Supplementary Table 1.

Three-year full-time curriculum plan

YEAR 1, TERM 1 (SPRING)	Credits
Introduction to the Nurse Anesthesia Role This introductory course will provide student socialization into the role of nurse anesthesia practice and prepares the student for more advanced content within the curriculum. This course provides fundamental concepts related to the professional role, anesthesia types, and anesthesia processes. Safety principles essential to preventing negative outcomes for both patients and providers will be emphasized.	1.5
Applied Statistics for Evidence-based Practice This course will provide students with the basic for understanding and interpreting commonly used statistical tests, as well as critically appraising their use in published research studies. Content will include descriptive and inferential statistics commonly reported in published research studies including both univariate and multivariate parametric and nonparametric tests. The course will also cover meta-analytic techniques and students will learn to calculate effect sizes.	3.0
The Science of Health Care Delivery This course is designed to develop a theoretical, practical, and evidence-based foundation for the delivery of safe, effective, evidence-based health care. Participants in this course will develop the knowledge base and critical thinking skills central to identifying and solving problems in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health care across the continuum of care delivery systems and across professions. The two overarching goals of the course are to a) develop a better understanding of how the healthcare delivery system works and fails to work, and b) develop a foundation for organizational and systems leadership for care reform, quality improvement, and systems thinking in the delivery of safe, effective, evidence-based care using interprofessional approaches.	2.0
Pathophysiology Across the Life Span This course is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive theoretical foundation of the phenomena that produce alterations in human physiologic function in diverse populations across the life span. Information gained in this course will prepare the student for a subsequent course related to the diagnosis and management of disease processes associated with pathophysiologic dysfunction/alterations in people of various ethnic/cultural groups across the life span.	4.0
Introduction to Genetics and Molecular Therapeutics This introductory course focuses on the fundamentals of human and molecular genetics. It is designed to give students a basic understanding of genetic concepts and molecular techniques so that this knowledge can be applied to current and future genetic diagnoses and therapies encountered in nursing.	3.0
Nursing Graduate Orientation Module This module provides a web-based graduate nursing orientation that is designed to provide graduate nursing students with an overview of the School of Nursing and information that they will need to successfully complete their programs and achieve their career goals.	0.0
Term total	13.5
YEAR 1, TERM 2 (SUMMER)
Advanced Pharmacology This is a basic science course covering the principles of drug action for several important classes of drugs. A basic knowledge of the principles of chemistry and biochemistry will be helpful in understanding the chemical basis of drug receptor interactions. The course begins with fundamentals of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and then covers the pharmacology of the central nervous, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal/cardiovascular, and endocrine systems; immunosuppression; antibiotics; and antifungals.	3.0
Research for Evidence-based Practice 1 This course examines the interaction between theory, research, and clinical expertise in the development of evidence-based nursing practice. Students develop the skills needed to identify relevant research and to critically appraise published studies to evaluate their quality and applicability to clinical practice. Students gain an understanding of the research process, the critical appraisal of published research that use a variety of research designs, and the role of research in evidence-based practice.	2.0
The Diagnostic Physical Exam Across the Life Span This didactic course focuses on the use of the diagnostic history and physical examination to formulate a health assessment in patient populations across the lifespan. Concentration is on selected theories, principles, and techniques from the physical and behavioral sciences essential to obtaining a complete health history and performing methodical physical examination on patients across the lifespan.	3.0
Ethics in Healthcare Philosophical and clinical foundations in ethics are analyzed and used to provide a basis for guidelines in ethical decision-making and practice. Content will include legal-ethical issues in practice; ethical implications in the role of the doctorally-prepared nurse; historical and political influences on ethics in health care; diversity in race, gender, and sexual orientation; and principals of justice, autonomy, and provider-patient relations. Additionally, this course describes general ethical practices and ethical principles associated with the proper conduct of research, scientific integrity, and protection of human subjects.	1.0
Methodologies for DNP Projects During this course, students develop a proposal appropriate for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. The evidence-based proposal includes the following components: a) a focus on a change that directory or indirectly affects health care outcomes, b) a focus on a system or population/aggregator, c) an implementation plan in an arena or area of practice, d) a plan for sustainability, and e) an evaluation plan that measures processes and/or outcomes (formative or summative). During this course, students learn to apply the following four methodologies for the development and conduct of a DNP project and future scholarly projects: quality improvement, surveillance, program evaluation, and N of 1.	2.0
Term total	11.0
YEAR 1, TERM 3 (FALL)
Basic Principles of Anesthesia This course prepares the student for entry into the clinical practice setting by presenting fundamental concepts of general, regional, pain management, and sedation anesthesia. Airway management techniques, positioning, and an introduction to anesthetic pharmacology are emphasized. Anesthetic management strategies for patients with common diseases and perioperative problems are examined.	3.0
