APAP Operational Policies
Programs admitting nurses, non-nurses and both types of students are eligible for approval. This recognizes the differences that currently exist among students enrolled in anesthesia programs in various countries. The ultimate goal of offering an approval process for all types of anesthesia programs is to improve anesthesia patient care by encouraging programs to use IFNA’s Educational Standards irrespective of available local resources.
Eligibility for Approval
- All non-physician anesthesia programs would be eligible for approval. This would include programs that require applicants to be nurses as stated in IFNA’s Educational Standards or programs that require applicants to have scientific backgrounds that prepare students to be successful in developing the competencies needed to become anesthesia professionals.
- For the purpose of program approval, admission requirements would need to include an education in nursing or another scientific background that prepares a student to succeed in the anesthesia education program.
- Anesthesia programs from countries that are not members of IFNA as well as those from IFNA member countries would be eligible to apply for approval.
If a program is interested in applying for Recognition or Accreditation an Eligibility Application must be submitted and approved by the Education Committee prior to submitting the application for approval.
REGISTRATION
IFNA “Registration” requires the submission of an Application for Registration pledging by the anesthesia program to meet the IFNA Educational Standards to the best of its ability. The program will also be required to submit its curriculum and related material for review and approval by the IFNA Education Committee.
The program’s curriculum will be posted on IFNA’s website with a statement that IFNA had not approved the curriculum, but it was being posted for information only. The website will note that the program had committed to meeting the IFNA Educational Standards to the best of its ability.
Registration must be renewed every five years. An Application for Registration and other related material has to be submitted at the time or renewal.
RECOGNITION
IFNA “Recognition” requires the submission of an Application for Recognition pledging by the anesthesia program to meet the IFNA Educational Standards to the best of its ability. The program will also be required to submit its curriculum and related material for review and approval by the IFNA Education Committee.
The information would be audited to determine if it met the IFNA Educational Standards. Following the auditing process, the program’s curriculum will be posted on IFNA’s website with a statement that IFNA had reviewed the curriculum and determined it substantially met IFNA’s Educational Standards. The website would note that the program had substantially met the IFNA Educational Standards as determined by an audit of written program materials.
Renewal of recognition is due every five years. A Renewal Application Recognition and other related material has to be submitted.
ACCREDITATION
IFNA “Accreditation” offers 2 pathways:
IFNA Accreditation requiring the submission of a pledge by the anesthesia program to meet the IFNA Educational Standards. The program will also be required to submit its curriculum and related material in a written Application (Self-study) Accreditation for review by the IFNA Education Committee. The information would also be evaluated by an on-site team of visitors to determine if it met the IFNA Educational Standards.
Following the accreditation process, the program’s curriculum will be posted on IFNA’s website with a statement that IFNA had reviewed the curriculum, reviewed a self – study, conducted an on-site visit to the program and determined the program substantially met the IFNA Educational Standards.
Renewal for Accreditation is due every five years. A Renewal Application for Accreditation and other related material has to be submitted.
The second option is IFNA Deemed Accreditation.
The program will is required to submit an Application Deemed Accreditation for review and approval by the IFNA Education Committee.Programs approved through this pathway must verify that the program has met its official governmental or non-governmental standards for nurse anesthesia education. Evidence that an on-site evaluation of the program has been conducted by the official governmental or non-governmental agency. The program also must prove that those standards are equivalent or exceed IFNA’s Education Standards. A nurse anesthesia program with Deemed Accreditation status will have all the privileges of an accredited program.
Renewal for Deemed Accreditation is due every five years. An Application Deemed Accreditation and related material has to be submitted at the time of renewal.
Fees
The proposed fees for approval are:
- No fees would be charged for the categories of Registration and Recognition.
- Programs applying for Accreditation pay the expenses associated with the site visit and a small administrative fee.
- Programs applying for Deemed Accreditation pay an application fee of 1500 Swiss Francs.
Questions related to the approval process can be submitted to Mrs. Madsen APAP Manager: apap@ifna.org.
For more information see: International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists, Anesthesia Program Approval Process (APAP), Operational Policies and Procedures, June 2015, pg. 1 – 2).