Terminal Objectives

Upon completion of the KPSA DNP Nurse Anesthesia program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to:

Patient Safety and Quality of Care

Conduct comprehensive preanesthetic assessments and develop individualized, evidence-based anesthesia care plans. (Domain 1 & 2)
Deliver safe anesthesia care across the entire perianesthetic continuum, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. (Domain 2 & 5)
Maintain vigilance and prioritize patient safety throughout all aspects of anesthesia delivery. (Domain 5)
Demonstrate proficiency in advanced airway management techniques across diverse patient populations. (Domain 1 & 2)
Utilize current anesthesia techniques, pharmacologic agents, adjunctive medications, and technology in the safe administration of anesthesia. (Domain 1)
Interpret and apply data from invasive and noninvasive monitoring modalities to guide clinical decision-making. (Domain 1 & 8)
Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid, electrolyte, and blood component therapy appropriately. (Domain 1 & 5)
Recognize, prevent, and manage anesthetic complications, including crisis and emergency situations. (Domain 5)
Conduct comprehensive anesthesia equipment checks and identify, troubleshoot, and resolve equipment-related malfunctions. (Domain 5 & 8)
Implement infection prevention strategies and protect patients from iatrogenic complications. (Domain 3 & 5)
Apply quality improvement principles and safety science to improve patient and system-level outcomes. (Domain 5 & 7)

Individualized Perianesthetic Management Across Populations

Provide anesthesia services to patients across the lifespan and across the full spectrum of physical status classifications. (Domain 2)
Deliver anesthesia care for a wide variety of surgical and medically-related procedures, including trauma and emergency cases. (Domain 2)
Integrate advanced physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology into patient-centered anesthesia management. (Domain 1)
Adapt anesthetic management to complex comorbidities and high-acuity clinical presentations. (Domain 2)
Deliver culturally responsive and equitable perianesthetic care to diverse patient populations. (Domain 2 & 3)
Collaborate effectively with interprofessional teams to optimize patient outcomes. (Domain 6)

Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment

Apply advanced clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills in dynamic perioperative environments. (Domain 1)
Integrate scientific underpinnings and current research evidence into anesthesia practice. (Domain 4)
Translate evidence into clinical practice to improve patient safety and quality outcomes. (Domain 4)
Utilize data analytics, quality metrics, and health information systems to evaluate and improve anesthesia care delivery. (Domain 8)
Critically appraise scholarly literature and integrate findings to guide clinical and systems-level decision-making. (Domain 4)

Systems-Based Practice and Healthcare Leadership

Apply principles of organizational leadership, systems thinking, and healthcare finance to anesthesia practice. (Domain 7 & 10)
Participate in quality management and risk reduction initiatives to enhance patient safety. (Domain 5 & 7)
Analyze healthcare policy and reimbursement systems as they relate to advanced nursing practice. (Domain 7)
Advocate for policies and initiatives that improve patient care and advance the nurse anesthesia profession. (Domain 3, 7, & 10)
Incorporate cost-conscious and resource stewardship principles into clinical decision-making. (Domain 7)
Engage in activities that influence healthcare systems, professional practice, and patient outcomes. (Domain 7 & 10)

Communication and Professionalism

Communicate effectively with patients, families, and all members of the healthcare team using appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and written communication strategies. (Domain 6)
Demonstrate proficiency in delivering organized and professional scholarly and clinical presentations. (Domain 4)
Exhibit ethical decision-making, personal accountability, and professional integrity in all practice environments. (Domain 9)
Respect human dignity and demonstrate compassion toward patients, colleagues, and communities. (Domain 9)
Function as an advocate for patients, families, and populations to promote health and safety. (Domain 2, 3, & 9)

Scholarly Practice and Professional Development

Demonstrate competency in clinical scholarship and analytical methods consistent with doctoral-level nursing practice. (Domain 4)
Design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a scholarly project that translates evidence into practice improvement. (Domain 4)
Apply principles of lifelong learning and professional growth in advanced practice. (Domain 10)
Engage in professional activities that advance the nurse anesthesia profession. (Domain 10)

Readiness for Independent Practice

Demonstrate integration of clinical expertise, scientific knowledge, leadership, scholarship, and professional judgment consistent with entry into independent nurse anesthesia practice. (Domain 10)
Meet all competency expectations aligned with Council on Accreditation (COA) Graduate Standards D1–D50. (Domain 10)

The KPSA terminal objectives align with and encompass COA Graduate Standards D1–D50.

The KPSA terminal objectives were derived from KP and CSUF’s mission, vision, and core values and reflect current educational and professional standards, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Essentials for Doctoral Education.

AACN DNP Essentials (2022)

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice
Domain 2: Person-Centered Care
Domain 3: Population Health
Domain 4: Scholarship for Nursing Practice
Domain 5: Quality and Safety
Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships
Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice
Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
Domain 9: Professionalism
Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development