Frequently Asked Questions

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  When is your deadline for applications? Can I be interviewed if I still need to take a class?

  Interviews for the class enrolling in September are held in January of the same calendar year. The deadline for applications, transcripts, and recommendations to be considered for September enrollment is Oct. 31 of the previous calendar year. This means the the online application must be completed, and all supporting materials must be received by Oct. 31. 

  NOTE: Early decision will be considered for applications submitted with all supporting documents by Jun 30. Please refer to the main admissions page for details.
  

  Applicants must meet all requirements on or before the Oct. 31 deadline. This includes completion of all prerequisite coursework, and completion of your BSN or other bachelor's degree. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, not all who meet minimum requirements may be interviewed.
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  What types of critical care experience are accepted? Which are preferred?

  The requirement for critical care is that you have experience as a Registered Nurse in a critical care area, with emphasis placed on invasive hemodynamic monitoring, ventilatory care and pharmacologic management. The preferred areas are:

  1. SICU (Surgical Intensive Care). This includes specialty area SICUs such as Neurosurgical, Trauma, etc.
  2. MICU (Medical Intensive Care)
  3. CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care)
  4. PICU/NICU (Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care)
  5. ED (Emergency Department) provided the applicant has gained experience with invasive monitoring, ventilators and critical care pharmacology that could be attained in a level 1 or 2 trauma designated facility caring for complex patient conditions.
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  I've only been in the ICU three months, am I eligible for an interview?

  The minimum requirement from our accreditors is that you have a least one year of critical care experience prior to starting the program (i.e. enrolling and starting classes in September).  Applicants who have completed 1.5 years (or more) in ICU prior to the admissions deadline have the best chance for an interview (all other things being equal).

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  How recent do my undergraduate science courses have to be?

  We look at grades in General Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology. Note these are topics, not course titles. You must have one course in each area, taken in the ten years prior to the admissions deadline, with a 3.0 (B) or better. If you have less than a B (3.0) in these courses, you may repeat your sciences to achieve a better grade. We understand that many times undergraduate grades do not necessarily reflect current ability and maturity. Please be advised that retakes do not change your overall GPA for the purposes of meeting the minimum 3.0 overall average.

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  What is the minimum score required for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)?

  We do not have a minimum score on GRE. We do not require applicants to take the GRE examination.

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  Are there any prerequisite courses that I must take prior to admission?

  There are no prerequisite graduate courses. The only prerequisite courses to admission are

  • The required undergraduate science courses are:
    1. Anatomy and physiology
    2. Gen Chem I (inorganic chemistry)

  See course equivalency tables for the MSON for example courses that meet the requirement.
  
  Accepted applicants may contact program faculty to inquire about transfer credit. See the section on transfer credit in the program Handbook.
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  How many students are accepted each year?

  The number accepted each year depends upon the number of qualified applicants interviewed. This number varies from year to year. We are currently accepting 25 new students per year.
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  How do I spend time with a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) observing cases?

  Contact information is present on this website. You may wish to schedule a few hours at your own institution to observe anesthesia and surgery. This will also give you an opportunity to meet and talk with our alumni, or current nurse anesthesia graduate students.

  The Nurse Anesthesia program has an Information Session nearly every month (see Information Session Schedule). This is a good opportunity to meet nurse anesthesia faculty and students face to face, and have any questions about your individual circumstances answered.

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  Is online ACLS acceptable?

  Our College accepts ACLS & BLS approved by the American Heart Association.