Supervision of Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists in the Clinical Area

Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs) from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science (RFUMS) are licensed health care providers with extensive experience as critical care registered nurses. Prior to beginning clinical rotations, an RFUMS SRNA completes over 80 credit hours of graduate-level anesthesia related didactic curriculum. All RFUMS SRNAs maintain unencumbered licensure as an RN in the state in which they are receiving nurse anesthesia clinical training. In addition, all SRNAs maintain current BLS, PALS, and ACLS certification.

Consistent with the standards set forth by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA, Revised 01/2018), Clinical Supervision is defined as the “Clinical oversight of graduate students in the clinical area must not exceed (1) 2 graduate students to 1 CRNA or (2) 2 graduate students to 1 anesthesiologist if no CRNA is involved...”

This definition allows for an SRNA to assume responsibility for the anesthesia care of a patient, under the direct and /or indirect oversight of either a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or a Physician Anesthesiologist, consistent with practices that support patient safety. The SRNA’s knowledge and ability; the physical status of the patient; the complexity of the anesthetic and / or surgical procedure; and the experience of the instructor should be taken into consideration when making supervision decisions. The necessary level of supervision of an SRNA in the clinical area must be provided so as to ensure patient safety at all times.