursing practice that is of clinical interest and conduct a scholarly review and synthesis of the related literature. Students develop a project around this issue or question, implement and evaluate this project and disseminate findings and recommendations.

The DNP-P end-product will be a tangible practice-related deliverable. This scholarly project will be reviewed and evaluated by an academic committee. The P should be a synthesis of the student’s work and lay the groundwork for future scholarly endeavors, including publication.

Course Sequence

NUR 702: Advanced Therapeutics Seminar

NUR 703: Professional Ethics

NUR 704: Statistics and Biostatistics

NUR 706: Healthcare Economics

NUR 637: Epidemiology

NUR 695: Public Policy and Global Initiatives

NUR 709: Research for Evidence Based Practice

NUR 618: Pathophysiology

NUR 617: Advanced Pharmacology

NUR 616 Advanced Health Assessment

NUR 711: Principles of Anesthesia Practice

NUR 712: Physics, Chemistry and Equipment in Anesthesia

NUR 705: Patient Safety and Health Care Outcomes

NUR 713: Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents

NUR 714: Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology for Anesthetists

NUR 715: Clinical Practicum I

NUR 716: Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice

NUR 717: Regional Anesthetic Management

ANES 718: Obstetric and Pediatric Anesthesia

NUR 719: Clinical Practicum II

NUR 751:  Clinical Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration

NUR 730: Advanced Anesthetic Management for Special Procedures I

NUR 731: Clinical Practicum III

NUR 750: Translating Research into Practice

NUR 732: Advanced Anesthetic Management for Special Procedures II

NUR 733: Clinical Practicum IV

NUR 880: DNP Project  1

ANES 734: Professional Aspects of Anesthesia Practice

NUR 735: Clinical Practicum V full time 500 hours min

NUR 882: DNP Project 2

NUR 736: Crisis Management in Anesthesia

NUR 737: Clinical Practicum VI

NUR 738: Transition to Advanced Nurse Anesthesia Practice

Degree or Certificate Earned

DNP

Number of Courses Required for Program Completion

33

Number of Credits Required for Program Completion

85

GPA Required for Program Completion

3.0

Program Contact Information

Patricia Dillon, PhD, RN

Chair of Graduate, RN to BSN and RN to MSN Nursing Programs

Professor

Room 4013

Phone # 215-951-1322

dillonp@lasalle.edu

 

Jeannine Uribe, PhD, RN

DNP Coordinator

Assistant Professor

Room 4410

215-951-1446

uribe97@lasalle.edu

 

Staff Contact Information

Christine M. McGlinn - Beerman, MS

Graduate Nursing Programs

La Salle University

School Of Nursing and Health Sciences

4014 Benilde Tower

1900 W. Olney Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19141

215-951-1413

(F) 215-951-1896

mcglinn@lasalle.edu

Faculty

 

Jeannine Uribe, PhD, RN

DNP Coordinator

 

Course Descriptions

NUR 609 - Health Care Economics

This course introduces students to key concepts, models, and empirical findings in the field of health economics. Students examine the markets for health insurance, health care services, and prescription drugs, along with the labor markets for health care professionals. Students also consider the efficiency and equity aspects of the U.S. health care system and health care systems in other countries. 

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Spring

How Offered: Online

NUR 616 - Advanced Health Assessment

This course addresses the health assessment of individuals across their lifespan using a framework of physiologic, psychological, socio-cultural, and physical examination data. Students explore history-taking methods, principles of physical assessment, and concepts of clinical diagnosis to determine patients' potential and actual health problems. The course enables students to develop skills necessary to evaluate the comprehensive health status of individuals through assessment of normal and abnormal physical findings. Students combine principles of nursing and other related sciences to analyze clinical problems and provide safe, competent patient care. Students advance in theoretical knowledge, clinical judgment, differential diagnosis, and decision-making skills.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

