The increasing use of technology in classroom instruction has grown
exponentially over the years. The Oakland University - Beaumont Graduate
Program of Nurse Anesthesia (OUBGPNA) is a leader in the use of
distance technology. In 2001, the Program was the first in the nation to
receive a $300,000 grant to begin a distance education program.
As of 2021, more than 60 distance students have graduated from the program. The Council on Accreditation requires that distance education programs and courses meet the same standards and achieve the same outcomes as traditional educational offerings. The OUBGPNA distance education program evidences high quality through the achievement of its graduates. Many have been recipients of awards for academic and clinical excellence such as the prestigious Agatha Hodgins Award, the Edward Petrovich Scholarship, and many academic honors from Oakland University. Graduates have also moved into high-level anesthesia department managerial and administration roles.
One of the goals of OUBGPNA's
distance education program is to overcome barriers of place and time.
Distance learning allows education to reach those who are located at
distance primary sites. The program endeavors to connect students in the
classroom at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak with those off campus in an
atmosphere that promotes a feeling of belonging and camaraderie by the
use of video, audio, and active learning.
There are various off
campus classrooms for students enrolled in the program. These classrooms
are located either in or near the hospitals where students are accepted
and like Beaumont, they are called primary sites. All students in the
program regardless of location will rotate outside of their primary
site. In addition, distance students have the opportunity and
expectation to participate in the Simulation Lab and obtain clinical
experiences at Beaumont Hospital when assigned. A description of each
distance site follows: