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		Program Philosophy Motto The motto of the YCP/WH NAP is “Vigilance, Knowledge, and Compassion”. Each of these three components is indispensable for the practicing anesthetist, and every aspect of anesthesia education, both didactic and clinical, will focus on these attributes. Mission The mission of the program is to educate future nurse anesthetists in an environment of academic and clinical excellence. This educational mission will be hallmarked by mutual respect, integrity, personalized high-quality instruction, and an emphasis on critical thinking. Education tasks will always be performed in the most cost-effective manner possible. Philosophy of the Program “Whom, then, do I call educated? First, those who control circumstances instead of being mastered by them; …those who meet all occasions…and act in accordance with intelligent thinking; …those who are honorable in all dealings, who treat good-naturedly persons and things that are disagreeable…” Socrates The anesthetized patient is perhaps the most helpless patient in all of healthcare. The nurse anesthetist functions in the role of advocate during the period of the patient’s unconscious or decreased levels of cognition during surgery. The role of the advocate is not easily undertaken. In order to successfully undertake this role, the student nurse anesthetist must excel in the areas of knowledge, professionalism, and psychomotor skills relevant to the administration of anesthesia as a CRNA. We believe that the nurse anesthetist must have at his or her command the details of a discrete body of knowledge. This knowledge has come from both the medicine and nursing, and is taught to allow the student to better care for the patient. In order to “control circumstances instead of being mastered by them”, the student must understand the wide range of events that can occur during the course of a surgical procedure, as well as the armamentarium of tools at his or her disposal to control these events. Next, mastering and controlling the events requires “intelligent thinking”. The student must critically analyze the data in both didactic and clinical instruction, and then come to a conclusion and act upon their decision. After acting, the student will always review the effects of his or her actions, and take corrective measures, if needed, to achieve their final goal, whether the care of the patient or the completion of the course assignment. Being “honorable in all dealings” requires a focus on integrity. The emphasis on autonomy in anesthesia practice makes integrity a crucial aspect of instruction. Students are expected to maintain the highest standard of honesty and openness during their instruction and subsequent practice. The practitioner in any area of advanced nursing must “treat good-naturedly persons and things that are disagreeable.” Beginning with the student’s classmates and faculty, as well as their enrollment in a rigorous course of study, it will be important for each student to stay focused and positive. Though faculty members are always available for coaching, the student will still need an upbeat outlook and “failure is not an option” attitude to succeed in the program. An unfailing respect for the dignity of every patient as a unique human being with his or her own individual needs and goals is crucial for the aspiring nurse anesthetist. Difficult and demanding cases, highly emotional and stressful situations in the operating room, and a wide variation in the personalities of those working in the operating room require the student to maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Flexibility, calmness, and self-assurance are the hallmarks of the excellent student. On entry into the program, each core group of students becomes a team. Studying together, reviewing in small groups, and working on group projects enhance the professional relationships that will last a lifetime in the small community of CRNAs. The faculty has but one purpose; to help you become the best possible nurse anesthetists. As faculty and staff, we ask for your trust in our judgment. We promise that 1) your time will not be wasted, 2) that you will be treated with the respect you have earned as professional registered nurses, and 3) that you will be reliably and validly evaluated at every point in your education.