Student Learning Outcomes

The Master of Science in Anesthesiology/MSA Program prepares students to be competent entry-level Anesthesiologist Assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.  

Competency Based Learning Objectives

Domain I: Cognitive (Knowledge)

Medical Knowledge – Students will have a mastery of the practice of Anesthesiology and be conversant in its subspecialties. 

Systems-Based Practice – Students will demonstrate an understanding of university-based anesthesiology practice, including its interactions with other specialties, both medical and surgical. Students will practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation through evidence-based medical practice that does not compromise quality of care. 

Domain II: Psychomotor (Skills) 

By the end of the curriculum, the MSA students will have the psychomotor skills and demonstrate the proper technique of; IV placement, intubation with various airway devices, arterial and central line placement, and spinal and epidural placement. 

Skills in these techniques will be established through: 

Entry Level Skills Mastery – Students will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the practice of anesthesiology and its subspecialties through supervised clinical experiences and be able to perform as an entry-level anesthesiologist assistant.  

Practice-Based Learning & Improvement – Students will be adept at gathering current information on their own, and will be able to judge the quality of this information as it pertains to their clinical milieu.  

Domain III: Affective (Behavior) 

By the end of the curriculum the MSA students will be; consummate professionals, passionate members of the patient care team, life-long learners, and patient care quality advocates. 

Students will develop these skills through:  

1. Patient Care – Students will train to become compassionate, efficient, and effective CAAs that maintain a constant focus on patient safety. 
2. Interpersonal & Communications Skills – Students will have the ability to communicate needs efficiently and clearly (both verbally and in writing) to anesthesiologists, surgeons, patients, patient families, peers and all perioperative staff. 
3. Professionalism – Students will demonstrate the ability to interact professionally with the OR staff, and will maintain a professional image at all times, especially with respect to patients and their visiting family members. 

Upon completion of the M.S. in Anesthesiology/MSA Program, students will be able to: 

1. Evaluate patient medical history 
2. Perform a physical examination 
3. Understand the risks related to surgery 
4. Formulate a safe and cost-effective anesthetic plan based on medical history, physical examination and type of surgery 
5. Have the knowledge base to understand patient physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology related to anesthesia 
6. Have the knowledge base to appropriately respond to changes of patient condition during surgery 
7. Use electronic medical record appropriately 
8. Create a preoperative evaluation, intraoperative chart and a postoperative note in electronic medical record 
9. Will be able to perform sedation, regional and general anesthesia safely and cost-effectively