2010 Accreditation Report from COA ...Another 10 years (through 2020) with NO CITATIONS again.
*This is an excerpt of the complete summary report from the Accreditation On-Site Review of April 20-22, 1999.
The full report containing the analysis of compliance by standard is available for review in the Program Office. All standards and criterion were found to be in full compliance. Accreditation status was finalized in October 1999 by the AANA Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Programs and a ten year full accreditation was awarded.
A. Strengths of the Program:
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is a strong academic institution committed to ensuring the program continues to grow and develop. The Dean and professional staff are extremely supportive and make every effort to make this one of the best nurse anesthesia programs in the country.
The program has employed a dynamic, energetic program director and professional staff who have been willing to commit extended time to make this program superior. They have turned over every stone to make and remake the curriculum and clinical sites, and also have ensured that the cutting edge of anesthesia education is a part of their program. They stress the importance of research and involvement with the professional organization.
One of the strongest resources of any nurse anesthesia program is the quality of their clinical sites. This program has the best clinical resources available to their students of any this reviewer has ever seen. The professional staff at these diverse sites are the most supportive and professional group I have had the pleasure of visiting. The breadth and depth of practice available is superior. Students have the opportunity to observe and experience every type and complexity of anesthesia practice.
Cutting edge anesthesia programs have the opportunity to practice in areas that most programs can only dream exist. This program has two new and exciting programs that are exhibits of their excellence. One is the practice with a dental anesthesiology group giving students the opportunity to practice in a unique setting. Students are exposed to conscious-sedation in a way that I have never experienced. This unique setting in a very controlled environment allows students to observe the true capabilities of pharmacology and conscious-sedation. The second is the availability of a state of the art anesthesia simulator taken to a new level of expertise again that this reviewer has not previously observed. The director of the simulation center and the nurse anesthesia program director have collaborated to put together a significant "anesthesia crisis management" program that puts anesthesia residents and student nurse anesthetists together in a learning module that is innovative in its approach to achieve specific goals toward leadership development and performance based teamwork. They have developed a learning package that truly develops all aspects of leadership in crisis management that prepares these professionals for the rigors of practice. Also, they have managed to bring these two groups together in a way that fosters a true team approach to practice.
No program can function without quality students who desire to become the best practitioners possible. This anesthesia program has ensured that only the highest quality students are admitted and have found a way to keep them motivated, enthusiastic, and committed to excellence. The students themselves exhibit a fantastic desire to achieve that comes, most probably, from the spirit of friendliness and "esprit" that each and every person exudes that is associated with this program.
This program has developed a superior curriculum that ensures nursing and anesthesia education at the graduate level. They have developed a tremendous evaluation program that keeps each faculty member motivated to update, and improve each and every lecture. Noted are the web-based efforts within the curriculum, the diverse independent studies initiated, and the unique use of the anesthesia simulator. Additionally, the program has a large group of anesthesia professionals associated with the program who are seriously involved with research. Several of the nurse anesthesia students are involved with these faculty in those efforts.
A final strength of this program is the supporting faculty who are committed to nurse anesthesia education. Core courses in the school of nursing bring together a diverse group of professionals to enhance the education of these nurse anesthesia students. Pharmacists, nurses, and dentists are very involved in this education process.
B. Areas of Possible Critical Weakness: NONE
C. Areas Needing Improvement: NONE
MID-CYCLE ACCREDITATION REVIEW- 2004
