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What kind of time commitment is expected of a Master of Nurse Anesthesia student?

The student will be expected to spend 50-60 hours per week on didactic, clinical or on-call responsibilities. In addition, students should allow for travel time to affiliate clinical sites, most within a 150-mile radius of Lincoln, Nebraska.

How much does the program cost?

Information on the Web site about tuition and fees will help you to get a clear sense of program costs for the Master in Nurse Anesthesia program. Tuition and fees do not include books, a personal computer (required), living expenses and transportation.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. BryanLGH Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia offers several types of financial aid to students who qualify according to established federal guidelines. Any student who wishes to apply for financial aid must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and send it to the federal processing center. This should be done two to three months before the award year begins. The forms are available at any college or university Financial Aid Office or from the BryanLGH Financial Aid Office. The FAFSA is also available on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  BryanLGH College of Health Sciences does not discriminate in awarding Title IV student financial aid on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation.

What is the career placement rate for graduates of the Master of Nurse Anesthesia program?

Outstanding! One-hundred percent of our graduates are placed in a variety of settings each year, including large research hospitals, smaller community hospitals and rural practice settings.

My nursing program required one semester of chemistry. Do I need a second semester of chemistry?

Two semesters of chemistry with lab, equal to eight semester hours, are required for admission.

Do I have to be a nurse to apply to a Nurse Anesthesia program? Must I have a BSN?

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice nurses and therefore each student must be a Registered Nurse prior to entering any Nurse Anesthesia program. You must hold a license as a Registered Nurse in the state of Nebraska or be eligible for licensure in Nebraska at the time of application. You will be required to obtain a Nebraska license prior to entry into the program in the fall.

Each student is also required to obtain a Baccalaureate degree prior to entering the Master’s level education required to become a CRNA. The degree may be in Nursing or another appropriate discipline. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to entry into the program, and it is preferred all prerequisites are completed prior to interview.

I’m not sure if my nursing experience meets the program requirements.

You need to have worked full time as an RN for a minimum of one year in an acute-care area to be eligible for admission. The school strongly recommends that you have two years of nursing experience. You may contact the school for an evaluation of your experience.

What type of acute-care nursing experience is acceptable for application to the program?

Applicants with a variety of acute-care nursing experience have been successful in the program. Many have had two to three years of ICU experience, but positions in other nursing units such as a busy Emergency Room or Post Anesthesia Care Unit can provide the necessary experiences. The skills and competencies required for admission are listed on the Application for Admission form.

Do you require the GRE as part of the application process?

We do not require the GRE.

Where will I be for my clinical experience?

Each student is assigned a “home hospital” clinical site, either BryanLGH Medical Center in Lincoln or The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Currently, nine students in each class are assigned to BryanLGH Medical Center and three are placed at The Nebraska Medical Center. Each student has clinical rotations in several additional affiliate clinical sites. The duration and breadth of clinical experience allows for extensive clinical case numbers in a broad range of categories. 

How are the affiliate clinical experiences organized?

Each student is required to spend eight weeks during both the first and second year of Phase II in a small community hospital. The Lincoln-based students complete a four-week rotation at The Nebraska Medical Center during the second year. Students are allowed to choose up to three rural hospital rotations, which are typically four weeks in duration. The program has a long history of rural Nurse Anesthesia experience and graduates consistently rate the diversity of clinical experience obtained as an important strength of the program. Housing is provided at no cost to the student at all eight-week clinical sites and all those at distances greater than 60 miles.

Will I get regional anesthesia experience?

Yes, you will have the opportunity to obtain clinical experience in several common regional anesthetic techniques. The 2009 graduates administered 74-122 spinal, 44-130 epidural and 47-95 peripheral nerve block anesthetics during the Program. The choice of affiliate clinical experiences can influence the amount of regional experience obtained.  

What is the call requirement for School of Nurse Anesthesia students?

Students are on in-house call the last 12 months of the program while assigned to BryanLGH Medical Center. Call responsibilities occur no more than once a week. Call is from 15:00 to 07:00 with the following day off. An obstetrical call experience is arranged during the final six months of the program. Call at affiliated sites is arranged on an individual basis.

I’m concerned that the program will be too difficult or demanding. Should I be worried about my ability to succeed in the Master of Nurse Anesthesia program?

The program is rigorous, and students are expected to be committed to their coursework and clinical practice. The School helps students gain a complete understanding of program objectives by providing a list of academic, clinical, research-based and professional goals. In addition, faculty in the School of Nurse Anesthesia works closely with each student to ensure that he or she is well prepared for each stage of coursework, examination and thesis preparation.

What is the overall design of the Program?

The Master of Nurse Anesthesia is divided into two phases, which culminate in either a project or a thesis. Phase I of the Program is grounded in essential coursework that prepares the student for the intensive clinical practica and internships endemic to Phase II of the program. The curriculum design allows students engaged in a Master’s-level project to complete the program in 71 hours; the thesis-based course of study can be completed in 73 hours.