How Offered: Online

Prerequisites: Core, NUR 617, NUR 618

NUR 617 - Advanced Pharmacology

This course expands the study of the actions and effects of drugs in the human system across an individual's lifespan. Students synthesize legal and professional nursing responsibilities related to pharmacotherapy for health promotion, pathological syndromes, and clinical disorders in advanced practice nursing roles. Students appraise principles of drug therapy, mechanisms of action, and selection of appropriate pharmacological agents in clinical prescribing.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

How Offered: Online

Prerequisites: NUR 618

Corequisites: NUR 618

NUR 618 - Advanced Pathophysiology

This course integrates physiological principles, clinical manifestations, and advanced nursing practice implications with the clinical decision-making process. Common pathological syndromes and disorders are explored across an individual's lifespan. Students interpret physiologic, pathophysiologic, psychological, and sociocultural data utilizing information to formulate culturally appropriate advanced nursing practice. Students focus on differentiating normal, variations of normal and abnormal changes of syndromes, and constellations of symptoms with a selection of pertinent diagnostic testing.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

How Offered: Online

NUR 637 - Epidemiology and Population Health

This course introduces methods of analysis, concepts and nursing strategies related to improving individual, aggregate and population health. Epidemiological concepts are examined with emphasis on determinants of health, disease distribution, environmental influences, cultural diversity, health promotion, clinical prevention and disaster preparedness. Epidemiological, biostatistical, environmental data and statistical measures are used to integrate, analyze and evaluate nursing science practice and outcomes within the dimensions of population health.

 

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Online

NUR 695 - Public Policy Initiatives: Local to Global

This course examines social policy, power, and political behaviors directed at changing health care and community systems to benefit populations. The contributions of researchers, policy-makers, analysts, health care providers, and federal, state, and local governments to local, regional, national and global policies are explored. Social, human development and environmental problems are examined in relation to local and broader public policies.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Online

NUR 702 - Theoretical Foundations of Doctoral Nursing Practice

This course introduces methods of inquiry and analysis as a guide to examining the development of a topic of interest. Concept analysis, theory-guided research, role development, information and clinical practice technologies and historical context are topics to be explored. Nursing interventions and nursing research are systematically critiqued to inform advanced nursing practice. Students initiate a portfolio using self-evaluation with exemplars to demonstrate progress toward meeting doctoral level competencies.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Fall

How Offered: Online

NUR 703 - Professional Ethics

This course is designed to provide a foundation in ethics as it applies to the health professions. Moral development theories, ethical approaches, principles, and professional codes of ethics are critically examined with a focus on their application to practice and ethical decision-making processes used in health care. The course will draw on students’ clinical experiences and use a case study approach to promote moral reflection and personal values clarification. The demand for moral agency and ethical leadership, given a profession’s responsibilities to society, is studied. The course highlights the ethical competence needed by health care professionals, individually and collectively, to respond to contemporary and emerging ethical challenges in our pluralistic society.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Fall

How Offered: Online

NUR 704 - Statistics and Biostatistics

 

This course provides an overview of commonly used statistical methods employed in evidence-based nursing practice and interprofessional health care practices. The use of data is emphasized as it is influential in making decisions to treat, in developing policies within acute and chronic health care delivery organizations and systems, and in evaluating health care quality, processes, and outcomes. Students critique data analyses presented in selected published research studies across health disciplines. Experience is attained in data entry and data analysis using IBM^®-SPSS Statistics. 

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Spring

How Offered: Online

NUR 705 - Patient Safety and Health Care Outcomes

60 clinical hours; 30 hours didactic

Students analyze patient safety strategies and programs associated with improved patient care outcomes in various community and health care agency settings. Students explore health care errors and the impact of errors on patient, family, and health care delivery systems. Techniques of process improvement are applied to outcomes management.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Fall

How Offered: Online

NUR 709 - Nursing Research for Evidence Based Practice

Students examine nursing research as applied to the profession’s clinical nursing problems by examining the major parts, processes, and principles of quality investigations. They critique studies on a clinical problem and compare research designs, purposes, and methods. The fit of data analysis approaches with research questions and methods is also evaluated.

