DEDU 810 : Ethics, Education, and Multicultural Healthcare in Nurse Anesthesia

Course Description

This course provides doctoral level preparation in ethical reasoning, professional responsibility, and foundational educational principles essential to nurse anesthesia practice and education. In alignment with the COA Curriculum Standards (Practice Doctorate), the course emphasizes the systematic application of ethical frameworks to patient care, clinical decision making, and the didactic and clinical education of nurse anesthesia students.

Consistent with the COA Graduate Standards, students examine ethical obligations inherent in anesthesia practice, clinical supervision, and learner evaluation, with focused attention to patient safety, informed consent, professional integrity, and accountability. Ethical analysis incorporates culturally responsive care across diverse patient populations and learning environments. Foundational concepts in instructional strategies, clinical teaching, and learner assessment are introduced to support effective knowledge transfer and role development as future nurse anesthesia educators and clinical mentors.

The course prepares graduates to integrate ethical principles across clinical and educational environments in accordance with COA expectations for doctoral prepared CRNAs, supporting safe practice, professional conduct, and the educational mission of nurse anesthesia programs.

Credit Hour: 1

Doctoral Student Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of DEDU 810, the learner will be able to:

1. Apply ethical frameworks systematically to clinical decision‑making and patient care scenarios relevant to nurse anesthesia practice. (D13, D33-35)
2. Analyze ethical obligations and professional responsibilities inherent in anesthesia practice, including accountability, professional integrity, and adherence to ethical standards. (D33-35, D37)
3. Evaluate ethical issues related to patient safety and informed consent, including culturally and linguistically responsive approaches in diverse populations. (D6, D25, D27)
4. Examine ethical responsibilities associated with clinical supervision and learner evaluation, including fairness, bias mitigation, and protection of patients and learners. (D26-27, D30)
5. Integrate foundational instructional strategies and clinical teaching principles into ethically sound educational practices for nurse anesthesia students. (D30, D35)
6. Demonstrate ethical reasoning across clinical and educational contexts, supporting culturally competent perianesthesia care and doctoral‑level professional role development as clinician, educator, and mentor. (D6, D30)

Graduate Standards Achieved

Upon successful completion of DEDU 810, the learner will be able to demonstrate the following Perianesthesia, Critical Thinking, Communication, Leadership, and Professional Role Graduate Standards:

6: Deliver culturally competent perianesthesia care

13: Apply knowledge to practice in decision making and problem solving

25: Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients and their families

26: Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective interprofessional exchange of information and collaboration with other health care professionals

27: Respect the dignity and privacy of patients while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of interprofessional care

30: Teach others

33: Adhere to the code of ethics for certified registered nurse anesthetists

34: Interact on a professional level with integrity

35: Apply ethically sound decision-making processes

37: Accept responsibility and accountability for one's practice