MTSA is currently independently operated and owns the property and buildings that house the School. In accordance with the Seventh-day Adventist history, as well as the history and mission of the school, the original policies of the School relative to Sabbath are the policies of the School today. They have been redefined to inform students and clinical facilities of the expectations of the School relative to Sabbath observance.
Academic Area
Neither the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia nor any of its faculty will schedule any academic class between sundown Friday until after sundown Saturday. It is recognized that not all students will choose Saturday as the day of worship. Accommodation will be made for classes that are scheduled outside of normal MTSA operating hours if attendance would violate or interrupt a student’s normal religious observance. The accommodation may vary but may include video captured lectures for students to review at another time or makeup coursework assigned by the faculty of record.
On occasion MTSA will expect students to attend one day of a local weekend conference organized by the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists or the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Students may choose the day they attend, either Saturday or Sunday.
Clinical Area
Clinical affiliations have evolved over the years to support the clinical needs of the program. It is not the intent of MTSA to control whether or not an affiliate hospital schedules elective surgery on weekends. However, the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia supports the choice of the student. Students are expected to do elective and call cases Monday through Friday and to take call for emergency cases on weekends as assigned. Should any student choose not to participate in call on a specified day due to religious convictions, MTSA will accommodate this student’s request. A statement of religious observation from the student’s current religious leader may also be requested. It should be noted that a student may have to complete clinical duties on extra weekend call shifts to accommodate their request. This is not punitive in nature but may occur due to schedule changes to accommodate the request.