Student Support and Success

The mission of the department of nurse anesthesia at Rosalind Franklin University is to prepare and educate nurse anesthetists to provide high quality care in a competent, equitable, and ethical manner. The department is committed to increasing the number of qualified nurse anesthesia professionals through the recruitment of, enrollment of, and support for, dedicated students, faculty and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Support to ensure the success of our students begins at matriculation. The nurse anesthesia department has developed a mentorship program between students and their more senior classmates, as well as faculty mentors assigned at the start of their first quarter of study. Online and in-person study groups are encouraged, and faculty offer virtual office hours to reinforce the content and answer questions. Check out our other web pages for more information about activities that support student success.

Activities Supporting Student Success

Key components of increasing student success within our program include: 1) resources that are included in student fees; 2) departmental structure that includes a Director of Student Success and a Student Success & Wellness Committee; 3) activities that enrich student learning and engagement; and 4) collaboration with external organizations promoting the nurse anesthesia profession.

Student Resources

The program has incorporated the cost for of important student learning resources within student fees. Program faculty believe access to these resources promote student success. Such resources include: all required textbooks; one-year subscription to Osmosis; APEX and Prodigy software for board preparation; cost of taking the NBCRNA Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) and National Certification Examination (NCE); ACLS/PALS recertification; and resources for clinical residency training.

Director of Student Success

One faculty member within the program serves students as the Director of Student Success. This important role helps with early identification of students at risk of failure so that strategies can be employed to improve the opportunity for success. The Director of Student Success is also integral to the process of preparing for first-time success on the National Certification Examination. A Department and College-level committee, that includes student representation, is focused on activities that support the success and wellness of all students.

Activities that Enrich Student Learning

• Extensive faculty-guided low and high-fidelity simulation education
• Cadaver-based Workshop for Difficulty Airway Skills
• Cadaver-based Workshop for Ultrasound-guided Skills
• Hands on Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Skills Training

Collaboration with External Organizations

The Department of Nurse Anesthesia collaborates with external organizations that help it fulfill its mission and support student success. RFU welcomes the opportunity for future collaboration with organizations who seek to promote the nurse anesthesia profession.