IFNA

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IFNAs Approval Process for Anesthesia Programs

• APAP

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Goals of APAP

• To encourage programs to comply with IFNAs
  Educational Standards for Preparing Nurse
  Anesthetists through an approval process that
  takes cultural differences into consideration
• To improve the health and welfare of humanity by
  promoting international educational standards

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Philosophy Behind APAP
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IFNAs Belief

• If nurses are utilized for preoperative or
  postoperative preparation of the patient and if
  they perform venous and arterial cannulation,
  induction and emergence of anesthesia,
  intubation, and extubation, and if they are left
  alone for any reason, they should be
  appropriately educated.

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IFNAs Belief

• If nurses are being utilized in such a
  mannerIFNA is concerned that their educational
  process is sufficient to support anesthesia
  practice and patient safety.
• Professional Study Resource
• Guide for the CRNA

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Development of APAP
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Interest in Quality Assurance for Anesthesia
Education

• 1997 CQAIE speech in Vienna
• 1998 Education Committee proposed QA program for
  education practice
• 2000 Discussed at Chicago World Congress
• 2001 Discussed at Officers meeting
• 2002 COA-USA presents to CNR in Helsinki
• 2005 Education Committee begins plan for
  international approval of programs

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Procedure Used to Develop APAP

• 2006-2007 First draft of application process
  developed by Education Committee with members
  from Switzerland, Africa, Taiwan, Sweden USA
• June 2008 Three programs completed the pilot
  project and were awarded Recognition
• Sweden
• The Netherlands
• USA

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Procedure to Develop APAP

• Application process revised based on feedback
  from pilot project
• Preliminary approval of draft documents by
  decision making bodies of IFNA
• Call for public comments on IFNA website plus
  individual organizations invited to comment
• Proposal revised based on comments received
• Final approval by IFNA
• Introduction of APAP at World Congress in 2010

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Categories of Approval
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Categories of Approval

• APAP is designed to work with anesthesia programs
  as they currently exist if they pledge to meet
  IFNAs Education Standards to the best of their
  ability.
• Three categories of approval are available. Only
  one type will be awarded to a program at any
  given time.

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Three Categories of Approval

• Recognizes the
• (1) diversity of nurse anesthesia programs
  throughout the world
• (2) the economic stage of development of a
  country
• (3) the resources available to individual
  programs
• (4) a commitment of diverse programs to a common
  standard of educational quality.

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Categories of Approval

• Programs can apply for one category of approval
• Registration
• Recognition
• Accreditation

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IFNA Anesthesia Education Program Registration

• Pledge to comply with Education Standards to best
  of its ability
• Signature of program director and highest
  institutional official
• Submit curriculum for posting on IFNAs website

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IFNA Anesthesia Education Program Recognition

• Pledge to comply with Education Standards to best
  of its ability
• Signature of program director and highest
  institutional official
• Submit curriculum for audit to determine
  substantial compliance with Education Standards

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IFNA Anesthesia Education Program Accreditation

• Pledge to comply with Education Standards
• Submit a self study
• Host an on-site visit by IFNA representatives
• Review by Education Committee
• Agreement or remand by Board of Officers CNR

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Eligibility for Approval(All 3 Categories)

• Programs in IFNA member or non-member countries
• Students are non-physicians
• Require education in nursing or another
  scientific background (Registration
  Recognition)
• Require education in nursing (Accreditation)

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Eligibility for Approval(All 3 Categories)

• Evidence from government that program has current
  official status in the country, if available
• Evidence that the program has not been denied
  approval by a governmental or nongovernmental
  accreditation or quality assurance entity
• Authorized, recognized, chartered, audited or
  accredited

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Decision Process
Agree or send it back To Education Committee
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Types of Decisions

• Registration
• Recognition
• Accreditation
• Denial
• Withdrawal
• Warning
• Revocation

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Certificate of Approval

• Awarded to approved programs in every category
• Signed by IFNA President Education Committee
  Chair

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Renewal 5 year intervals

• Program requirements
• Update application or self study to meet new
  requirements changes in program
• Complete faculty student evaluations in
  categories of Recognition and Accreditation
• New self study site visit may be requested if
  problems with meeting Standards

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Fees

• Registration or Recognition No fee

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Fees

• Accreditation Program pays
• 1500 Swiss Francs at application
• Costs of site visit
• 1 day to review self study
• 2 days on site
• 2 days travel
• 1 day to write report

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APAP Outcome

• Encourage programs to comply with IFNAs
  Educational Standards for Preparing Nurse
  Anesthetists through an approval process that
  considers cultural, national, or regional
  differences.
• Collegial process to improve education programs

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Summary

• APAP can encourage globalization of education for
  nurse anesthetists
• Global education standards are important

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Thank you!

• bhorton_at_pwr-net.coop