Advanced Pain Management Fellowship
The Fellowship post-masters certificate program in advanced pain management for nurse anesthetists is comprised of a classroom component offered via distance education (didactic education) and a clinical component (hands-on clinical experience offered through one or more clinical sites).
The goal of this post-graduate program is to approach pain management holistically by addressing the treatment of pain in ways that ultimately seek to restore normal homeostatic well-being. When a return to normal and healthy regulation is not possible, the fellow will seek to provide comfort, hope and meaning to support a patient’s highest potential of human functioning.
An applicant must be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) who holds a graduate degree. Completion of a basic assessed non-surgical pain management cadaver course is required prior to enrollment in the program.
The TCU Advanced Pain Management Fellowship is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068; (847)655-1160. The fellowship’s term of accreditation is May 2019-May 2024 at which time it may choose to seek continued accreditation. This certificate is not an education prerequisite for an advanced practice nursing license.
Admission
The mission of the program is to educate Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to be competent providers of care to patients who suffer from chronic pain. The purpose of the Advanced Pain Management program is to educate and prepare advanced pain management practitioners to deliver holistic pain management care, including comprehensive pain management interventions and patient education. Graduates from the Advanced Pain Management Fellowship Program who meet all of the NBCRNA eligibility criteria will be able to apply for the Nonsurgical Pain Management (NSPM) sub-specialty certification exam. The NSPM credential program measures the knowledge, skills, and abilities of NBCRNA-certified registered nurse anesthetists for practice in the NSPM field. Please visit the NBCRNA website for more details.
The Advanced Pain Management Fellowship requires completion of a (1) basic and (2) intermediate assessed non-surgical pain management (NSPM) cadaver workshop.
- Applicants accepted into the fellowship will attend the basic NSPM cadaver workshop in June or July prior to the start of fellowship courses in August.
- Fellows enrolled in the fellowship will take the intermediate NSPM cadaver workshop in October during the fall semester. The intermediate NSPM workshop is coupled with a required, on-campus physical assessment and diagnosis skills checkoff.
- The basic and intermediate NSPM cadaver workshops are held in Fort Worth.
- Instructions for NSPM cadaver course enrollment will be provided during fellowhship interviews. For NSPM cadaver workshop questions, please contact Jackie Rowles, APMF Director, j.rowles@tcu.edu.
This online educational course covers the six content areas of the NSPM exam, has obtained official recognition from the NBCRNA, and has received prior approval by the AANA for 10 Class A Continuing Education Credits, including 1 Pharmacology credit.
Online learning offers the ability to learn at a time and place that is optimal for each learner. Module post-tests are open book and offer the learner 3 attempts to obtain the passing score of 80%. Once successfully completed, a continuing education certificate will be electronically issued and continuing credits reported directly to the AANA.
This program has been prior approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists for 12.75 Class A CE credits; Code Number 1042296; Expiration Date 5/30/2023. AANA designates this program as meeting the criteria for up to 3.00 CE Credits in pharmacology/therapeutics.
Curriculum Model for the Advanced Pain Management Program
The curriculum model is depicted as a pyramid. The base is formed by (1) theoretical foundations of CRNA pain management. Ascending the pyramid are (2) imaging and radiation safety, (3) assessment, diagnosis, integration, and referral, (4) pharmacological treatments and alternative treatments and (5) interventional pain strategies. At the pinnacle is (6) comprehensive pain treatment. Aspects integral to the pain management program overlay the pyramid surface. Developmental and socio-cultural aspects surround the pyramid base and sides (1-5). Psychological and spiritual aspects encompass the top level of the pyramid structure, comprehensive pain treatment. The curriculum model was created for teaching pain management….promoting well-being.
GPA Requirements
A grade is assigned for each course that a fellow is enrolled for graduate credit. A passing grade may be earned only if the student is enrolled for the duration of the course. The Advanced Pain Management Fellowship requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 for graduation. A student who receives a course grade of less than ‘B’ in any course will be dismissed from the program. Clinical practicums are pass/no credit. All requirements for the clinical practicum must be met to earn a grade of ‘pass’. A grade of ‘no credit’ will result in dismissal from the program.
Policy on Grading Scale
The faculty of the Advanced Pain Management use the following scale in determining course grades.
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
F = £ 69
Post Graduate Certificate: Advanced Non-Surgical Pain Management Course Schema
2020-2021 Academic Year
Required Courses:
Semester I (fall) 7 hours
- NRAN 82223 Pain Evaluation and Treatment
- NRAN 82133 Imaging and Radiation Safety
- NRAN 82331 Anatomy and Physiology for Pain Management
Semester II (spring) 8 hours
- NRAN 82111 Comprehensive Pain Treatment Clinical Practicum I
- NRAN 82233 Pharmacology for Pain Management
- NRAN 82323 Interventional Pain Strategies for Advanced Pain Practice
- NRAN 82221 Psychology and Spirituality in Pain Management
Semester III (summer) 4 hours
- NRAN 82211 Comprehensive Pain Treatment Clinical Practicum II
- NRAN 82143 Special Topics in Pain Management