Nurse anesthesia program prepares to launch
Full details coming soon
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The UIC College of Nursing is working to launch an innovative nurse anesthesia program to prepare RNs to become advanced practice nurses who deliver the full spectrum of anesthesia services across diverse patient populations in a variety of health care environments.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) play a critical role in health care. They are licensed to independently discuss, plan and administer anesthesia and related care to patients with various health complexities throughout their lives.
The new Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, currently pending required approvals, aims to combat the worsening national shortage of anesthesia specialists. It will be directed by Susan Krawczyk, DNP, APRN, CRNA.
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UIC’s nurse anesthesia program will emphasize expert clinical instruction and a broad range of clinical experiences to equip students with comprehensive skills and knowledge essential for delivering high-quality, patient-centered anesthesia care. A diverse rotation of clinical sites will expose them to a wide array of patient populations and real-world challenges.
The college’s M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory will offer state-of-the-art training environments, skills labs and simulations to ensure students gain hands-on experience in a variety of scenarios. Simulation facilities will be expanded specifically to create presurgical, surgical and postsurgical learning scenarios, thanks to a new, $10 million gift from Schwartz. As a steadfast advocate for student wellness, Schwartz has requested the new simulation space have a roomy lounge with natural sunlight designated for students, encouraging them to relax and build community together.
“Our goal is to create a robust learning environment that prepares our graduates to make informed, independent judgments and collaborate effectively within the health care team,” says Eileen Collins, dean of the UIC College of Nursing. “We intend to provide an educational experience that exceeds expectations.”
In addition to clinical training, UIC Nursing is uniquely positioned to offer numerous opportunities for interprofessional education and collaboration as part of the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, an enterprise that includes a 445-bed tertiary care hospital, 30-plus outpatient clinics, 11 federally qualified health centers, and patient-centered research entities like the University of Illinois Cancer Center.
UIC Nursing’s nurse anesthesia program is currently in Capability Review, seeking accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).