What is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)?
Nurse anesthesia is an advanced clinical nursing specialty. As anesthesia experts, CRNAs safely administer more than 50 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs are among the nation’s most trusted professions according to Gallup. Nurses have topped Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics list for 20 consecutive years and are ranked second in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 “Best Health Care Jobs” report.
How does a Registered Nurse become a CRNA?
A student must complete an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program. Upon successful program completion, the graduate must pass the National Certification Exam given by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists to become a CRNA.
What does the Nurse Anesthesia Program include?
This program results in the awarding of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree. The program includes 36 months of coursework including both classroom and clinical experiences.
Classroom curriculum emphasizes anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and pharmacology as related to anesthesia. An emphasis on research prepares the graduate to implement evidence-based practice in the clinical setting.
Clinical education provides experience with a variety of anesthesia techniques and procedures for all types of surgery and obstetrics. This will be hands-on and take place at various local and regional medical facilities under the supervision of CRNAs and physician anesthesiologists. The clinical instruction of students includes all types of anesthesia including general, regional, and pain management.
Admission
We receive approximately 80-100 applications.
Grade Point Average (GPA) is factored by the institution(s) a student has attended previously. GPA is calculated by an institution’s internal procedures and is then sent to Newman University as part of an Official Transcript. Newman University does not recalculate GPA. Newman University can receive transcripts electronically if your institution has that ability or by mail to campus with attention to: Graduate Admissions. All questions regarding GPA should be sent to the Registrar’s office of the previously attended institution.
Due to the rigorous nature of a 3-year, fulltime doctorate level program, employment is strongly discouraged. Students may be employed during the program if there is no conflict between employment and program responsibilities. Scheduling for Nurse Anesthesia responsibilities shall take precedence over scheduling needs for the employment. Students may not work the shift prior to a clinical anesthesia commitment. Additionally, students will not be excused from academic and clinical responsibilities because of outside employment. Please consult with the Financial Aid Department if you have questions regarding finances during the program.
Transfers into the program will be allowed on a space available basis. Due to the inherent differences between programs, transfers between programs are rare. A maximum of 6 graduate credit hours are allowed to be transferred to Newman University's program and must be approved by the Director.
What are the TOEFL requirements? International students must have a RN license in the US. In addition, their transcripts must undergo a WES evaluation. Application requirements for international students can be found using the following link: http://newmanu.edu/admissions/graduate/international
Submit a TOEFL or IELTS score (unless a bachelor's degree was awarded from a US university or college) of:
A paper-based TOEFL score of 600 OR
A computer-based TOEFL score of 250 OR
An internet-based TOEFL score of 100 OR
An IELTS score of 7.0
Acceptable ICUs include: cardiac ICU, medical ICU, neuro ICU, trauma ICU, etc. The Admissions and Progression Committee has found that successful applicants most often have adult ICU experience; however, PICU experience is acceptable to meet the critical care requirement provided that the applicant can successfully demonstrate proficiency.
Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program does not accept NICU, PACU, ER, OR, POCU. Step down units do not meet the experience requirements.
- Experience: 1 year (preferably 2 years) ICU experience
- Licensure: RN
- Undergraduate Degree: BSN (95%) Non-nursing Bachelor's degree with an ADN may be accepted with approval from the Program Director
- Minimum overall GPA ≥ 3.0 OR ≥ 3.2 last 60 credit hours - Minimum science/math GPA ≥ 3.0 strongly recommended
- The GRE is NOT required for application/admission to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program.
- Prerequisite Courses: For non-nursing BS degrees, a statistics course and a research course must be approved by the program. Minimum grade of C is required. For all other students, a statistics course with parametric and non-parametric statistical methods is required.
No
BLS, ACLS, PALS, CCRN (preferred) are required for application.
All courses must be completed prior to the start of the program.
Unrestricted license as a professional registered nurse is a requirement for admission to the Nurse Anesthesia Program. Upon admission to the program, students must possess either a compact nursing license OR a Kansas registered nurse license (and if selected for an Oklahoma City primary site, must possess either a compact nursing license OR Oklahoma registered nurse license).
We currently accept 20 to 25 students (14 to 19 for the Wichita sites, 6 for the OKC sites) each year.
Program Format and Structure
36 months
All students are required to be on campus each week for didactic classes (during the semesters where didactic courses are in-person) regardless of where they complete their clinical rotations.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia, tuition cost, fees, and books is approximately $111,667 for 36 months (88 credit hours)
Scholarships are available from a number of local, state, or national groups. It is the applicant's responsibility to seek these out and submit appropriate application for these scholarships.