TA Program

Program Details:

Recruitment and retention of Nurse Anesthesia faculty has traditionally been a challenge. One of the methods to overcome recruiting difficulties is to identify truly talented nurse anesthesia residents and develop their love for education at the time that they are in training. Many trainees have a genuine interest in teaching, and this program will provide them with the tools to develop skills to become future anesthesia educators while they are still in training themselves.  The Teaching Assistant Program has been created to nurture these future educators, while also providing assistance to faculty instructing in the correlations lab.

As a front-loaded program, the first 18 months of training are spent in the classroom learning the principles and theory of anesthesia as well as advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, physiology and pathophysiology. To reinforce that content, trainees spend nine months in the Clinical Correlations Lab turning those ideas they learned about in lecture into practice.  Topics and skills taught in the simulated environment are carefully crafted to specifically demonstrate the topics recently presented in class as a way to solidify the learning.  Working in groups in the state-of-the art simulation lab is the closest thing to real life patient care; which allows us to ensure that our residents understand the concepts and can put them into practice safely.

This tightly woven curriculum and correlations is one of the most unique and powerful aspects of the RFU Nurse Anesthesia program, and Teaching Assistants are an integral part of the correlations experience.

Program Details

CRNA residents are permitted to apply to the TA Program at the end of the fall quarter of their second year, at which time they would have just completed the three correlations courses themselves.  Applications for these competitive positions will be reviewed at the end of the fall quarter, and the selected TAs will be notified during the beginning months of their clinical residency.  There will be no disruption to the first quarter of clinical training for the selected TA’s. Following successful completion of their first clinical residency rotation in the winter quarter, TAs will return to campus to assist with Clinical Correlations Lab, instructor guided lab practice time, further development of curriculum, and possible tutoring sessions. TAs will support fellow trainees from the upcoming cohort in their didactic education for four quarters (SP-SU-FA-XX-SP). TA’s may also provide virtual didactic review sessions or live review sessions during or after the correlation event with select students as requested by faculty. During additional workshops conducted by the faculty (advanced airway, regional, U/S guided vascular access), TAs may be asked to participate as staff at the event. TA’s will be expected to provide their own transportation to any in-person educational activity.

RFU Nurse Anesthesia program is excited to offer this program to our residents.  This is a great opportunity for you to become acquainted with the process of instructional planning, content integration, and simulated learning implementation. 

Expectations of TAs

If selected for the program, TAs will be scheduled for simulation support at Huntley, no more than three times per month. Once selected, TAs will provide a photo and short biographical sketch that will be posted on the department website. Duties as a TA will be in addition to regularly scheduled clinical hours. The coordinator of simulation education will work with the coordinator of clinical education and specific clinical site coordinators, if needed, to minimize the impact on clinical training. TAs may be placed on 10 or 12 hour shifts at the clinical site to be able to schedule days off from clinical to participate in simulation activities, starting in the second quarter of clinical.  Learning objectives and activities for the week will vary according to the didactic content being reinforced. TAs may be scheduled to conduct tutoring in lieu of simulation for specified periods of time, with all TAs participating in the rotation for tutoring activities. Each TA will spend no more than three days per month in person or providing remote tutoring sessions.

The following terms outline the basic expectations that are required for continued participation in the program.

·       TAs may be assigned weekly (rather than self-schedule) by the coordinator of simulation education

·       TAs will not participate in more than three (3) sessions per month

·       There is no minimum SEE score to apply to the program, however failure to achieve any benchmark score set by the program for the SEE may result in the TA being relieved of their duties.

·       TAs are required to provide instruction that is consistent with the program guidance and policies.

·       Ongoing formative evaluations of the TAs clinical performance should demonstrate they meet all expectations of their rotations and are in “good standing” with the program.

·       During specialty rotations (Shriner’s, specialty heart) or while the TA is assigned to a distant site, participation by that TA may be limited according to the discretion of the coordinator for clinical education.

·       TAs will be expected to provide an orientation to the incoming set of TAs in the spring of their outgoing year.

·       TAs will be provided with an evaluation from the faculty and the students at the conclusion of their tenure.

To further support the development of TAs as educators, they are highly encouraged to attend the Assembly of Didactic and Clinical Educators (ADCE), which is conducted every February by the AANA in a different location.  A stipend will be provided to the TAs to defer the cost of attendance at that conference. When possible, additional funding may be allocated from the NA budget to compensate the TAs with a modest stipend.

Schedule for the TA Program

Year Two Team 25 (2022-2023 activities)

Winter 2023- clinical rotations begin, doctoral project work, TAs selected by faculty

Spring 2024– clinical rotations, doctoral project work, TA program commitment 3/mo

Summer 2024- clinical rotations, doctoral project work, TA program commitment 3/mo

Fall 2024- clinical rotations, doctoral project work, TA program commitment 3/mo

Winter 2024- clinical rotations, doctoral project work.

Spring 2025- clinical rotations, role transition, graduation! Orient new group of TAs (2 weeks), attend ADCE, facilitate RTC discussions