DACP 800-860: Clinical Practicum I-VII

This initial clinical course is designed to integrate clinical practice with basic didactic coursework. Students are assigned to affiliated clinical sites with designated anesthesia areas. Students are introduced to anesthesia equipment, procedures, medications and the perioperative environment. A proper understand of basic anesthesia equipment, and monitors will allow the student to expound basic nursing principles to the anesthesia environment. Students are required to meet or exceed level specific objectives and experiences which build from simple cases and techniques to the more complex cases and procedures. Clinical experience will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists.

The initial clinical course is designed to integrate clinical practice with basic didactic coursework. Students are assigned to affiliate clinical sites with designated anesthesia areas. Students are introduced to anesthesia equipment, procedures, medications, and the perioperative environment. A proper understanding of basic anesthesia equipment and monitors will allow the student to expound basic nursing principles to the anesthesia environment. Students are required to meet or exceed level specific objectives and experiences which build from simple cases and techniques to the more complex cases and procedures. Clinical experience will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists.

The initial clinical course is designed to integrate clinical practice with basic didactic coursework. Students are assigned to affiliate clinical sites with designated anesthesia areas. Students are introduced to anesthesia equipment, procedures, medications, and the perioperative environment. A proper understanding of basic anesthesia equipment and monitors will allow the student to expound basic nursing principles to the anesthesia environment. Students are required to meet or exceed level specific objectives and experiences which build from simple cases and techniques to the more complex cases and procedures. Clinical experience will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists.

This introductory practicum provides a highly supervised, patient-facing immersion into the perioperative environment. Students develop foundational clinical behaviors in patient safety, professional communication, and basic anesthesia workflow while observing and assisting with routine anesthetic care appropriate to a novice level. Empasis placed on vigilance, comprehensive equipment checks, asepsis, preanesthetic assessment under direct supervision, operating room safety, monitoring setup, medication safety practices, and accurate documentation. Students progressively participate in low-complexity tasks as entrusted by preceptors, always under direct, immediately available supervision. 

The second clinical course is designed to integrate more advanced didactic coursework. Students experience more advanced anesthetic techniques at assigned affiliate clinical sites. Students are assigned to more complicated cases and are required to meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences are guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

The second clinical course is designed to integrate more advanced didactic coursework. Students experience more advanced anesthetic techniques at assigned affiliate clinical sites. Students are assigned to more complicated cases and are required to meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences are guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

The second clinical course is designed to integrate more advanced didactic coursework. Students experience more advanced anesthetic techniques at assigned affiliate clinical sites. Students are assigned to more complicated cases and are required to meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences are guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

The course builds on the novice experience from clinical practicum I and transitions students from primarily observational/assisting roles toward guided participation in complete anesthetic cases for low-complexity ASA II-III patients under direct, immediately available supervision. Students refine equipment checks, preanesthetic assessment, anesthetic planning with preceptor input, intraoperative management of straightforward cases, and emergence/PACU handoff skills. Emphasis is placed on patient safety, vigilance, communication, accurate documentation, and early clinical decision-making, while maintaining supervision consistent with COA standards.

The third clinical practicum course is designed to build on more advanced didactic coursework including in depth pathophysiology, applied pharmacology and specialty case management. Case specific focus should focus on the continued development with more common surgical procedures and exposure to more complex surgical procedures to include thoracic, cranial vault procedures and vascular procedures. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists.

The third clinical practicum course is designed to build on more advanced didactic coursework including in depth pathophysiology, applied pharmacology and specialty case management. Case specific focus should focus on the continued development with more common surgical procedures and exposure to more complex surgical procedures to include thoracic, cranial vault procedures and vascular procedures. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists.

The third clinical practicum course is designed to build on more advanced didactic coursework including in depth pathophysiology, applied pharmacology and specialty case management. Case specific focus should focus on the continued development with more common surgical procedures and exposure to more complex surgical procedures to include thoracic, cranial vault procedures and vascular procedures. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists.

This course advances students from “assisted management” to “supervised lead” of complete anesthetic care for low-to-moderate complexity cases ASA III-IV under direct, immediately available supervision. Learners conduct comprehensive preanesthetic evaluations, propose and justify plans of care, and manage induction, maintenance, and emergence while escalating early and appropriately for preceptor input. Emphasis is on patient safety and vigilance, hemodynamic management, analgesia/antiemetic planning, structured communication, accurate documentation, and beginning crisis resource management. Clinical learning environments, supervision, and ratios follow COA Standards.

The fourth clinical practicum course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student in applying concepts from didactic coursework to cardiovascular, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia. Advanced airway techniques and sophisticated laboratory analysis are included. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and must meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

The fourth clinical practicum course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student in applying concepts from didactic coursework to cardiovascular, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia. Advanced airway techniques and sophisticated laboratory analysis are included. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and must meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

The fourth clinical practicum course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student in applying concepts from didactic coursework to cardiovascular, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia. Advanced airway techniques and sophisticated laboratory analysis are included. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and must meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

This course advances students from “supervised lead” to “advanced supervised management” with an introduction to specialty rotations (OB, cardiac, pediatrics, regional). Students lead complete anesthetic cases in ASA II-III patients, begin caring for selected higher-acuity cases with close supervision, and apply subspecialty fundamentals: OB neuraxial techniques and peripartum physiology, pediatric assessment and dosing principles, foundational cardiac monitoring and vasoactive stewardship, and basic regional anesthesia integration. Emphasis is placed on patient safety and vigilance, hemodynamic optimization, multimodal/opioid-sparing analgesia, structured communication and handoffs, accurate documentation, and beginning crisis resource management in specialty contexts. 

