Nurse Anesthesia: Choosing a School

Becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a challenging career choice to say the least. For anyone interested in Nurse Anesthesia I highly recommend spending some time at the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) web site. There is so much information there that will guide and enlighten any one that is looking to pursue a career in Nurse Anesthesia. USNews.com web site has a list of all 85 Nurse Anesthesia programs listed alphabetically with links. It is another interesting place to start your search for a school.

Choosing a school is not a simple matter. Most of us look to local resources to find academic settings that are accessible without relocation plans. At the AANA's web site there is a section on Accredited Programs which are listed by state. Here it is possible to start the search for a program of Nurse Anesthesia. For any one that is looking seriously to become an Anesthetist, exploring all of the programs, their requirements for admission, and the academic program details will prove extremely enlightening. For instance, what are the two academic degree options for Nurse Anesthetists programs?

All of the programs in the United States must be accredited and fall into one of two categories. Either the program is in a school of Nursing or it is not. The degree options are determined by this. Those programs within a School of Nursing such as Columbia, Rush, Duke or the University of Pittsburgh offer Masters of Science in Nursing degrees (the MSN) with a specialty in Nurse Anesthesia. For those that already have an MSN these programs may only offer a certificate of completion rather than another degree. This depends on the program. Often in these programs the students will be taking course work in the School of Nursing with other Nursing students in other programs such as the Nurse Practitioner option. I have a friend at the University of Buffalo , another MSN program, who has told me that her first pharmacology class is with all of the Nurse Practitioner students. Another point concerning the programs in a School of Nursing, there are a few requirements for the MSN that require general didactic course work generic to all MSN programs. These classes may be something like "General Health Care across the Life Span", or some such class. The requirements of the MSN mandate this course work in addition to the anesthesia class and clinical. That is something to think about.

The other programs of Nurse Anesthesia are located in programs in Medical schools, Biology departments and so on. These programs do not offer an MSN degree but as in the case of the University of Southern California offer a Masters in Nurse Anesthesia through the department of Medicine. The University of Michigan-Flint/Hurley is another program offered at a Medical school that is well respected. If you must have an MSN these programs are not for you. A benefit of not being in a school of Nursing and a candidate for the MSN is that all of the course work is science and directly applicable to the practice of anesthesia. Maybe my bias is showing here. As an example, here is the course work at USC program of Nurse Anesthesia:

Human Anatomy (3)
Systems and Integrative Physiology(4)
Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice (4)
Principles of Anesthesia Practice I (4)
Advanced Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice (3)
Pathophysiology Related to Anesthesia Practice (4)
Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I (3)
Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice II (4)
Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia II (2)
Research: Investigative Inquiry (2)
Professional Study for Nurse Anesthesia (3)
Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I (3)
Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia II (8)
Research Integration: Capstone Experience (1)
Advanced Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia III (1)
Specialty Fellowship *(optional) (2)

For me, the programs located within a School of Medicine are more attractive. The reason for this is that I already have an MSN degree and do not wish to receive a post graduate certificate from an MSN program. This fits for me. Besides, the science is what I am looking for, not another nursing class, again my bias.

The final issue that I want to discuss today concerns the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). There are programs that require the GRE and there are others that do not. Two wonderful Programs of Nurse Anesthesia, The University of Kansas, and the University of Buffalo in New York are both MSN programs but do not require the GRE to be considered for admission. There are those students that struggle with this exam and there are programs where they can be competitive and do well on entrance. Many programs require the GRE and use it as a marker for success. Samuel Merritt College in San Francisco uses the GRE to weed out their applicant pool only considering well GRE endowed applicants.



So, good luck in your pursuit of your dreams. Here is a student, J.C. Thomas, from The University of Pennsylvania reflecting prior to fiber optic brochoscopic confirmation of double lumen tube placement. See what you have to look forward to. Good luck.