Program Director: Kendrick
Medical Director: Frenette
Faculty: Epps, Humber, Wright
Nurse anesthetists are registered professional nurses who specialize in anesthesiology. They administer anesthesia to all types of patients within the health-illness continuum.
Most nurse anesthetists are employed by hospitals, clinics, or physicians. Some are self-employed, in group practice, or in military service. Provision of 24-hour "on call" service, ease of geographic mobility, opportunity to subspecialize, and good salaries are typical characteristics of employment.
Accreditation: Effective October 7, 2000, the program received ten years full accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Credentials Conferred: MNA Degree. The Master of Nurse Anesthesia is awarded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Professional Certification: Graduates can apply to take the certification examination administered by the Council on Certification
of Nurse Anesthetists. Satisfactory performance on this examination is necessary in order to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Length of Study: Pre-professional Phase - Nursing school to include prerequisite coursework; Professional Phase in SHP - Seven semesters (27 consecutive months).
Program Entrance Date: Fall semester.
Application Deadline: Completed applications must be received by September 1 preceding the expected date of enrollment. Deadline date may be extended by the admissions committee, if warranted.
Application Procedure: The following materials must be submitted:
- UAB graduate application (UAB Graduate School Online Application) and $35.00 processing fee;
- official transcripts from each college or university attended, one coyp to Graduate School and one copy to the Nurse Anesthesia Program office; and
- three online evaluations, one each from: immediate supervisor, professional colleague and a MD or CRNA.
Requirements for Admission: Graduates from an accredited registered nursing program with a baccalaureate degree in nursing or an appropriate science concentration. All coursework towards a BS must be completed by December prior to the start of anesthesia school the following August. Applicants are required to provide proof of a valid professional RN license in the U.S. Only candidates with at least one year experience as an RN in a critical care setting are considered for admission. Acceptance will be based upon the student's academic ability, work experience, and aptitude for a career in nurse anesthesia. The candidate is expected to satisfy the following requirements:
- a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0),
- a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in science prerequisites,
- a grade of C or better in each prerequisite course,
- all sections of the GRE must be completed prior to application (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing),
- 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.
Program Prerequisites - UAB Equivalents
(Course requirements are listed in semester credit hours)
Sciences :
---Anatomy/Physiology (6-8) or
---Anatomy (3-4)
---Physiology (3-4)
---Microbiology (3-4)
---College Chemistry (3-4)
Essential Requirements: Fundamental tasks, behaviors, and abilities necessary to successfully complete the academic and clinical requirements of the program and to satisfy licensure/certification requirements, if any, have been outlined and are available upon request from the academic program office. Students requesting disability accommodations must do so by filing a disability accommodation request in writing with the Disability Support Services Office.
Typical Program - Professional Phase
Fall
NA 601 Gross Anatomy (4)
NA 610 Medical Physiology (5)
NA 620 Anesthesia Pharmacology I (3)
NA 630 Nurse Anesthesia Biochemistry (3)
NA 645 Professional Aspects of Anesthesia (2)
Spring
NA 600 Research Methods and Statistics (3)
NA 621 Anesthesia Pharmacology II (3)
NA 640 Principles of Anesthesia (5)
NA 670 Anesthesia Pathophysiology I (3)
NA 678 Electrocardiography (2)
Summer
NA 650 Regional Anesthesia (2)
NA 671 Anesthesia Pathophysiology II (3 )
NA 672 Clinical Practicum I (6)
NA 680 Anesthesia and Surgical Specialties (3)
Fall
NA 661 Anesthesia for Extremes of Age (3)
NA 673 Clinical Practicum II (12)
NA 660 Obstetrical Anesthesia (1)
Spring
NA 674 Clinical Practicum III (12)
NA 695 Special Topics (3)
NA 698 Graduate Project (2)
Summer
NA 675 Clinical Practicum IV (11)
NA 696 Special Topics (3)
NA 698 Graduate Project (2)
Fall
NA 646 Legal Issues & Practice Management (1)
NA 676 Clinical Practicum V (10)
NA 697 Special Topics (3)
NA 698 Graduate Project (2)
For further information, contact:
Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences
Admissions Office
School of Health Professions Building Room 230
1705 University Boulevard
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-1212
Telephone: (205) 934-3209
E-mail: askCDS@uab.edu