Otterbein University/Grant Medical Center Post Masters Nurse Anesthesia Certificate

Post Masters Nursing Anesthesia Program

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• Admission Criteria

  1. Bachelor’s degree in nursing and Master’s degree in nursing from institutions of higher education that are fully accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and/or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  2. Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse.
  3. Evidence for capacity for graduate study. A blended cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 or higher for all undergraduate and graduate studies is required. (A grade of B or higher in statistics. Blended science course work GPA of 3.0 or higher.)
  4. Minimum of one year of full time nursing work experience within the last 5 years in a critical care area. (Experience in interpretation of invasive monitors, titration of vasoactive infusions, management of ventilated patients, and care of acutely ill patients. Operating Room and telemetry unit experience are not accepted as critical care experience).
  5. Current ACLS recognition. 
  6. CCRN is required.
  7. Ability to articulate a clear understanding of the nurse anesthetist’s role.
  8. Submission of the Verification of Observation Form (applicants are required to spend a minimum of one day observing a practicing CRNA or anesthesiologist in the Operating Room).
  9. Submission of the Practice Evaluation Form (to document critical care work experience).
  10. Ability to articulate one’s professional goals and express one’s self clearly as evidenced by the admission essay and interview.
  11. GRE is required starting with Jan 30, 2014 application deadline.

• Application Process

  Admission into the program is very competitive.  Potential students must first obtain and complete the application packet. The program will then select students to interview from the pool of completed applications. Interviews will be conducted by the program director, assistant director, Otterbein graduate nursing faculty, staff CRNA’s and anesthesiologists.

  How to Apply
  Applicants must submit the following in order to be reviewed for full admission into the Graduate School: 

  • An online graduate nursing application or a paper application.  Application deadlines are here.
  • Official transcripts for ALL previous college and/or university work. Please note: Transcripts must be sent directly to Graduate School from the post-secondary institution or mailed by student in an unopened envelope from the issuing institution. In both instances, the transcript should come in a letterhead envelope. 
  • Two Recommendation Forms – one from a nursing supervisor and one from faculty if you have been in school in the last 5 years.
  • Professional resume
  • Personal essay (2-4 pages, typed). Describe your professional goals and how these goals will be achieved in the MSN program. Indicate how your past experiences and reflections have influenced these goals. Describe your understanding of the nurse anesthetist's role. Identify personal contributions that can be made to nursing and the greater community.
  • Completed undergraduate statistics with a grade of B or better
  • Completed Verification of Observation Form (8 hrs observation required)
  • Completed Practice Survey Form
  • Provide a current RN License number and state of licensure on the application form.
  • Proof of current ACLS recognition.
  • Proof of CCRN (required)
  • GRE required starting with Jan 30, 2014 application deadline.

  Apply online now

  To receive information about these programs or to schedule an appointment with the Master of Science in Nursing Advisor to discuss your individual program needs, please contact:

  Dorothy Crider, MS, RN
  Nursing Advisor
  The Graduate School
  1 South Grove Street
  Westerville, OH 43081-9980
  Office: 614.823.3272
  Fax: 614.823.3208
  Email: dcrider@otterbein.edu

• Curriculum Requirements

  The nurse anesthesia curriculum is a 28 month, 7 semester (or the quarter hour equivalent) program, and is “front-loaded.” New classes enter each spring term (end of January).  The first two semesters are entirely didactic (with observational time in the OR), providing a theoretical foundation that prepares students to enter clinical practice in the third semester.  Six graduate nursing core courses are interspersed throughout the curriculum so that nurse anesthesia students can interact with students from other MSN majors. After the fourth semester, didactic course work decreases and students’ clinical time commitment increases, allowing students to concentrate on applying theory to practice.

  Students will participate in clinical experiences at Grant Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Students will administer anesthesia for patients of all ages with a variety of pre-existing conditions undergoing a full spectrum of surgical and diagnostic procedures. Clinical experiences include elective and emergent procedures, a call experience, OB, cardiac, ICU, regional and pediatric rotations.  The program anticipates adding additional clinical sites in the future.

