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Nurse Anesthesia
Frequently Asked Questions
What
is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)?
How many classes per year, and
how many students per class are accepted
into the program?
How many students usually apply to the program?
How does the application process work?
What is meant by critical care
experience?
What areas are evaluated
in the interview process?
When do the classes start?
When do you begin clinical experiences?
Is it a good idea to
get some classes out of the way before you start the program?
What are the real expenses of the program?
What if I am not accepted into the program
the first time?
Is the student allowed to work as a nurse while
in the program?
How many
classes per year, and how many students per class are accepted into
the program?
One class per year is accepted. In general, the program selects between 16-22
students per class.
How many
students usually apply to the program?
That number varies greatly year to year. In general, up to about 50-60 completed
applications are processed.
How does the
application process work?
See College of Nursing MSN Admission Requirements for
information on application deadlines and requirements. The applications are
due October 1, interviews will be conducted in November, and letters of acceptance
or denial are distributed in mid December.
What is
meant by critical care experience?
The nurse anesthesia program requires a minimum of one year of experience in
an intensive care unit (medical, surgical, cardiac, or neuro). It is important
that the applicant has experience with pulmonary artery catheters, arterial
lines, ventilators, multiple drips, ABG interpretations, and EKGs. Although
adult critical care and intensive care experience is required, an individual
with only pediatric intensive care experience applying to the program will
not be excluded from admission. It should be noted, the balance between adult
care and pediatric care is 25 months to 2 months respectively. Therefore, adult
intensive care experience is the majority of concentration in the 27-month
program.
What
areas are evaluated in the interview process?
The interviewers are looking for motivation, dedication, proof of clinical
skills, and ability to financially manage living costs.
When do the
classes start?
The classes start the first week of September. Anesthesia classes are daily
the first few weeks until the College of Nursing classes begin in late September.
When
do you begin clinical experiences?
The student is placed in the operating room once a week to observe for the
first quarter and then gradually clinical time and responsibilities increase
throughout the program. Clinical experiences take place in the University Hospital,
a Level I Trauma Center, the Cincinnati Veterans Medical Center, Children's
Hospital Medical Center which has the largest surgical service of any children's
hospital in the country, and several community hospitals.
Is
it a good idea to get some classes out of the way before you start
the program?
Time is allotted for the student to complete all classes during the program.
If you are a person that is easily overwhelmed or has difficulty concentrating
on many different subjects at the same time, getting some classes out of the
way may be of benefit to you.
What are the real
expenses of the program?
University graduate scholarships are
available from the College of Nursing. Complete the application early,
even if you do not know if you have been accepted into the program. Parking
is available in the medical center garages. The cost ranges from $80-$150/quarter.
Health insurance is available from the university each quarter. The largest
expense is not being able to work full-time.
What if I am not
accepted into the program the first time?
Students are encouraged to reapply. Members of the admissions committee are
willing to share advice in order to improve chances for acceptance into the
program the following year.
Is the student allowed
to work as a nurse while in the program?
It is very difficult to work. The anesthesia program is very intense and time-consuming.
It is best to save money before entering the program than to rely on personal
paychecks. A student may be able to maintain a prn or per diem position during
the first part of the program, but working is not encouraged.
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