Reviewed Aug 2001, Feb 2002, March 2003, Aug 2003, Jan 2004, Mar 2004, Aug 2004, Feb 2005, Sep 2005, Apr 2006, Mar 2007, Sep 2007
Welcome to the University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology. This Student-Faculty Handbook is intended to be used as a reference for questions regarding policy, procedure or any other matters related to the nurse anesthesiology program. It should be referred to on an ongoing basis as questions arise. In addition to the policies in this handbook, students are expected to adhere to all policies in the University of Detroit Mercy Student Handbook and the Graduate Catalog.
Nurse Anesthesia
University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W McNichols
Detroit MI 48221-3038
313-993-2454 Voice, 313-993-1271 Fax
The Program reserves the right to make policy changes as the needs of its administration, faculty, students and conducting or affiliating institutions change. These changes may occur without prior notification. To assure that you have the most current information available, please contact the Program offices.
Revisions of existing policy may be made at any time to correct misspellings, or for simple clarification of wording or expression. Changes that are substantive will go through an approval process.
Suggested new or revised policies will be presented to Education Committee (which has student representation) for a first reading and discussion. The Committee may publish these to students for comments. The Committee will vote on whether to adopt the policies at their next regular meeting. The Committee will determine the implementation date of new policies as part of their review. The Handbook will be published online once a year, on or about September 1, incorporating any policies or language changed in the preceeding 12 months.
The University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, exists to provide excellent, student-centered undergraduate and graduate education in an urban context. A UDM education seeks to integrate the intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development of students.
The University mission evolved from the educational traditions of its sponsors, the Society of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy. These Catholic traditions emphasized concern for the dignity of the person and for the common good of the world community. The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded the University of Detroit in 1877. The Sisters of Mercy, Province of Detroit, founded Mercy College of Detroit in 1941. Together these religious congregations created a partnership in higher education to establish the University of Detroit Mercy in 1990. Each religious congregation brings its spirit to the mission of the University. The spirit includes commitment to quality education, their service of faith and promotion of justice, and compassionate service to persons in need.
The University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology has two antecedents. The Mt Carmel Mercy Hospital/Mercy College of Detroit Program of Nurse Anesthesia graduated its first class in 1942 at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit. It awarded a diploma (1942-1980), a Bachelor's degree (1980-1985), then a Master of Science degree (1985-present). The Program offices were located at St. Joseph Mercy-Oakland (Pontiac, Michigan) from 1990-2004. The program transferred to the sole governance of the University of Detroit Mercy in 2004, and moved its offices from Pontiac, to the McNichols campus in Detroit, in September 2004.
The Henry Ford Hospital/University of Detroit Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology was affiliated with the University of Detroit from its inception in 1985. All graduates were Master of Science-prepared. The consolidation of Mercy College of Detroit and the University of Detroit in 1990, resulted in the two nurse anesthesia programs sharing an academic affiliation, while retaining separate clinical tracks and accreditation. The HFH/UDM program closed voluntarily in late 2002, and its students transferred to, and graduated from, the UDM program.
The Registrar at UDM can provide transcripts and verification of degrees obtained at the Mt Carmel, Mercy College of Detroit, St Joseph Mercy Oakland (Pontiac), Henry Ford Hospital, the University of Detroit, and of course University of Detroit Mercy. For Alumni: Click Transcripts for how to contact the Registrar and obtain a transcript. Please contact us if you need any assistance.
The University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, IL,60068, (847) 655-1160. The program's next accreditation review by the COA is scheduled for October 2015.
The University of Detroit Mercy is accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
The Program does not discriminate based on race, age, creed, gender, sexual orientation, color, national origin, marital status, religion, or any other factor prohibited by law. This applies to all aspects of its operations.
The graduate program in Nurse Anesthesiology, leading to the Master of Science with a specialization in Nurse Anesthesia, seeks to prepare qualified nurses to be highly skilled, values-based, health care practitioners in anesthesia. The faculty's goal is to prepare students for full participation in the specialty of anesthesia and to be cognizant that as members of the health care team they function in the total care of the patient. Finally, the program endeavors to prepare students to seek a higher level of scientific enrichment and a greater appreciation of the behavioral disciplines for the attainment of their own optimal capability. Thus, the program seeks to prepare graduates who will lead, serve, and promote health and social justice.
The program mission exists as a further expression of the mission and vision of the College and University.
The University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, exists to provide excellent student-centered undergraduate and graduate education in an urban context. A UDM education seeks to integrate the intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development of students.
The University of Detroit Mercy will be recognized as a premier private university in the Great Lakes region, distinguished by graduates who lead and serve in their communities.
The College of Health Professions, in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions, prepares professionals to lead individuals, families, and communities to optimal health and well being.
The College of Health Professions will be recognized as an Urban Center of academic excellence, distinguished by community partnerships and graduates who lead, serve, and promote health and social justice.
The faculty believes that care, competence, scientific inquiry, and integrity are the heart of the profession of nurse anesthesia. Care denotes the respect for and advocacy that we provide the patient as a unique individual. Care values guiding practice include respect, integrity, compassion, excellence and vigilance in care delivery. These values will facilitate maintaining or promoting beneficial health or well being of patients and the communities we live and work in. Competence refers to the skill, knowledge of relevant scientific disciplines, and vigilance that we exercise. Scientific inquiry is necessary to the recognition and advancement of the nursing profession and its advanced specialties. Integrity is vital. The faculty expect that students are absolutely honest. This includes admitting mistakes, forthrightness with patients, families, and other team members, and a thorough standard of accountability with respect to controlled and other medications.
The Program seeks to educate students at a higher level of learning. It is necessary to synthesize concepts and theory and apply these in the production of a plan relevant to safe patient care in specialty nursing practice. Students are taught to analyze relationships of various phenomena. The student is expected to exercise a high level of judgment in the classroom or clinical area. The graduate program prepares students beyond the certification and bachelor's level of education in that the graduate can evaluate clinical practice utilizing statistical analysis and research skills. The Program far exceeds minimum standards for programs of nurse anesthesia.
Faculty expectations of students are carefully enumerated in course syllabi and clinical objectives; however, in addition to these, program faculty have additional expectations. We expect that students are intellectually curious and are sensitive of the need to study independently and in depth; to return to physiology and pharmacology, nursing science and other basic courses, to make inferences, draw upon past experience and integrate them with the present, develop concepts, think through processes and to ask questions of oneself and others. We expect that students will learn to cope with stress and pressure and not give up. The volume of work is much greater than students may be accustomed to and it isn't possible to survive utilizing poor study patterns. Memorization of isolated facts is not enough!! We expect that each student's concern and respect for their classmates will be as great as their concern and respect for themselves; if a student comes unprepared for class or clinical assignments, they will require a disproportionate amount of the instructor's time and deprive other students of their rightful share of the learning experience.
Graduate education in the field of nurse anesthesiology will prepare Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists to contribute to the body of knowledge in the specialty of nurse anesthesiology and improve patient care through describing, explaining, predicting and controlling anesthesia related phenomena. Student interest and commitment to research are inextricably related to a learning climate in which scholarly inquiry is valued.
Throughout the program, the student is encouraged to use knowledge and creativity, independent study and increased self-awareness. In addition, the student must readily accept responsibility for his/her actions, actively support the goals of the profession and the Program, display the knowledge and skill needed to act independently, as well as the flexibility to be a good team member.
All members of the University of Detroit Mercy community embrace a learner-centered, learner-first philosophy of service. In so doing, the University seeks to maintain a reputation for excellence in promoting intellectual, spiritual, religious, personal and professional development.
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