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The University of Tennessee

The Graduate School of Medicine



Departments and Programs » Department of Anesthesiology »Nurse Anesthesia Concentration


Nurse Anesthesia Concentration

The Program

The University of Tennessee College of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Concentration is a 31-month program, culminating in the awarding of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Nurse Anesthesia to successful candidates. The application deadline is February 1 each year (11 months prior to the beginning of the program of study). Eligible and competitive applicants are selected for personal interview in April (following the February application deadline). Candidates selected for admission, from the pool of applicants that are interviewed in April, begin the program nine months later in January. Students who successfully meet the clinical and didactic requirements of the program complete their program in August, approximately 2.5 years after they begin their studies.

Clinical Sites

The primary clinical site for the program is the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, a 581-bed Acute Care Teaching Hospital and a Level-I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center, which offers a wide range of clinical experiences to student registered nurse anesthetists.

Additionally, the following clinical facilities are utilized for curricular enrichment and supplementation:

  • East Tennessee Children's Hospital
  • Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
  • Fort Sanders ParkWest Medical Center
  • Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge

Applicants

Applicants must have the following:

  • A Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited college/university
  • Achieved competitive scores on the qualitative and verbal sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) {A minimum combined score of 1000 or greater on the two sections suggested}.  NOTE: No other examinations, such as the MAT, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT, are accepted.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Current ACLS & PALS certification
  • A graduate-level course in statistics from a regionally accredited college/university with a grade of 'B', or better. NOTE: This criterion must be completed prior to the start of classes in January.

New Admission Requirements for 2012 Applicants

ICU Experience

Admission to the program is contingent upon obtaining a minimum of one year, current, full-time adult work history as an RN.  To be considered for admission, applicants must have completed at least one year of current, full-time ICU employment as an RN prior to the application deadline of February 1st. There are no exceptions to this criterion.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills and feel comfortable working with ventilators, numerous vasoactive drugs, such as nitroglycerine, nitroprusside, dopamine and amiodarone. In addition, applicants must possess a thorough understanding of EKG interpretation and be able to apply hemodynamic values to patient care.

Only the following units are considered acceptable to meet the requirement:

  • Surgical ICU
  • Trauma ICU
  • Cardiovascular ICU
  • Medical ICU
  • Coronary Care Unit

Experience in other intensive care units

While experience in adult ICU is required, employment time in neonatal and/or pediatric ICU is considered to be very advantageous and may count toward the minimum one-year critical care criterion. 
Other work history may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but must include experience in units where nurses care for high acuity, critically ill patients on a 1:1 ratio who require invasive monitoring and the administration of vasoactive drugs. For example, while it cannot supersede the critical care (ICU) requirement, Flight Nursing is considered highly complementary experience for applicants to the UT Knoxville Program. 

CCRN Certification

While the Program does not necessarily require applicants to have CCRN certification prior to application,   admission will be contingent upon achieving this or similar professional milestone before matriculation. 
Other acceptable certifications include but are not necessarily limited to…

  • Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR)
  • Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN)
  • Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPN)
  • Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
  • Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)

Special note for applicants who have previously been a student in another program:

Students dismissed from a nurse anesthesia or other advanced practice nursing program for academic, clinical or behavioral reasons will not be considered for admission to the UT Knoxville Nurse Anesthesia Program.  However, students who have been enrolled in another program and withdrew in good standing may be considered for admission provided that they are able to obtain a letter from their former Program Director on official university or program letterhead stating that they withdrew when they were in good standing.  This letter must contain an original signature of the Program Director and be addressed as follows:

UT Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
1930 Alcoa Hwy, STE 430
Knoxville TN  37920-1503
ATTN: Ms. Alisa Canupp

It is also important to be fully aware that there are no exceptions to this policy.

Our Faculty and Staff

Program Director/Coordinator, Nurse Anesthesia Concentration, Dr. Donald Bell, CRNA, DNSc, APN

Associate Program Director - Ms. Julie Bonom, CRNA, MSN, APN

Didactic Education Coordinator – Terrica Preast, CRNA, MSN, APN

Clinical Education Coordinator – Martha Silmon, CRNA, MSN, APN

Administrative Support Specialist - Ms. Alisa Canupp, BA

Class of 2011

Program Application

Program information and application materials are available for downloading by clicking on the following links:

For questions, or to schedule an appointment with one of the Program Faculty, interested applicants may feel free to contact the Nurse Anesthesia Concentration directly by calling (865) 305-7762.

Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Bursar’s Office Website

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit UTKs Financial Aid Office Website for information about grants, scholarships, loans and to obtain a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Program Specific Fees

The cost per credit hour is the standard charge for UTK graduate students.  In addition to the tuition charges and standard fees, there is a $500 fee for each course in the nurse anesthesia core (effective Fall semester 2011).

Accreditation

In 2004, the UT Nurse Anesthesia Concentration received a maximum 10-year accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
222 South Prospect Avenue, Suite 304
Park Ridge, IL  60068-4010
Telephone: (847) 692-7050
Fax: (847) 692-7137
Website: www.aana.com


The UT College of Nursing MSN program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
One Dupont Circle,  NW, Suite 530
Washington,  DC  20036
Telephone: (202) 887-6791
Fax: (202) 887-8476
Website: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/AboutCCNE.htm

 

 

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine

UT Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
1930 Alcoa Highway, Ste 430
Knoxville, Tn 37920-1500
Phone: 865-305-7762
Fax: 865-305-6852