Restrictions: For MSN and CRNA students only

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

How Offered: Online

NUR 711 - Principles of Anesthesia Practice

This course prepares the student for entry into clinical practice by presenting fundamental concepts of the scientific foundation and standards of nurse anesthesia practice. Various techniques of administration of anesthesia are introduced and discussed. The provision of individualized, culturally competent, safe and effective anesthesia care to patients throughout the life span is emphasized. The knowledge and technical skills required for success in the clinical phase of the curriculum are presented in the classroom setting and in the simulation laboratory.  Professionalism, collegiality, patient advocacy, and dedication to life-long learning are fostered.  Detailed discussions of stress management and promotion of student wellness are included.

Number of Credits: 4

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Face-to-Face

NUR 712 - Physics, Chemistry and Equipment in Anesthesia

This course offers a comprehensive study of the principles of physics and chemistry that underpin evidence based anesthesia practice.  Hands on experiences in the simulation laboratory enhance instruction concerning the technology and equipment commonly used in anesthesia practice.  Patient safety and provider wellness are addressed with emphasis on promoting a safe operating room environment.

Number of Credits: 2

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Face-to-Face

Prerequisites: NUR 616, NUR 617, NUR 618

NUR 713 - Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents

This course expands upon the knowledge gained in prior pharmacology courses. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anesthetic agents will be addressed comprehensively. Potential adverse effects, drug interactions and appropriate interventions will be discussed. Individual patient variations, age, gender, morbidity and other variables that impact drug selection and dosing will be explored. Students will develop strategies for the safe administration of intravenous, inhalation and injected anesthetic agents to a diverse patient population.

Number of Credits: 4

When Offered: Fall

How Offered: Face-to-Face

Prerequisites: NUR 617, NUR 711, NUR 712

NUR 714 - Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology for Anesthesia Practice

 

This course expands upon knowledge gained in prior physiology and pathophysiology courses. Normal physiology as it relates to the practice of anesthesia is extensively discussed. The anesthetic implications of various comorbidities are explored in depth. Common pathological conditions are discussed in a systematic approach, focusing on indicated anesthetic considerations. Management of potential adverse reactions to anesthetics and surgery related to comorbidities will be analyzed. Students will develop strategies to optimize patients’ conditions and to synthesize patient centered anesthesia management plans, supported by evidence.

Number of Credits: 4

When Offered: Fall

How Offered: Face-to-Face

NUR 715 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum I

This course offers a comprehensive study of the principles of physics and chemistry that underpin evidence based anesthesia practice.  Hands on experiences in the simulation laboratory enhance instruction concerning the technology and equipment commonly used in anesthesia practice.  Patient safety and provider wellness are addressed with emphasis on promoting a safe operating room environment.

Number of Credits: 1

When Offered: Spring

How Offered: Face-to-Face

NUR 716 - Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice

This course applies the scientific underpinnings of prior courses to the anesthetic management of patients undergoing neurosurgical, cardiovascular, and thoracic   procedures. Common and uncommon procedures are discussed, and students develop evidence supported, patient centered anesthesia management plans for patients.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Spring

How Offered: Face-to-Face

NUR 717 - Regional Anesthetic Management

This course includes a detailed study of the anatomy, physiology and pharmacology relevant to regional anesthesia.  The role of regional anesthesia in the management of acute and chronic pain is explored.  Techniques of administration and standards of safe anesthetic practice are emphasized. Hands-on workshops, low, medium and high fidelity simulation labs and case discussions will complement traditional teaching methods.

Number of Credits: 1

When Offered: Spring

How Offered: Face-to-Face

NUR 718 - Obstetric and Pediatric Anesthesia

This course applies previously gained scientific knowledge to a comprehensive study of the anesthetic management of obstetrical and pediatric patients. The anatomic, physiologic, pathological and psychosocial characteristics of obstetrics and pediatric patients are applied to anesthetic management. Research evidence and best practice recommendations are utilized to plan safe and effective anesthetic care for pregnant women, and pediatric patients from premature neonates to adolescents, undergoing elective and/or emergent surgery.

