Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are anesthesia specialists. They administer approximately 49 million anesthetics given to patients each year in the United States. CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in more than 65% of rural hospitals in the United States, enabling these health care facilities to provide obstetrical, surgical, pain management, and trauma stabilization services. CRNAs provide anesthetics to patients in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified health care professionals. When anesthesia is administered by a nurse anesthetist, it is recognized as the practice of nursing; when administered by a physician anesthesiologist, it is recognized as the practice of medicine (Reference: American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (www.aana.com) Accessed November 18, 2020).

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The 36-month Nurse Anesthesia Program consists of three phases. The first phase (3 quarters) is entirely online allowing students to remain at their home residence and possibly continue working as a registered nurse. This online phase introduces students to topics such as professional development, leadership, research methods, and healthcare policy. The second phase (4 quarters) will begin a face-to-face didactic experience providing the student with a strong foundation in the basic sciences upon which the student will build a framework of basic and advanced principles of anesthesia practice, pharmacology, and related psychomotor and decision-making skills. All coursework in the first two phases of the program must be completed before starting the third phase of the program. The third phase (5 quarters) encompasses the clinical practicum, board preparation study, and a research-based scholarly project related to anesthesia. The clinical phase provides students with the necessary hands-on experience to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential to the practice of nurse anesthesia in a variety of practice settings. All students will be considered for rotation to clinical sites in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Washington state, and all available clinical locations. Thus, a student may be assigned to rotations in any combination of these states as needed to ensure the best quality set of clinical experiences. Students must make their own arrangements for transportation and lodging at these clinical sites. The University does not provide for the cost of transportation or lodging. These sites will provide students with a broad scope of experiences in rural, urban, and suburban hospitals, as well as specialty rotations in cardiac surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics.

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program at Midwestern University begins with providing students with a solid foundation in leadership, healthcare policy, research, and professional development. Then the student builds upon previously acquired knowledge in the basic sciences and introduces the practice of nurse anesthesia. The clinical practicums challenge students to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to actual administration of anesthesia under the guidance of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesiologists at multiple clinical sites in the region. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to work in a variety of settings including urban and rural hospitals, same-day surgery centers, doctors' offices, and pain clinics. The program is also committed to providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in scholarly work that will contribute to their body of knowledge and provide evidence to improve healthcare delivery to all populations.

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) required that all students matriculating into a nurse anesthesia educational program on January 1, 2022 or thereafter be enrolled in a program approved by the COA to award an entry-into-practice doctoral degree. After receiving approval from the COA, Midwestern University’s Nurse Anesthesia Program admitted its first Entry-into-Practice Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice cohort in the fall quarter of 2021.

The Nurse Anesthesia Program received a 10-year accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) in October 2021. Information regarding this accreditation can be found at www.coacrna.org, 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603, 224-275-9130. Accreditation was granted for the period of October 12, 2021 through October 31, 2031. The State of Arizona Board of Private Postsecondary Education has approved all current degree programs at the Glendale Campus of Midwestern University.

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.

CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is available. They administer every type of anesthetic, and provide care for every type of surgery (from open heart to cataract) or procedure, including pain management.

• Anesthesia specialist providing every type of anesthetic
• CRNAs safely administer 49 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, other health professional (Reference: American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (www.aana.com), Accessed November 5th, 2018)

To be considered for admission to the Nurse Anesthesia Program at Midwestern University, students must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
2. Minimum science GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Courses included in the calculation of the science GPA include any anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, chemistry, physics, and microbiology courses.
3. Completion of a baccalaureate degree in nursing, granted by a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
4. Satisfactory completion (grades of C or better) of all prerequisite coursework prior to application (grades of C- are not acceptable).
5. Licensure to practice as a registered nurse: an unrestricted license to practice in at least one legal jurisdiction in the United States or its territories. The applicant possesses no previous sanctions or restrictions on the RN license.
6. Minimum of one year of full-time critical care registered nursing experience prior to application. Critical care experience includes all types of Adult ICU, Pediatric ICU, and Emergency Room. Neonatal intensive care unit experience does not meet this requirement. Experience should include management of mechanical ventilation, invasive monitoring, and vasoactive medication infusions.
7. Demonstration of sincere understanding of and interest in nurse anesthesia.
8. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with faculty, patients, and colleagues.

Prerequisite Requirements

All Prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to submission of application

Application Deadline

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis until the maximum enrollment for the program is reached. Students are advised to complete their application files as early as possible to ensure timely consideration. The current application deadline is October 31st with interviews beginning in January.

International Applicants

An international student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, six hours in non-remedial English composition, and three hours in speech/public speaking.

Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the US or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:

1. Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): 414/289-3400 or Fax 414/289-3411 ( www.ece.org, e-mail: info@ece.org)
2. Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants: 305/273-1616 or Fax 305/273-1338
3. World Education Service (WES): 212/966-6311 or Fax 212/739-6100 ( www.wes.org, e-mail: info@wes.org)

International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable US or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.

For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.

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