Nurse anesthesia program consulting
Elevating CRNA education, program by program
We help nurse anesthesia programs plan, launch, earn accreditation and improve, from curriculum development to accreditation readiness. Every consultant is a practicing, doctorally prepared CRNA.
Programs often call us when
- An institution is deciding whether to start a program
- A COA self-study or site visit is on the calendar
- First-time NCE pass rates have slipped
- A five-year program review needs an outside reviewer
- A new program administrator inherits a program
Ways to work with us
Start where your program is today
Three engagements cover a program's life, from the first feasibility question to the signed report in your institution's review file.
Before launchNew program consultingFeasibility, curriculum architecture and the COA accreditation pathway, so the program is built right the first time.Feasibility and capacity planning, curriculum architecture and the COA accreditation pathway, so the program is built right the first time.Established programsExisting program reviewProgram Vitals: a third-party diagnostic of budget, staffing and accreditation readiness.Program Vitals, our third-party diagnostic of budget, staffing and accreditation readiness: where you can save, and whether you can grow.Institutional review cyclesExternal reviewAn independent, credentialed reviewer, with a signed report for your institution's file.An independent, credentialed reviewer for a five-year program review, a self-study or an accreditation cycle, with a signed report for your file.
Our mission
We partner with CRNA programs to build stronger curricula, develop effective educators and position programs for sustained accreditation success.
Who does the work
- Doctorally prepared CRNAs (DNP and DNAP)
- Actively practicing in anesthesia today
- Fellows of the AANA and the American Academy of Nursing
- A current nurse anesthesia program administrator
What we do
Support across the whole program
Curriculum development
Sequencing, mapping and faculty load, aligned with COA standards.Course sequencing, clinical hour distribution, curriculum mapping and faculty load calculations aligned with COA standards.
COA accreditation support
Self-study, site visit readiness and post-visit response.Self-study preparation, standards alignment, site visit readiness and post-visit response, for initial accreditation, focused review or reaccreditation.
NCE readiness
Blueprint mapping, exam-style questions and early support.Curriculum mapped to the NBCRNA content blueprint, practice questions written in exam style, and early identification of students who need support.
Clinical simulation design
Scenarios, debriefing and facilitation tied to COA competencies.Scenario libraries, structured debriefing, lab setup and faculty facilitation training, tied to COA competency requirements.
Faculty development
Workshops, coaching and academic support.Workshops, individual coaching and academic support that help new and experienced faculty turn clinical expertise into student learning.
Program evaluation and outcomes
Pass rates, attrition and employment, benchmarked.Pass rates, attrition, employment and competency data, benchmarked against peer programs and turned into an implementation roadmap.
How an engagement works
Five steps, starting with a free conversation
Step 1: Discovery
A free consultation about your context, goals and constraints.A free initial consultation about your program's context, goals and constraints. We listen first.
Step 2: Comprehensive assessment
Curriculum, outcome data, faculty and clinical site capacity.Curriculum mapped to COA standards and the NBCRNA content blueprint, outcome data, faculty and clinical site capacity, and student support.
Step 3: Findings and recommendations
A written report, each recommendation tied to evidence.A written report with prioritized recommendations, each tied to a standard, benchmark or piece of evidence, and each with a plan for carrying it out.
Step 4: Implementation support
We help your team put the changes in place.We work with your faculty and administration to put the changes in place, at the level of involvement you choose.
Step 5: Ongoing partnership
Check-ins and support through your next accreditation cycle.Periodic check-ins, annual outcome reviews and support through your next accreditation cycle.
A comprehensive assessment typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from kickoff to final report. Focused audits can move faster.
Your consultants
The people who will actually do the work
Dr. Zach Stewart
DNAP, CRNA, APRNCo-founder and chief operating officer
Dr. Michael MacKinnon
DNP, CRNA, FNP-C, FAANASenior consultant
Dr. Angela Mund
DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAANSenior consultant
Dr. Boone Simmons
DNP, CRNA, APRNConsultant
Insights and resources
From the blog
Before you commit: what a feasibility study should tell you
Where to start when NBCRNA pass rates slip
Also from our team
SynesthesiaCRNA
SynesthesiaCRNA is the first and only comprehensive platform built specifically for nurse anesthesia programs, by practicing CRNAs who understand the unique challenges of anesthesia education. It brings everything a program needs into one place, simplifies day-to-day management and gives educators better tools.
Visit synesthesiacrna.com- Student demographic management
- COA-compliant clinical case tracking
- Location-based clock-in and clock-out
- Clinical evaluations
- Customizable program and course evaluations
- Anesthesia care plan tools
- Rotation scheduling and student surveys
- Curriculum mapping and faculty load
- iOS and Android apps
Ready to strengthen your CRNA program?
Tell us about your program and what you're trying to solve, and we'll show you how we can help.Every program faces its own pressures: budget, staffing, outcomes and accreditation. Tell us about yours and what you're trying to solve, and we'll show you how we can help.