The University of North Dakota (UND) program in Nurse Anesthesia is housed in the College of Nursing.  The program was founded in 1986 at the Grand Forks campus, with the first students admitted to the twenty-four month program in August 1987. The Master of Science program has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs since its inception.  This agency has been determined by the U.S. Department of Education and Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation to be the appropriate accrediting agency for such programs.

Our primary goal is to provide the graduate student with an advanced scientific knowledge base and a comprehensive array of clinical skills that hallmark the standard of care in anesthesia practice.

Our obligation to graduates is to prepare them for full participation in the delivery of anesthesia care in concert with other members of the health care team.  Graduates will be competent in independent judgment as professional nurses practicing in the field of anesthesiology.

Our responsibility to the community is expressed in the provision of an educational program that will prepare the nurse anesthetist to meet the health care needs of the public in a competent and ethical manner.

Our obligation to the profession is to prepare a nurse anesthetist who will serve as a valuable resource in support of the goals of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the advancement of the profession of nurse anesthesia.

The Nurse Anesthesia Specialization program adopts the College of Nursing Mission Statement to educate individuals for professional roles in nursing and nutrition.  The College strives to enhance the health of people in the region by preparing leaders in nursing and nutrition through innovative, accessible programs, and significant faculty and student scholarship and service.

• Seekers of new knowledge by means of critical thinking, creative reasoning, and scientific investigation in anesthesia nursing practice and theory;

• Decision-makers who utilize advanced knowledge in anesthesia and ethical principles in serving the needs of individuals and society;

• Clinical specialists with expertise and advanced knowledge in anesthesia nursing who function independently and collaboratively with other health care team members;

• Leaders capable of determining strategies which stimulate change in nursing practice, the profession and the health are delivery system, and

• Effective communicators of anesthesia nursing knowledge in oral and written forms.

1. Perform a pre-anesthetic interview and physical assessment using patient history, physical examination, review of medial records, and appropriate laboratory data.

2. Develop an appropriate anesthesia care plan consistent with the overall medical and nursing regimen and established guidelines, utilizing appropriate principles of basic and behavioral sciences in protecting patients from iatrogenic complications.

3. Administer physiologically sound anesthetics to patients of all ages and physical status categories, utilizing universal precautions and the principles of general and regional anesthesia as they apply to the diagnostic, operative and physiologic condition of the patient.

4. Perform comprehensive and appropriate equipment checks and position or supervise positioning of patients to assure optimal physiologic function and patient safety.

5. Recognize and evaluate physiologic responses to the anesthetic, implementing appropriate action that reflects the use of sound physiologic and pharmacologic principles, referring to a physician those responses beyond the nurse anesthetist's ability to manage consistent with practice standards and policies.

6. Use and interpret a broad variety of monitoring modalities including electronic monitors, taking appropriate action based on sound principle of anesthesia management.

7. Evaluate the post-anesthetic course of the patient and recommend a course of action directed toward correcting any anesthesia-related complications.

8. Serve as a resource person, team leader or team member, in the areas of acute care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, respiratory therapy and fluid management and assist others to expand their knowledge in these areas.

9. Perform within appropriate medical, legal, and ethical standards of anesthesia practice, accepting responsibility and accountability for own practice, recognizing personal and professional strengths and limitations, and taking appropriate actions consistent with valid self-awareness.

10. Demonstrate active professional commitment and involvement in the state organization for nurse anesthetists, and, active commitment and involvement in quality management activities.