Instructional Methods for Human Anatomy and Cell Biology in Nurse AnesthesiaGraduate Programs: A Survey with a Focus on Regional Anesthesia

摘要

Advanced anatomy instruction is required in nurse anesthesia programs by theCouncil on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). This study provides a descriptive analysis on how anatomy is taught in nurse anesthesia programs in the United States with special emphasis on regional anesthesia. A survey consisting of 18 questions regarding anatomy course curriculum and regional anesthesia training was mailed to the nurse anesthesia programs (n=87) accredited by the COA. Supporting evidence for content validity and reliability was obtained. A total of 78 programs (90%) responded to the survey. The majority of programs 49 (63%) teach a specific course in human anatomy with 14 (18%) of those programs teaching a combined anatomy and physiology course. The mean hours spent in lecture was 5 hours per week. More variability in the lab hours existed with a range of 0-20 hours, a mode of 0 hours, and a mean of 2 hours per week. Twenty-two (28%) of the programs use human specimens with 10 (13%) using prosected specimens, 2 (3%) using dissection only, and 10 (13%) using a combination of both. Of the programs using human specimens, 17 (22%) have instructors demonstrate regional anesthetic techniques in situ, and 3 (4%) of the programs afford the students the opportunity to practice regional anesthetic techniques on the specimens. Computer assisted instruction (CAI) is used by 14 (18%) of the programs with many more planning to incorporate this new technique in the near future. With such disparity among programs, a need for further investigation regarding the efficacy of different instructional techniques is warranted.