Number of Credits: 1

When Offered: Spring

How Offered: Face-to-Face

Prerequisites: NUR 711, NUR 712, NUR 713, NUR 714

NUR 719 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum II

This second clinical practicum course challenges students to perform at an advanced beginner level to integrate evidence based and patient specific anesthetic management plans for a diverse patient population across the lifespan, implementing anesthetic care, analyzing patient response, evaluating outcomes and revising management plans as indicated. Technical, cognitive and organizational skills, and the ability to translate knowledge into practice, are advanced by increased expectations for collaborative decision-making. Simulation training will continue to be used to enhance and verify the learning experience. Students’ clinical performance will be continually evaluated and students appraised of their progress. Formative evaluations by the clinical preceptor, summative evaluations by CRNA faculty, and self-reflective evaluation by the student will direct and document the development of advanced beginnerskills in this course.

Number of Credits: 2

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Face-to-Face

NUR 737 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum VI

This clinical practicum course completes the learning process by continuing to challenge students to perform at autonomouslevels as rotations are completed in the anesthesia subspecialties of pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiovascular and neurosurgery. Expectations for independent decision-making and refined cognitive and technical skills are maximized.  Simulation training will focus on providing experience managing rare occurrence/ high consequence critical events in anesthesia.  Students’ clinical performance will be continually evaluated and students appraised of their progress. Formative evaluations by the clinical preceptor, and terminal summative evaluations by CRNA faculty, and terminal self-reflective evaluation by the student will document the maintenance of competentskills and readiness to successfully enter advanced practice as a nurse anesthetist.

Number of Credits: 2

When Offered: Fall

How Offered: Face-to-Face

NUR 750 - Translating Evidence Into Practice

60 clinical hours; 30 didactic hours

In this course, students build on their knowledge of nursing theory, research design, and approaches to data analysis. They evaluate nursing and other disciplines’ research based on a critical evaluation of the literature. Students identify an issue from a declared practice focus for a scholarly project that is outcomes-focused. Meta-synthesis, meta-analysis, systematic and integrative reviews, and synopses are compared as sources of evidence for clinical decision making. Patient-centered care is emphasized from the perspectives of patient preference and best practices. Guidelines from federal, professional, and voluntary health organizations are investigated. Students increase their skills in database searching.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Online

NUR 751 - Clinical Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration

60 clinical hours; 30 didactic hours

In this course, students analyze the interplay of organizational culture and structures in complex health-care systems from various theoretical perspectives. Management, organization, team-building, and conflict resolution topics are investigated; and leadership theories are compared. Case studies demonstrating effective and ineffective clinical leadership are scrutinized related to their impact on the care-delivery process. Historical and emerging relationships among health-care professionals are examined along with quality improvement strategies aimed at changing organizational cultures and processes.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Online

NUR 880 - DNP Project 1

185 clinical hours; 15 didactic hours

Students implement a project and explore practice issues that influence project success with committee members and other stakeholders. They confer with clinical practice leaders when implementing the outcomes-focused project. The project is shaped by needs assessment data, literature review, and program evaluation strategies. Students implement the project, having critiqued, revised, and disseminated the approved project. The role of the DNP graduate as a clinical leader in health care and community systems is addressed as it relates to the evaluation and implementation of the project.

 

 

Number of Credits: 4

When Offered: Spring

How Offered: Online

NUR 882 - DNP Project 2

135 clinical hours; 1 hours didactic/meeting hours

Students participate in an individually designed clinical practice immersion experience designed to build knowledge and skill for advanced specialty practice at a high level of complexity. The immersion experience provides the practice context in which the Scholarly Project is completed. Students implement an evidence-based project in a healthcare or community agency. They successfully defend their doctoral project. The required project end-product is the basis of a publishable manuscript.

Number of Credits: 3

When Offered: Summer

How Offered: Online