Philosophy and Goals

The curriculum of the St. Joseph Hospital School of Anesthesia for Nurses evolves from the following statements of philosophy articulated by the faculty and staff:

• Demands of a more health-oriented citizenry for expanding health care require continuing assessment, evaluation, and updating of all aspects of health, including education of health care providers.
• Administration of anesthesia is an advanced nursing specialty which is an essential component of the health care team.
• Knowledge, attitudes, and skills of select registered nurses can serve as the foundation for the preparation of competent, effective nurse anesthetists.
• Qualified faculty and staff operating within an accredited comprehensive health agency contribute to the milieu for qualitative learning experiences for nurse anesthetists.
• Learning is a life-long process and the continued development of each nurse anesthetist is an essential individual, moral and professional responsibility.

Through application of educational principles and methodology, through theory and practice in the gamut of activities related to anesthesia, and through optimum utilization of clinical and other learning resources, the school aims to enhance and expand the knowledge, attitudes and skills of the professional nurse so that he/she, as a nurse anesthetist, can function safely and effectively in any setting with patients of all ages in all stages of health or illness.