  The nurse anesthesia major is organized within the context of the Graduate Nursing Program, and builds on the generalist preparation of the masters-prepared nurse.  Graduates of the program are awarded a Post-master’s certificate and are eligible to take the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA) National Certification Examination for initial recognition as a CRNA.   

  Program Courses

  • Development of Nursing Knowledge
  • Health Care Systems
  • Using Evidence Based Practice
  • Advanced Pathophysiology
  • Advanced Health Assessment
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Fundamentals of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
  • Chemistry & Physics for Nurse Anesthesia
  • Anatomy & Physiology for Nurse Anesthesia
  • Technology & Techniques in Nurse Anesthesia
  • Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia I
  • Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia II
  • Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia I
  • Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia II
  • Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia III
  • Advanced Principles of Anesthesia I
  • Advanced Principles of Anesthesia II
  • Advanced Principles of Anesthesia III
  • Anesthesia and Co-existing disease
  • Clinical Practicum I
  • Clinical Practicum II
  • Clinical Practicum III
  • Clinical Practicum IV
  • Clinical Practicum V
  • Capstone Project

• Sample Course Grid

  Sample Course Grid (PDF)

• Letter to prospective students from the program director

  Read the letter here.

• Faculty and Staff

  Program Director
  Elizabeth Seibert, PHD, CRNA
  
  Assistant Program Director
  Brian Garrett, MSN, CRNA
  
  For additional information, please contact:
  Tina Hugley
  Program Administrator
  Grant Medical Center
  285 E. State Street, Suite 670
  Columbus, OH 43215
  Office: 614-566-8879
  Fax: 614-566-8073
  Email: thugley@ohiohealth.com
  

• Nurse Anesthesia FAQs

  Q. How long is the program?
  A. 28 months, seven semesters
  
  Q. How often do you admit?
  A. Once per year in January
  
  Q. How many students do you admit?
  A. 20
  
  Q. Can I work during the program?
  A. Due to the extensive time commitment, it is very difficult, if not impossible to work even on a part time basis during the program. The average weekly time commitment may approach 60 hours per week.
  
  Q. What type of ICU experience is best?
  A. Critical care experience provides applicants with experience in interpretation of invasive monitors, titration of vasoactive infusions, management of ventilated patients, and care of acutely ill patients. Operating Room and telemetry unit experience are not accepted as critical care experience.
  
  Q. How much RN work experience is required?
  A. One year full time RN critical care experience in a US or Federal hospital in the last 5 years.
  
  Q. Is there a part time study option?
  A. No, only a full time program is offered.
  
  Q. Is there a track for associate degree nurses?
  A. No
  
  Q. Is there a program track for persons who are not RN's? (this includes allied health professionals, MDs, etc)
  A. No
  
  Q. Can I apply if I am an associate degree nurse and still completing my BSN?
  A. Yes, as long as you will finish your BSN before the program course work starts. You should include an additional note in your application regarding your expected BSN completion date.
  
  Q. Which type of nursing master's degrees do you accept for the post master's NA program?
  A. Applicants for the post-master’s certificate must have a previous Master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program. Other Master’s degrees are not accepted.
  
  Q. Do you offer a program for CRNAs who earned their certificate prior to the master's being required?
  A. We do not offer a CRNA master’s completion program.
  
  Q. What times are classes offered?
  A. Nurse anesthesia classes are taught Monday to Friday during the day. Nursing core courses are offered in the evening and/or in an on-line format.
  
  Q. Are any courses online?
  A. Four of the nursing core courses are offered in an on-line format. The two Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia courses are offered via 2-way interactive video.
  
  Q. Where will students do clinicals?
  A. The program has clinical sites at Grant Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital as well as other affiliates in Ohio. The majority of clinical sites are within an hour’s drive from Columbus.
  
  Q. Is there financial aid available?
  A. Applicants should contact the Financial Aid Office to learn about typical sources of graduate student financial aid. Limited funds are available through federally supported Professional Nurse Traineeships and Nurse Anesthesia Traineeships. The AANA Foundation awards more than 50 scholarships for nurse anesthesia students. Requirements for each scholarship and the amounts awarded vary.
  
