NURSE ANESTHESIA What is certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)? A CRNA is a registered nurse that has received at least 27 months of extensive graduate level education in the scientific topics related to the practice of anesthesia. Following the completion of a nurse anesthesia program, graduates take a certification examination administered by the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetist (NBCRNA). Passing results of the certification exam allows the registered nurse to be designated Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). In order for a registered nurse to practice anesthesia, they must become licensed within a time frame specified by the board of nursing in the state they wish to practice. Who employs CRNAs? CRNAs administer anesthesia in all settings where surgical procedures are being performed. This includes hospitals of all sizes, as well as outpatient clinics and physicians' offices. What kind of nursing experience do I need prior to entering the program? One year of critical care experience is the requirement. If you have been in the ICU more than 1 year, obtaining your CCRN or performing administrative duties will be beneficial (i.e. charge duties, preceptor, committee head). We highly recommend that you shadow a CRNA. This will show us that you are interested in the CRNA profession and understand what the day to day duties of the profession involve. What is considered "critical care" nursing experience? Critical care nurses are those caring for critically ill patients who require invasive monitoring and the administration of vasoactive drugs. Critical care units that usually provide this type of experience include coronary care and postoperative cardiovascular units, medical, surgical, pediatric, and neonatal ICUs. Other working environments and arrangements may be acceptable; however, they must be approved by the program. Since answers to questions involving critical care experience sometimes involve explanation and interpretation, applicants are encouraged to contact the program by phone if they have questions (please see contact information on back), What are the admission criteria?      A nursing degree (BSN or higher) from a regionally accredited institution, equivalent to the one offered by the School of Nursing at UAB Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse License in the state where you will be completing your clinical education An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a 3.0 on the science prerequisite courses (3) Letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant’s potential for graduate study Standardized test score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). There is no minimum score, however all sections of the GRE must be completed prior to application (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing). Submit to UAB (code 1856)  A personal interview with the selection committee, and  If accepted, complete the UAB medical history questionnaire and physical, provide proof of required immunizations, and receive satisfactory screening by the UAB Medical Center Student Health Service, complete a background check and urine drug screening. * There is no Waiver Process for this program, A GRE exam is required. What is the application deadline/timeline?  June 1st : for early decision (August of the following year) July: Notification of interviews, interviews, and notification of decision  October 1st : for regular admissions cycle (August of the following year) October – December: Notification of interview November – February: interviews Decision notification two weeks after interview  August: Students begin the program fall semester For International Students:      Prospective international students are asked to first contact International Recruitment and Student Services at [email protected], (205), 9343328, FAX 934-8664 to determine eligibility in order to submit an application into any academic program . All foreign transcripts evaluated by the Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc www.ece.org OR the World Education Services www.wes.org, sent from the evaluators directly to the School of Nursing A degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited educational institution in the United States A score of 500 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language, TOEFL Possess a nursing license to practice nursing in the state where you plan to conduct your clinical practicum What is the early application decision process? The UAB Nurse Anesthesia Program has added an early decision application cycle. This is designed for applicants that have completed all admission requirements with exception of ICU experience. Applicants with a desire to attend the UAB Nurse Anesthesia Program should submit the application with all required materials by June 1 st for matriculation in the fall semester of the following year. The screening process for early decision is more stringent and only a few will be chosen. However, applications not chosen for early decision will automatically roll over to the UAB is an equal education opportunity institution. (over) regular admission cycle in October without penalty. If the application rolls over to the regular admission cycle, only applicable changes to the application need to be submitted by October 1st for consideration in the fall semester of the following year and no additional application fees will be assessed. What are the classroom and clinical requirements? Total Credit Hours: 111; Didactic Hours: 60; Clinical Hours: 51; Total Hours of direct Patient Care: 1250 contact hours Descriptive narrative: The Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program begins in the fall semester of each year. It comprises 60 semester hours of didactic instruction and 51 semester hours of clinical practicum and requires 27 months of full-time commitment. Students complete all foundation courses before beginning the clinical practicum, which starts after the first (ten) months of enrollment. Where will I conduct my clinical rotations? Students in the Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are admitted to one of five program components as selected by the student in their application. Students from all components attend classes on campus at UAB for the first ten months. The remainder of the program’s clinical rotations is based at the student's corresponding component site: Alabama: Birmingham; Dothan; Huntsville; Montgomery; and Tuscaloosa Prerequisite Courses (May be taken at UAB or another institution): Courses BY 115 BY 261 MA 180 Human Anatomy Microbiology Descriptive Statistics Credit Hours 4 4 3 Courses BY 116 CH 105/106 Human Physiology** Chemistry 105/106 or 115/116 Credit Hours 4 4 How many semesters are required for full-time study? The curriculum is designed to be completed in seven semesters. Will I be able to apply to take a nurse anesthetist certification examination when I complete the program? Graduates can apply to take the certification examination administered by the NBCRNA. Satisfactory performance on this examination is necessary in order to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. What is a typical Program of Study like? First Year Program of Study Spring Term (16 Hours) Fall Term (15 hours) Summer Term (15 Hours) Course Number Course Name Credits Course Number Course Name Credits Course Number Course Name Credits NA 601 Gross Anatomy 4 NA 621 Anesthesia Pharmacology II 3 NA 650 Regional Anesthesia 2 5 NA 640 Principles 4 NA 660 Obstetric Anesthesia 1 3 NA 620 NA 630 NUR 606 Anesthesia Pharmacology I Biochemistry for Anesthetist Translating Evidence into Practice 3 NA 670 3 NA 678 NUR 614 NUR 616 Fall Term (17 Hours) Anesthesia Pathophysiology I 3 NA 671 Anesthesia Pathophysiology II Electrocardiography 1 NA 672 Clinical Practicum I 6 3 NA 680 Anesthesia for Surgical Specialties 3 Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Nursing Practice Focus on Adv. Nursing Practice Specialization Second Year Program of Study Spring Term (17 Hours) 2 Summer Term (18 Hours) Course Number Course Name Credits Course Number Course Name Credits Course Number Course Name Credits NA 661 Anesthesia for Extreme of Age 3 NA 674 Clinical Practicum III 12 NA 675 Clinical Practicum IV 12 NA 673 Clinical Practicum II 11 NA 695 Special Topics 3 NA 696 Special Topics 3 Writing for Publication 3 NA 698 Graduate Project 2 NUR 737 Interdisciplinary Leadership 3 NUR 701 Third Year Program of Study Fall Term (13 Hours) Course Number Course Name Credits NA 676 Clinical Practicum V 10 NA 697 Special Topics 3 Where can I get more information? Internet website: http://www.uab.edu/na General information about the application process Information about Nurse Anesthesia Stacey Smith Nurse Anesthesia Program Administrator II Laura Wright, PhD, MNA, CRNA (205) 934-7412 Program Director [email protected] (205) 975-5700 [email protected] UAB is an equal education opportunity institution. 5/01/14 ss