Admission Requirements

1. Proof of professional licensure as an RRT or RN in Canada, AND
   For RRTs
   1. Must have graduated from a RRT program within the last year OR
   2. Must be a graduate from a RRT program and have 2000 hours of work experience within the last 3 years while practicing in critical care areas such as ICU, NICU, PACU, ER.
   For RNs
   Must be a graduate from a RN program and have 2000 hours of work experience within the last 3 years while practicing in critical care areas such as ICU, NICU, PACU, ER.
2. A letter of sponsorship and commitment from an anesthesia department, typically your current place of employment, to deliver the clinical placement; more than one clinical site may be needed to fulfill all required AA program clinical competencies.
3. A resumé, detailing your education and clinical care work experience

Residency Requirements

A minimum of nine TRU credits (distance or on-campus)

Post-Diploma Requirements

Placement Exam

ANES 0011, Anesthesia Assistant Placement Exam (0)

This placement exam is required to determine your course of studies. If you pass all subject areas of the exam, you directly enter and complete the program’s core courses prior to your clinical practicum placement. Otherwise, you must either take the corresponding course that relates to the failed subject area or else take all four support courses, rather than writing the exam.

Support Course Requirements (12 credits)

• HLTH 2511, Introduction to Pharmacology (3)
• HLTH 2573, Arterial Blood Gases (3)
• RESP 1781, Principles and Applications of Respiratory Therapy Equipment I & II (3)
• RESP 2161, Mechanical Ventilation (3)

Core Course Requirements (20 credits)

• ANES 4001, Anesthesia Workstations (3)
• ANES 4003, Airway Management (3)
• ANES 4005, Anesthesia Adjunct Equipment (3)
• ANES 4011, Hemodynamic and Physiological Monitoring (3)
• ANES 4021, Pharmacology and Principles of Clinical Anesthesia (3)
• ANES 4031, Clinical Anesthesia and Special Considerations (3)
• ANES 4061, Anesthesia Assistant Professional Practice (1)
• ANES 4071, Research Skills for Anesthesia Assistants (1)

Practicum Requirements (9 credits)

Following the successful completion of all support and core course requirements, you take the full-time clinical practicum course:

• ANES 4101, Clinical Anesthesia (9)

Prior to your clinical practicum, you must have:

• Provided proof of current Emergency Cardiac Care [Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)] certification
• Passed all required support and core courses
• Discussed the requirements of the clinical practicum placement with your Open Learning Faculty Member and the Clinical Preceptor

Program Completion

The length of the program varies, depending upon your previous experience. However, the average completion time is less than two years; the maximum time allowed is three years. You are expected to continue with full- or part-time employment during your studies.

Clinical Affiliation

To meet the CAS standards established for this program, the clinical affiliate must meet the following requirements before a student is allowed to enter the clinical practicum. A written submission must be supplied in the form of a sponsorship letter.

Requirements

1. Case Load
   The hospital must have sufficient depth and breadth of clinical cases, thus enabling the student to experience the majority of objectives listed in the clinical objectives.

2. Clinical Mentor
   Ideally, an experienced Anesthesia Assistant and Anesthesiologist would be committed to teaching the student. Should the facility not have a Technologist, the Anesthesiologist would have to oversee the entire rotation. The clinical mentor(s) must have sufficient time available for teaching and evaluation of the student.

3. Student Evaluation
   During the clinical practicum, the student must receive ongoing formative feedback that culminates in a summative evaluation.

4. Learning Resources
   The student must have access to current texts, journals and reference materials relevant to the rotation.

5. Length of Rotation
   The clinical practicum is 16 weeks in duration and should be completed consecutively. Any deviation from this policy must be discussed with TRU before the rotation starts.

6. Course Registration
   The student must have paid and registered for the clinical course (ANES 4101) with TRU before starting the rotation. The student is responsible for any additional preceptor fee.

7. Student Records
   The clinical affiliate will keep student records during the rotation and must keep these for a one-year period following completion of the practicum. Permanent records are maintained at TRU.

8. Clinical Rotation Evaluation
   The clinical site will ensure that the student receives an exit interview for the purpose of giving feedback on his/her experience.

9. Liability
   Registered TRU students are covered by the Universities blanket insurance policy. WCB coverage does not extend between provinces.

More Info

• 250-852-7000 (Kamloops and International)
• 1-800-663-9711
• Fax: 250-852-6405
• student@tru.ca

Program Advisory Committee

TRU advisory committees are composed of between five and twelve members appointed by the Provost and VP Academic in consultation with the faculty dean and department chairperson. Nominations for appointment may be submitted by members of the Board of Governors, current Advisory Committee members or TRU/TRU-OL staff members. Appointees may be drawn from such categories as employers and potential employers of program graduates; persons working in program-related occupations or professions; professionals; trade and business organization representatives; students; and staff from other post-secondary institutions.

The role of the Anesthesia Assistant Program Advisory Committee includes advising TRU and TRU-OL on the need for revisions to the program content and on current and projected demand for program graduates. The committee also advises the department on the degree to which the program fulfills the needs of employers and assists in program promotion and the development of links with business, industry and other institutions.

Currently, the Anesthesia Assistant Program Advisory Committee is composed of:

• Dr Raja Rajamohan: MBBS, MD, FRCA, FRCPC
  Medical Director, TRU AA program
  Clinical Assistant professor, UBC Department of Anesthesia
  Staff Anesthesiologist, St.Paul's hospital, Vancouver
• Dr. Matthew Klas: MD, FRCPC
  Clinical Associate Professor Anesthesiology UBC
  Director of Medical Education Providence Health
  Director of Perioperative Echocardiography
  The Heart Center, St. Paul's Hospital Vancouver
• Peter Baxter: CCAA, RRT
  Anesthesia Assistant Supervisor
  BCCH Department of Pediatric Anesthesia Vancouver
• Irfaan Ali: Bsc, Dipl.T., RRT, CCAA
  Supervisor: Anesthesia Assistants,
  St. Paul's Hospital, Mount St. Joseph's Hospital Vancouver
• Sandra Squire: MRSc, BScPT
  Practice Consultant Interdisciplinary
  Student Practice & Allied Health
  PHC Professional Practice Vancouver
• Dr Brian Gregson: Anesthesiologist, Royal Jubilee Hospital
• Dr Lesley Johnston: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Adam Gillis: BHSc, RRT, CCAA, FCSRT
  Health Services Manager,
  Department of Anesthesia Services
  Department of Clinical Perfusion Services
  QEII Health Sciences Center NSHA
• Candi Thompson: Senior Anesthesia Assistant, Royal University Hospital, Saskatchewan

For more information, comments or suggestions, contact the Program Administrator, Science.