Q. How long is the program?
A. 28 months, seven semesters
Q. How often do you admit?
A. Once per year in January (spring term) Please see question below about transitioning the doctoral degree in 2019 pending COA approval.
Q.
When do you anticipate transitioning to the doctoral (DNP) program?
A. The Council on Accreditation(COA) requires all nurse anesthesia programs to transition to the doctoral degree by 2022. (students entering at this time would graduate in 2025). We will be placing an application to the COA to transition to the doctoral degree in January of 2018. If approved, the first cohort of doctoral students would begin in the summer term of 2019 ( interviews for this cohort would occur in October of 2018).
Q. How many applicants apply to the program each year?
A. over 100 applicants
Q. How many applicants are interviewed each year?
A. 50-60 applicants
Q. What is the average GPA of those accepted into the program?
A. 3.2 to 4.0 GPA
Q. How many students do you admit (once per year)?
A. 15-20
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. Pediatric critical care experience will be considered. Operating Room, Emergency Department, cath lab and telemetry unit experience are not accepted as critical care experience. (Flight nursing experience is accepted only if the applicant has prior ICU experience and actively manages patients on ventilators and vasoactive drips during transports)
Q. What is the average years of critical care experience of those accepted into the program?
A. 2 to 6 years
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 (COA requirement). CCRN is required by the time of the application deadline (this ensures that the applicant has the minimum COA requirement for critical care experience).
Q. Is there a part time study option?
A. No, only a full time program is offered.
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 by the end of the spring term in the year of your application deadline. 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. Can I apply if my statistics grade is less than a B, and I am still in the process of retaking statistics?
A. You must submit proof of enrollment in a statistics course upon application and must successfully complete the course with a grade of B or higher by the start of the program. Failure to meet this requirement will prevent matriculation into the program and you will lose your seat (will need to reapply).
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. Clinical courses are generally Monday through Friday. Students may be assigned call shifts (weekends, nights and holidays) beginning in the second year and during specialty rotations. The COA requires programs to provide emergent case experience which can usually be accomplished by call or off shifts.
Q. Are any courses online?
A. Four of the nursing core courses are offered in an on-line format. All of the nurse anesthesia didactic coursework is conducted in a classroom setting.
Q. Where will students do clinicals?
A. Students participate in clinical experiences at Ohio Health Grant Medical Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Mount Carmel West Hospital, Marion General Hospital, Knox Community Hospital, Adena Medical Center, Ohio Health Doctor's West Hospital, Ohio Health O' Bleness Hospital, Ohio Health Med Central Hospital, and the Wexner Medical Center at the Ohio State University.
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, pediatric and rural rotations.
The nurse anesthesia major is organized within the context of the Graduate Nursing Program, and builds on the generalist preparation of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse. Graduates of the program are awarded a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and are eligible to take the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) National Certification Examination (NCE) for initial recognition as a CRNA. The program meets or exceeds the COA's minimum academic and clinical requirements.
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. In October prior to the January start of the program (example, interviews in the fall of 2017 will occur for a January 2018 start). This will allow students starting the program a full year to complete all six core nursing courses if they desire. Those accepted would start the anesthesia courses in January 2019. The program is in the process of completing the application to the transition to the doctoral degree. Please see the third FAQ question concerning transition to the doctoral degree.
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. Clinical knowledge includes (but is not limited to) ventilator management, ABGs, vasoactive pharmacology, lab values, hemodynamics, cardiac, respiratory and neurophysiology. Questions will also focus around behavioral attributes such as emotional intelligence and handling criticism. Applicants are not just desired for academic and clinical abilities. Nonacademic and non-clinical attributes such as behavioral skills, motivational qualities and adaptability characteristics are highly desired for success in the nurse anesthesia program.
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 status while waiting to hear if I am accepted to the program?
A. Not at this time. You must be fully admitted to the program to take graduate nursing courses.
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. What is the attrition rate for your program?
A. The five year attrition rate for the program is 9% with 7.3% being for personal reasons. (class of 2014 - 23.8%, 2015 - 5%, 2016 - 15%, 2017 0%, 2018 0%, 2019 0 %). The national average for all nurse anesthesia program is around 10%. Attrition most commonly includes students who stop out for personal reasons(illness, family situations, etc). The department does have a leave of absence policy in place for students. Attrition rates less commonly include students who leave due to academic misconduct, clinical failure and administrative dismissal due to rules violations.
Q. What is your employment rate for your most recent graduates?
A. 99% of graduates were offered and accepted employment within six months of graduation (1 student chose not to take boards within the first six months after graduation).
Q. Does the program offer an in-program review for the certification exam?
A. Yes, there is an in-program certification exam and practice test in the final semester of the program.Students are also required to take the SEE exam twice during the program. This allows the student to identify areas of weaknesses and assist in preparation for the NCE.
Q. What is the first time pass rate for the National Certification Examination (NCE)?
A. The pass rate for students who graduated on April 20, 2017 was 100%. For the program's COA reporting year ( October 2016 to October 2017), the pass rate was 95%. The pass rate for students who graduated in April of 2016 was 100%. The last four year average for the program is 96% ( since the NBCRNA increased the testing standards in 2014). The 2nd attempt pass rate is 99%. According to the NBCRNA (FY 2016), the national average first time pass rate is 84%.
Q. Do you have an on-call list for applicants who are denied?
A. Applicants may be called from the on-call list up to two weeks prior to the program start.
Q. If denied, can I reapply?
A. Yes, we review your file and make recommendations for strengthening your application. Faculty meet with you and make suggestions specific to your situation. We have had several first time denial applicants, complete faculty suggestion activities, apply again and successfully obtain admission to the program.