Otterbein University/Grant Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program

Nurse Anesthesia MSN Program

Expand all Collapse all

• Admission Criteria

  1. Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an institution of higher education that is fully accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency and accredited by the
  2. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and/or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(CCNE).
  3. Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the U.S. or recognized U.S. territory. Active Ohio RN license is required at the time of matriculation.
  4. Capacity for graduate study as demonstrated by
  • A blended cumulative GPA average of 3.0 or higher
  • A blended undergraduate science course GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • A grade of B or higher in an undergraduate statistics course
  • Minimum of one (1) year full time experience as a registered nurse in a critical care unit within the last 5 years by the application deadline. (Experience in interpretation of invasive monitors, titration of vasoactive infusions, management of ventilated patients, and care of acutely ill patients. Operating room, PACU, emergency room and telemetry unit experience are not accepted as critical care experience).
  • Current ACLS recognition.
  • CCRN is required by the application deadline.
  • Ability to articulate one’s professional goals and express one’s self clearly as evidenced by the admission essay and interview.
  • Ability to articulate a clear understanding of the nurse anesthetist’s role.
  5. 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).
  6. Submission of the Practice Evaluation Form (to document critical care work experience).
  7. GRE is required starting with Jan 30,2014 application deadline.

• Application Procedure

  Materials required for admission to the MSN program must be submitted to The Graduate School at the address listed below. All contents of the admission file become the legal property of the University and are not returnable or transferable.

  1. Complete the online graduate nursing application or a paper application. Application deadlines are here.
  2. Request separate official transcripts from all previous colleges or universities attended be sent to the Graduate School. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Graduate School. If hand-delivered, transcripts must be in an unopened envelope from the issuing institution (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, science course GPA of 3.0 or higher, completion of Statistics course with a grade of C or higher).
  3. Submit a professional resume.
  4. Give an Otterbein University Graduate Nursing Recommendation Form to two individuals that can support your application to pursue graduate studies (one reference from an RN is preferred). At least one should be from an employer. If the applicant has been in school during the last five years, the other recommendation should be from a nursing professor. Otterbein University reserves the right to contact persons providing recommendations and to contact a recommender to acknowledge receipt of a recommendation.
  5. Submit a 2-4 page essay (typewritten, double-spaced). The essay should: 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.
  6. Submit completed Verification of Observation form.
  7. Submit completed Practice Survey form.
  8. Submit proof of ACLS recognition.
  9. Provide a current unencumbered U.S. or U.S. territory RN license number on the application for admission form. (The Graduate School will verify current RN licensure and add proof to your file). Active unencumbered Ohio RN license is required prior to matriculation.
  10. Provide proof of CCRN by application deadline.
  11. GRE is required starting with Jan 30, 2014 application deadline.

  All admission materials including transcripts must be submitted to:
  Otterbein University
  The Graduate School
  Roush Hall, Room 208
  1 South Grove Street
  Westerville, OH 43081

• Sample course grid

  See the grid here.

• Letter to prospective students from the program director

  Read the letter here.

• Faculty and staff

  Program Director
  Stephen Yermal, 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