Basic Principles of Anesthesia (Lab) The course provides students with necessary skills to enter clinical practice. Psychomotor, critical thinking, and affective skills will be developed using a variety of experiential learning approaches. Best practices in simulation educational methods will be used and will include a variety of approaches. Student will demonstrate attainment of entry level skills required for clinical practice.	1.0
Chemistry and Physics in Anesthesia This course provides the nurse anesthesia student with a fundamental understanding of chemical, biochemical, and physics principles as they relate to physiology, pharmacology, and the practice of anesthesia. Essential concepts related to chemistry and physics principles necessary to provide safe and effective anesthesia care are emphasized. Chemistry and physics concepts will be related to anesthesia equipment and processes in order to illustrate their importance to practice.	2.0
Physical Diagnosis - Anesthesia This course offers students the skills requires for conducting a preoperative anesthesia history and physical exam, identifying risk factors (anesthetic, patient, surgical), developing a relevant anesthetic management plan, and writing appropriate post-operative orders. Students will gain skill in interpreting pre-operative diagnostic tests and lab values. Students will gain familiarity with electronic medical records and charting skills. Students in this course will also develop in the areas of educational approaches utilizing standardized patients and structured debriefing methods.	1.0
Database Management This course provides students with the conceptual knowledge base and practice experiences necessary to understand the workings of a modern relational database management system. It will provide students with the historical and practical knowledge needed to design a relational database. The students will have hands-on experiences with databases and other software that will interface with databases. Standards, such as HTML, SQL, ODBC, and normalization will be stressed in both the theory and practical aspects of this course. The future of database design and access from non-traditional environments will be discussed. Use of databases on servers will be demonstrated.	2.0
Basic Clinical Care 1 Introduction to technology, monitoring, and practice (two days/week). This initial clinical course is designed to integrate with basic didactic coursework. Student will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia-related specialty areas. Students will be introduced to basic level anesthesia technology and equipment medications, monitoring procedures, and the perioperative environment. Experiences will begin with simple cases and techniques and build to more complex ones. Clinical experiences will be with certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and/or anesthesiologists. Clinical case conferences and ongoing assessments will be conducted to evaluate the students’ ability to apply basic didactic coursework into clinical anesthesia care.	1.0
Term total	10.0
First year total	34.5
YEAR 2, TERM 4 (SPRING)
Health Promotion Health promotion and disease prevention are examined from theoretical foundations to clinical applications. The course focuses on individual and community health promotion assessment, screening, and interventions in diverse populations. Epidemiological principles and real clinical examples are discussed as a basis for focusing on health promotion assessment and interventions. Course topics are delineated according to Healthy People 2010 goals with a corresponding focus on factors related to health care disparities among vulnerable populations. Current research in health promotion and disease prevention is the basis for identifying appropriate interventions in diverse populations and settings.	3.0
Data Analysis for DNP Projects This course provides students hands-on experience with the menu-driven statistical software program of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Content includes commonly used descriptive and inferential statistics including univariate and multivariate tests, parametric and non-parametric tests, and qualitative description. Students can analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data from their own DNP project dataset or an instructor-provided dataset.	2.0
Advanced Principles of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology 1 This first course in a two-course series is designed to help students’ understanding of advanced concepts in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology related to anesthesia care. Advanced principles of patient management supported by best evidence will be applied to the clinical practice of nurse anesthesia across a variety of body systems and surgical procedures. Students will formulate and evaluate approaches to anesthesia management in the presence of pathophysiologic conditions affecting the central nervous, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, and immune systems.	3.0
Team Training and Patient Safety This course is designed to provide the student with a theoretical and practical foundation relating to human factors, crew resource management, and team performance issues that impact patient safety. Information and skills gained in this course will prepare the student to function as a patient advocate in a multidisciplinary environment and implement team-based strategies designed to promote patient safety. Crisis management protocols and communication algorithms e.g., situation-background-assessment-recommendation (SBAR) will be used as examples.	1.0
Basic Clinical Care 2 Basic preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care (three days/week). This second clinical course promotes development of skills and integrates prior basic didactic content with more advanced concepts. The primary focus will be the application of physiology and pathophysiology into anesthetic practice. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia-related specialty areas as well as increasingly complicated cases. Clinical experiences will be guided by CRNAs and anesthesiologists. Clinical case conferences will be conducted to assess the students’ ability to combine more advanced didactic content into patient-specific perioperative anesthesia care.	1.5