This fifth clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to apply concepts from didactic coursework including focus on professional interpersonal relations becoming of a nurse anesthetist, while clinically focusing on case requirements required for neurosurgical, trauma, orthopedic, renal transplant and hepatic transplant anesthesia. Students will apply advanced principles of fluid and blood management and demonstrate the ability to treat perioperative hematologic disorders. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologists.

This fifth clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to apply concepts from didactic coursework including focus on professional interpersonal relations becoming of a nurse anesthetist, while clinically focusing on case requirements required for neurosurgical, trauma, orthopedic, renal transplant and hepatic transplant anesthesia. Students will apply advanced principles of fluid and blood management and demonstrate the ability to treat perioperative hematologic disorders. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologists.

This fifth clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to apply concepts from didactic coursework including focus on professional interpersonal relations becoming of a nurse anesthetist, while clinically focusing on case requirements required for neurosurgical, trauma, orthopedic, renal transplant and hepatic transplant anesthesia. Students will apply advanced principles of fluid and blood management and demonstrate the ability to treat perioperative hematologic disorders. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologists.

This course advances students from “advanced supervised management” to “progressive independence under indirect supervision” in general and specialty anesthe sia practice.

Building on clinical practicum IV, learners now assume primary responsibility for planning and leading the majority of routine and moderately complex anesthetics, including obstetric, pediatric, cardiac, and regional cases, while seeking preceptor input at key decision points and escalating promptly for changes in patient status. This course emphasizes higher-level hemodynamic management, complex airway and analgesia planning, integration of regional and neuraxial techniques, interprofessional communication in high-acuity environments, and early leadership behaviors. Students are expected to justify clinical decisions using current evidence and guidelines and to demonstrate consistent professional conduct and situational awareness. Clinical environments, supervision, and ratios remain aligned with COA standards. 

This sixth clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to synthesize content from all advanced principles courses and to become increasingly independent in their clinical practice. Students should demonstrate the professional traits of a nurse anesthetist focusing on communication and proper interpersonal relationships conducive to all staff involved in an operative procedure. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologists.

This sixth clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to synthesize content from all advanced principles courses and to become increasingly independent in their clinical practice. Students should demonstrate the professional traits of a nurse anesthetist focusing on communication and proper interpersonal relationships conducive to all staff involved in an operative procedure. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologists.

This sixth clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to synthesize content from all advanced principles courses and to become increasingly independent in their clinical practice. Students should demonstrate the professional traits of a nurse anesthetist focusing on communication and proper interpersonal relationships conducive to all staff involved in an operative procedure. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologists.

This course moves the student from “progressive independence” to near-independent practice under indirect supervision” in both general and specialty anesthesia. Building on clinical practicum V, learners now function as the primary anesthesia provider for most routine and complex ASA II-III and selected ASA IV cases, with preceptors readily available but not continuously present, in keeping with institutional and COA expectations.

Emphasis is on advanced hemodynamic and ventilatory management, complex airway and regional strategies, leadership in high-acuity environments (OB, peds, cardiac, trauma, regional), safe participation in call experiences, and integration of quality improvement and evidence-based practice into daily care. Learners are expected to demonstrate consistent professionalism, accountability, and practice-ready clinical reasoning.

Supervision, ratios, weekly hours remain aligned with COA standards. 

This seventh clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to synthesize content from all advanced principles courses and to become increasingly independent in their clinical practice. Students should demonstrate the professional traits of a nurse anesthetist including communication and proper interpersonal relationships conducive to all staff involved in an operative procedure. Students are assigned to affiliate clinical sites and anesthesia-related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

This seventh clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to synthesize content from all advanced principles courses and to become increasingly independent in their clinical practice. Students should demonstrate the professional traits of a nurse anesthetist including communication and proper interpersonal relationships conducive to all staff involved in an operative procedure. Students are assigned to affiliate clinical sites and anesthesia-related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

This seventh clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to synthesize content from all advanced principles courses and to become increasingly independent in their clinical practice. Students should demonstrate the professional traits of a nurse anesthetist including communication and proper interpersonal relationships conducive to all staff involved in an operative procedure. Students are assigned to affiliate clinical sites and anesthesia-related specialty areas. Students will be assigned to increasingly complicated and specialty cases and will be required to meet or exceed level-specific objectives. Clinical experiences will be guided by certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists.

This course is the transition-to-practice semester in which students function as near-independent providers under indirect/distant supervision consistent with institutional policy and COA standards. Students assume primary responsibility for comprehensive perioperative anesthesia care across general and specialty services (OB, cardiac, pediatric, regional), demonstrating readiness for entry-level practice through safe clinical judgment, efficiency, leadership, and outcomes awareness. Clinical experiences are unrestricted across the perioperative continuum, with opportunities for call/off-hours exposure to broaden case mix and acuity.