Nurse Anesthesia, M.S.

Curriculum

---

Program Description

The Nurse Anesthesia Program is a 28-month course of continuous study.To provide students with sufficient clinical hours to meet course and clinical objectives and to comply with the numbers and types of anesthesia cases required by COA, each session is continuous with the next session (block format), with vacations and holidays appropriately dispersed.

Dates for registration, dropping courses without penalty, and student health requirements are contained in the Academic Bulletin or Student Handbook.

Policies

The policies and procedures for the Master of Science degree in Nurse Anesthesia are contained in the student manual. By accepting admission as a student in the program, each applicant agrees to abide by the policies as outlined in the Nurse Anesthesia Program Supplemental Student Handbook.

Mental and Physical Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the Nurse Anesthesia Program must:

• Have sufficient visual acuity to observe and assess a patient, to discriminate color and depth, to read and accurately complete reports and to visualize diagnostic/monitoring equipment in dim light.
• Have sufficient hearing to monitor and assess patient health needs, to monitor various equipment and background sounds, and to communicate by telephone.
• Be able to speak in a clear and concise manner.
• Have communication abilities sufficient to interact professionally with others in verbal and written form, and have reading skills appropriate to understand patient charts, reports, and orders.
• Be able to lift patients to accomplish bed/chair/stretcher transfer.
• Be able to stand and walk without difficulty and be able to push a gurney or wheelchair.
• Be able to stand and/or sit for an extended period of time.
• Be able to perform fine and gross motor skills with both hands.
• Possess critical thinking skills sufficient to think clearly and act appropriately in stressful situations.
• Possess interpersonal skills sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
• Have mobility sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
• Have tactile ability sufficient to perform palpation functions of physical examination and/or those related to therapeutic intervention.

Transfer of Credit

Transfer of credit is not an option for courses in the professional clinical programs.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements to enroll in graduate coursework at Adventist University of Health Sciences.

Additionally, applicants to the Nurse Anesthesia Program must:

1. Submit an application online and nonrefundable $100 application fee.
2. Meet the mental and physical requirements as listed.
3. Present evidence of a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing or another appropriate major from a regionally accredited institution.
4. Present current official transcripts from all undergraduate and/or graduate institutions attended. Admission GPAs will be calculated, based on credits and grades from regionally accredited institutions only. Transcripts must be mailed or delivered electronically to the Office of Enrollment Services from each institution attended. Transcripts will be considered official only when received directly from the institution and not hand-delivered by the applicant or faxed by the institution attended. Failure to disclose all colleges previously attended could result in denial or dismissal. Additionally, transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Th is is the only company from which we accept transcript evaluations.
5. Present an unrestricted Florida license to practice as a registered nurse or be eligible for Florida Registered Nurse licensure. (This requirement may be deferred.)
6. Present a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
7. Present an official copy of a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last 5 years. GRE scores on official college transcripts are also acceptable. Applicants are exempt from providing GRE scores by presenting proof of a previously earned master’s degree.
8. Complete a minimum of one-year intensive critical care nursing experience. Two or more years of critical care nursing experience is preferred.
9. Present Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification. (This requirement may be deferred.)
10. Provide an essay or goal statement outlining reasons for choosing to become a nurse anesthetist, reasons for choosing to attend a faith-based institution, and why you have specifically chosen Adventist University of Health Sciences.
11. Provide an updated resume.
12. Provide three recommendations using ADU Recommendation Forms. One recommendation must be from a licensed CRNA that the applicant has shadowed. Recommendations from friends or family members are not accepted.
13. Provide a practice survey.
14. Complete the MSNA Applicant Questionnaire.
15. Provide evidence of English language proficiency for those applicants for whom English is not their primary language or who have graduated from a non-English speaking school (see English Language Proficiency section).
16. Successfully complete the interview process (interviews are by invitation only).

Note: Due to the competitive nature of the admission process, applicants should understand that meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admission into the program. Also, applicants will be screened, and the most qualified individuals will be invited for an interview.

Each applicant accepted to an on-campus professional program is expected to pay a nonrefundable deposit of $500 to reserve his or her place in the program. The applicant’s acceptance letter will contain a deposit amount and deadline indicating when the deposit must be received by the University. Once the student enrolls in the program, this deposit will be applied toward the student’s account. Students who have paid the deposit, but decide not to enroll in the program, will forfeit the deposit. If that student is admitted to the same program at a later date, he or she will be required to pay the full deposit amount again. If an applicant is admitted to a program with prerequisites in progress and becomes ineligible for admission due to his or her grades, a full refund will be provided. A professional program deposit is not transferable to another department. Distance Education students are not required to pay a program deposit.

Reapplication Process

Applicants who are not admitted to the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia program during a specific admission cycle may reapply to the program for the next admission cycle as long as they have successfully met the minimum admission requirements. Reapplicants are expected to meet the published admission deadlines by submitting the following additional information to the Office of Enrollment Services.

1. Submit an application online with a non-refundable $50 reactivation fee.
2. Present updated official transcripts from any accredited institutions attended since the original application was submitted.
3. Provide an updated resume.
4. Provide three new recommendations using ADU Recommendation Forms. One recommendation must be from a licensed CRNA that the applicant has shadowed. Recommendations from friends or family members are not accepted.
5. Provide an updated practice survey.
6. Provide an updated MSNA Graduate Questionnaire.

Progression

The Nurse Anesthesia Program is a continuous course of study, 28-month “block program.” Students may progress toward a Master’s degree when they have:

1. Completed all scheduled professional courses with a grade of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 grade point scale.
2. Completed all scheduled cognate courses with an average grade of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 grade point scale, including no more than one cognate course with a grade between 2.00 and 3.00 on a 4.00 grade point scale.

Academic Dismissal

Academic failure occurs when a student does not achieve the requisite grade of “B” in Nurse Anesthesia course work or an overall GPA of 3.00 in graduate coursework. Retake or make-up tests for failing grades may be given at the discretion of the course coordinator. Retake or make up tests for failures in nurse anesthesia principle courses (MSNA 530 , MSNA 532 , MSNA 533 , MSNA 534 , MSNA 635 , MSNA 636 , and MSNA 637 ), are not allowed.

Students experiencing academic failure are required to withdraw from all coursework in the Nurse Anesthesia Program and complete out-processing paperwork.

Readmission

If individuals request to return to the nurse anesthesia program, they must apply during the normal application cycle for the next trimester. Should a vacancy occur in the program that is compatible with matriculation of the failed student, the Nurse Anesthesia Program may extend an invitation for readmission to the program. Individuals/applicants must submit required admission paperwork and fees. An invitation for reapplication does not signify acceptance into the program. Failing students desiring to be considered for readmission should submit a letter of intent to the Office of Enrollment Services.

Completion

Adventist University of Health Sciences will consider students for graduation and eligibility to sit for the certification examination in Nurse Anesthesia when they have:

1. Met all the general requirements for a Master of Science degree and the Nurse Anesthesia Program.
2. Administered a minimum of 550 anesthetics, including the required number in each category of cases and clinical experiences.
3. Completed all required courses with a grade of “B” or better.
4. Completed all required coursework within 40 months of their enrollment into the Program.
5. Completed the requirements of the capstone project and professional portfolio.
6. Possessed ACLS, BLS, and PALS certifications.