Term total	10.5
YEAR 2, TERM 5 (SUMMER)
Advanced Principles of Anesthesia 1 This course is the first in the three-part advanced principles series which provides in-depth study of specialized areas of nurse anesthesia practice. Lectures will concentrate on the theoretical basis for specific anesthesia nursing interventions and the rationale for their use in the pediatric and obstetric specialties. Concepts related to regional anesthesia, acute pain management, and chronic pain management will be reviewed. Plans of care for pediatric, obstetric, regional anesthesia, and pain patients will be developed and evaluated. Current techniques and technologies related to the management of regional anesthesia and pain blocks will be reviewed and reinforced with a variety of simulation experiences (hands-on, scree based, virtual).	3.0
Advanced Principles of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology 2 This second course in the series is designed to review the relevant anatomy and physiology of the endocrine, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, other intraabdominal organ, immune, hematologic, and genitourinary systems. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of how pathophysiology involving these systems will influence anesthetic choices and management approaches. Referencing best-evidence and clinical protocols, students will derive management approaches for surgical and therapeutic procedures related to these systems. Additionally, the pathophysiology of psychiatric illness, infectious disease, cancer, and obesity will be reviewed and approaches to anesthesia care in the presence of these conditions will be developed	2.0
Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthetists This course provides the basis for in-depth understanding of the pharmacology of clinical anesthesia practice. Specific properties of anesthetic agents and commonly used adjunctive drugs are discussed and evaluated for appropriate application in clinical situations. Development of a comprehensive knowledge base with respect to drugs used by the nurse anesthetist in the clinical setting will be achieved through lectures, presentations, situational examples, and case analyses. Students will formulate specific pharmacologic plans through synthesis of a variety of concepts.	3.0
Advanced Clinical Care 1 Pain management, ultrasound, regional anesthesia, pediatrics, and obstetrics. This third clinical course is designed to begin integrating more advanced clinical concepts into the clinical experience. Primary focus will be on application of the principles of advanced physiology, pathophysiology, and applied pharmacology to management of increasingly advanced clinical cases. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia-related specialty areas. Clinical experiences will be guided by CRNAs and anesthesiologists. Supplemental clinical case conferences will focus on the students’ ability to integrate more advanced didactic content into patient-specific clinical anesthetic care. Particular emphasis will be placed on discussion of approaches to pain management, regional anesthesia, obstetrics, and pediatrics.	1.5
Term total	9.5
YEAR 2, TERM 6 (FALL)
Advanced Principles of Anesthesia 2 Continuation of Advanced Principles of Anesthesia 1	3.0
Organizational and Management Theory This graduate level course focuses on organizational, leadership, and management theories and how they apply to health service organizations, both today and in the future. Emphasis will be placed on leading the clinical discipline of nursing based on organizational and systems thinking, as well as relevant political and cultural perspectives. Quality and performance improvement strategies, as well as creating and sustaining appropriate levels of change, are explored in order to facilitate the ability to create safe and effective care delivery environments.	3.0
Public Policy in Health Care This course offers political and analytical insights into understanding US health policy making and into developing strategies that influence health policy outcomes. The course presents an analysis of the functions of the public and private sectors in creating and implementing health policy across diverse patient populations. The role of political and social philosophy in defining nursing and health services is examined. The course includes consideration of areas in which policy made by multiple branches of government and various types of public and private organizations significantly affects nursing as a profession and its ability to deliver care; regulation of professional practice; and the impact of public policy on patient health outcomes.	2.0
Nurse Anesthetist Role Seminar This course prepares the nurse anesthesia student for their new role as a CRNA and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Areas of professional responsibility and potential professional roles will be addressed, including APRN, educator, military member, consultant, self-employed practitioner, CRNA clinician, leader, change agent, organizational leadership position, and administrator. Licensure, accreditation, certification, and educational requirements for CRNAs as APRNs will be reviewed. Pathways to active involvement in community service and legislative advocacy will be discussed and analyzed. Legal, financial, malpractice, and ethical issues related to nurse anesthesia practice will be addressed.	1.5
Advanced Clinical Care 2 Cardiothoracic, cardiovascular, and vascular (three days/week) This fourth clinical course is designed to assist the nurse anesthesia student to integrate advanced clinical concepts being covered concurrently in the classroom with the clinical experience. Primary focus will be on specialty case management, including cardiovascular, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia. Advanced airway techniques and sophisticated laboratory analysis will be included. Students will be assigned to affiliated clinical sites and anesthesia-related specialty areas to manage increasingly complicated and specialty cases. Clinical experiences will be guided by CRNAs and/or anesthesiologists. Supplemental clinical case conferences will be conducted with a focus on these specialty populations.	1.5
Term total	11.0
Second year total	31.0
YEAR 3, TERM 7 (SPRING)
Finance and Economics for Health Care Leaders This course is designed to familiarize clinical leaders with the basic concepts of business, economics, and financial management in health care organizations. Students will learn key financial terms; the relevance of health care finances in today’s environment; the ability to develop and monitor budgets for practice initiatives; and the business and financial acumen needed to evaluate and design effective practice changes. The course utilizes financial and clinical data to allow clinical leaders to learn how to effectively balance the administrative and clinical needs of today’s health care environment.	3.0
Advanced Principles of Anesthesia 3 The third course in the advanced principle series provides in depth study of specialized areas of nurse anesthesia practice. Lectures concentrate on the evidence base for specific anesthetic and surgical interventions. Anesthetic approaches and management plans for patients with traumatic injuries, burns, alterations of hemostasis, hematologic disorders, and neuropathology and pulmonary conditions will be reviewed. Neurosurgical, diagnostic radiology, solid organ transplant, trauma, reconstructive, and plastic surgery procedures will be reviewed. Current techniques and technology related to safe management of care for patients undergoing procedures involving these areas will be examined. Interactive workshops in managing trauma and performing invasive and non-invasive procedures will allow development of psychomotor skills in caring for burn and trauma patients. This course will also focus on principles of scientific writing for publication.	3.0
Capstone Project Students will undertake a systematic investigation of a clinically-based or administration-based problem selected by the student and supported by faculty. Course requirements include identification of the problem to be addressed, review and critique of pertinent literature, and implementation of the project. The project will use an evidence-based practice model, and it will be systematically developed in consultation with the student’s capstone committee who will evaluate each step of the process. This process can begin research for evidence-based practice 2.	2.0
Advanced Clinical Care 3 Neurosurgical, trauma, and emergency (three days/week). This fifth clinical course builds upon experiences gained in prior courses. The focus will be on demonstration and refinement of more advanced skills as well as incorporating content-specific plans of care for neurosurgical, neurovascular, trauma, renal, hepatic and emergency procedures. Students will also demonstrate the ability to manage complex pathophysiology. Student will gain an awareness of the broader professional roles and responsibilities of the CRNA (administrative, patient advocacy, process, and patient safety evaluator). Supplemental clinical case conferences will be conducted with focus on these specialty populations and the CRNA role.	1.5
Term total	9.5
YEAR 3, TERM 8 (SUMMER)
Introduction to Health Informatics This course focuses on a conceptual foundation for understanding nursing informatics and includes analysis of various applications of information systems within the context of the health care system. This course introduces theoretical models of nursing informatics; healthcare computing; and systems design and analysis. Other topics include nursing vocabularies, nursing knowledge generation; ethical and social issues in healthcare informatics; and the impact of consumer health informatics.	3.0
DNP Project Clinical This practicum represents the final clinical course for the DNP degree. Here, the student will experience a mentored and supervised immersion in a clinical practice where the project designed and approved in the capstone project course will be implemented and evaluated. The practice site, approved by the capstone committee, must provide access to the necessary and appropriate population for project implementation, as well as support for full expression of the DNP scope of practice.	1.0
Manuscript Development This course focuses on the process of preparing a manuscript for possible publication. Attention is directed toward selecting an appropriate journal, the organization of the paper, relevant legal and ethical issues, single vs. multiple authorship, refining one’s writing skills, and the development and preparation of a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.	1.0
Advanced Clinical Care 4 Synthesis of perioperative care (four days/week). This sixth clinical course builds upon experiences in prior courses and is designed to help the student refine their knowledge base and develop increasing sophistication in practice. Students will be able to provide care for any combination of patient acuity level and complexity of procedure across the lifespan. Clinical experiences will be guided by student nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologists. Integrated clinical case conferences will require students to present their patients and defend their plan of care with rationale based on best practices.	2.0
Term total	7.0
YEAR 3, TERM 9 (FALL)
Comprehensive Anesthesia Review Seminar This course is designed to comprehensively review the body of knowledge necessary to enter nurse anesthesia practice. Nurse anesthesia student preparation for both the DNP comprehensive examination and the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists examination will be enhanced. Review topics will include: basic science, equipment, instrumentation, technology, basic principles of anesthesia, and advanced principles of anesthesia. A series of seminars and presentations interspersed with comprehensive, computerized examinations will be administered to allow students to evaluate their knowledge level and their test taking skills.	2.0
Transition to Clinical Practice This final clinical course is designed to help the student transition from the student role to clinical practice. Students will be expected to create sophisticated patient and case-specific management plans. Clinical experiences will be guided by CRNAs and/or anesthesiologists, but students will be expected to practice with little or no prompting from their clinical supervisors and understand their limitations. Clinical experiences will include specialty cases and experiences in all areas of practice as assigned. Clinical case conferences will be held that challenge the breadth of the students’ knowledge base across the full scope of the clinical and professional role of the CRNA.	2.0
Term total	4.0
Third year total	20.5