Instructional Methods for Neuroscience in Nurse Anesthesia Graduate Programs: A Survey of Educational Programs

摘要

Advanced neuroscience instruction is a requirement for certification as a nurse anesthetist. The importance of learning neuroscience for the nurse anesthetist is reflected through the required hours determined by the Council of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Thirty percent of the certification examination relates to neuroscience. There are currently no studies in the literature describing instructional methods in neuroscience for nurse anesthesia programs. This study provides a descriptive analysis on how neuroscience is taught in accredited nurse anesthesia programs. A survey consisting of 29 questions regarding neuroscience course curriculum was mailed to the nurse anesthesia programs (n=83) accredited by the Council on Accreditation. Supporting evidence for content validity and reliability was obtained prior to the mailing. A total of 54 programs (64%) responded to the survey. The majority of the programs (51%) teach a specific course in neuroscience. The mean number of semester hours was (3.6 hours). The mean hours spent in lecture was 5 hours per week. The mean hours spent in the laboratory was 1 hour. Variability existed in the methods used for instruction. Textbooks were used on the average 33 % of the time teaching neuroscience. Lectures were used on the average 47 % of the time to teach neuroscience. Computer-aided instruction was used approximately 1% of the time to teach neuroscience. Clinical experience accounted for 10% of the instruction time to teach neuroscience. Laboratory time accounted for 1% and other for 2% of the time.