  Q. When do admission interviews usually occur?
  A. March
  
  Q. What should I be prepared to discuss in the admission interview?
  A. Applicants should anticipate that interviewers will ask a broad range of questions that attempt to elicit the applicant’s understanding of the nurse anesthetist’s role, motivation, goals and leadership potential as well as clinical knowledge.
  
  Q. Do you accept any graduate transfer credit?
  A. We accept up to 2 courses of graduate transfer credit. Syllabi are evaluated after admission to the program.
  
  Q. Are there any classes I can take as a non degree student while waiting to hear if I am accepted to the program?
  A. Not at this time.
  
  Q. What is the program’s pass rate on the National Certification Examination?
  A. As yet no graduates have taken the National Certification Examination. The program was started in June 2010 and the first class will graduate in August 2012.
  
  Q. What is the program’s attrition rate?
  A. Class of 2012: 12 admitted 1 withdrawal
  Class of 2013: 15 admitted 0 withdrawal
  
  Q. Can I enter Otterbein as a graduate student in another major and transfer to the NA program?
  A. No, Otterbein requires you to be admitted to the program you wish to major in, due to space availability. Changing of major into the NA program is not an option.
  
  Q. Do you accept transfer students from other Nurse anesthesia programs?
  A. Transfer requests are evaluated on an individual basis
  
  Q. Do you have a wait list for applicants who are denied?
  A. No, the most highly qualified applicants are selected from each year’s applicant pool.
  
  Q. If denied, can I reapply?
  A. Yes
  

• Cost of Program

  Tuition (Courses taught by Otterbein faculty—18 semester hours @ $576/SH)	$10,368
  On-Line course resource fees ($60 x 4)	$240
  Tuition (Nurse anesthesia specialty courses—52 semester hours @$1026/SH)	$53,352
  Total	$63,960

   

  Other anticipated expenses:

  ACLS recertification	$175
  PALS certification	$225
  AANA Associate member dues	$100
  Nurse Anesthesia Student Tracking System	$100
  SEE examination fee	$125
  Certification Examination fee	$700
  Textbooks	$1500
  Lab coat	$50
  Total	$2975

• Transfer Credit and Credit for Prior Learning

  Post Masters Nurse Anesthesia Programs transfer credit for graduate level course work will be considered if:

  1. The course work is evaluated by the Program Director of the Post-Masters Program and course faculty.
  2. The transcript and syllabus reflect graduate level course work from an institution that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency and whose graduate nursing program is accredited by NLNAC and/or CCNE.
  3. The content of the transfer course is equivalent to the course offered in the Otterbein University Post-Masters Program.
  4. The course has been taken within the previous five years.
  5. The course was completed with a grade of B or higher. The actual grade is not transferred and thus will not be included in the Otterbein grade point average.
  6. No more than 6 hours of graduate semester credit will be accepted as transfer credit.
  7. Proficiency exams are not offered in the Post Masters programs.
  8. Credit for life/professional experiences is not granted for Post Masters Programs. .
  9. Courses eligible for transfer credit are: NURS 5310, 5320 and 5330.

  To request transfer credit, the student must submit the following information to the Program Director of the Post-Masters Program after admission to the program:

  1. A letter describing what transfer credit is being sought.
  2. Syllabus of graduate course for which transfer credit is being sought.

  The Post Masters Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia Programs offer students the opportunity to obtain proficiency credit for NURS 5320.

  1. The proficiency exam consists of a written exam on assessment content and the demonstration of a history and physical.
  2. The written exam must be passed before the candidate is eligible to perform the history and physical.
  3. The candidate must achieve a minimum of 80% on both components of the exam.
  4. The candidate may take the proficiency exam only once.
  5. The student must make an appointment with the course coordinator for any component of the exam, at least two weeks prior to the exam date.
  6. The candidate must pre-register in the Nursing Office using the “Proficiency Exam Registration Form”, two weeks before the exam date.
  7. A non-refundable fee for the proficiency exam must be paid in the nursing office at the time of pre-registration.

• Residence Requirement

  To meet the residency requirement, students in the Nurse Anesthesia Program must take all clinical courses.

• Program Completion

  A candidate for the Post Masters Nurse Anesthesia certificate must complete 63 semester hours of required graduate course work or its equivalent in the Post Masters Nurse Anesthesia program.