Master of Science in Nursing
Nurse Anesthesia
School of Nursing
444 O’Dowd Hall
Rochester, Michigan 48309-4401
(248) 370-4253
www2.oakland.edu/nursing
nursinfo@oakland.edu
The plan of study for the Nurse Anesthesia (NA) program prepares nurses as specialists in anesthesia care. Nursing courses and clinical
internships provide the opportunity for students to gain experience in nurse anesthesia practice in all specialty areas. Students study
physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and anatomy in cognate courses. The graduate applies nursing theory, principles of nurse
anesthesia practice and research in the delivery of anesthesia care. After 28 months of full-time study, nurse anesthesia graduates are
prepared to take the certification examination offered by the Council of Certification of Nurse Anesthetists leading to the designation
CRNA.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia
Educational programs.
For RN’s who hold a Master of Science in Nursing, Oakland University offers a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia. An
information flyer is available on the School of Nursing website at: http://www2.oakland.edu/nursing/post_masters_certificate_na.pdf
Admission Requirements
 Compliance with Oakland University graduate study admission requirements.
 Completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing or the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above and grades of 3.0
or above in each required science course in their undergraduate nursing program is required. Evidence of having completed an
undergraduate physical assessment course is also required.
 A minimum of one year of critical care clinical experience as a RN during which time the applicant has functioned as an independent
decision maker, demonstrated advanced psychomotor skills, and used and interpreted advanced monitoring techniques.
 Able to demonstrate the competencies underpinning the ANA Standards of Care and Standards of Professional Performance.
 Satisfactory achievement on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (V>400, Q>400, A.3.0) For applicants with undergraduate
GPA’s of 3.5 or greater, the GRE is not required.
 Eligible for a current Registered Nurse license in the state of Michigan.
 Attend an interview with the Admissions Committee that consists of a group interview and a brief quiz about critical care nursing.
Required Admission Materials
 An application for admission to graduate study and an application fee.
 Official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate course work.
 Two letters of recommendation from professionals who are able to attest to the applicant’s ability. One recommendation must be
from a current nurse manager.
 Official Graduate Record Examination results for those applicants whose undergraduate GPA’s are less than 3.5.
 A School of Nursing Supplemental Application and a goal statement of 500 to 1,000 words, with attention given to the applicants
professional goals and experience, and contributions the applicant expects to make to the profession of nursing.
 Proof of BLS and ACLS certification.
The deadline for the application materials and all supporting materials is September 1 for the class that begins full-time study in the
following Fall semester. Applicant interviews will be scheduled for September through November.
Degree Requirements
The program of study for nurse anesthesia is 56 credits and requires 28 months of full-time study, commencing in September. Extensive
time is required in the clinical setting, beginning with 16 hours a week the first term and concluding with 40 or more hours a week during
the final internship. Clinical requirements by the accrediting body require a minimum of 550 cases, in all specialty areas, with at least 800
hours of anesthesia time.
The 56 credits of graduate course work are distributed as follows:
Foundation courses
NRS 500 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
NRS 521 Diversity and Social Issues (2)
NRS 531 Research in Advanced Nursing Practice (4)
NRS 610 Health Policy and Finance (3 )
NRS 643 Professional Role Development & Ethics (3)
NRS 687 Graduate Research: Project (1)
Clinical Core courses
NRS 605 Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia Practice I (3)
NRS 651 Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia Practice II (3)
NRS 652 Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia Practice III (3)
BIO 501 Physiology and Pathophysiology I (3)
BIO 502 Physiology and Pathophysiology II (3)
BIO 503 Gross Anatomical Dissection (3)
Specialty courses
NRS 607 Introduction to NA Practice & Clinical Internship I (3)
NRS 615 Nurse Anesthesia Practice II (4)
NRS 617 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship II (1)
NRS 618 Biophysics for Nurse Anesthesia (2)
NRS 625 Nurse Anesthesia Practice III (4)
NRS 627 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship III (1)
NRS 635 Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management (3)
NRS 637 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship IV (1)
NRS 647 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship V (1)
NRS 657 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship VI (1)
NRS 667 Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Internship VII (1)
Graduate Program Objectives
In keeping with the philosophy of the School of Nursing, graduates achieve the following outcome competencies.
1.
2.
3.
Incorporate concepts and theories from nursing and related disciplines into advanced nursing practice.
Provide advanced nursing care in a variety of settings in accordance with the American Nurses Association (ANA) Scope and
Standards of Practice Registered Nursing and appropriate subspecialty standards.
Exemplify in practice the American Nurses Association Standards of Professional Performance as detailed in the Scope and
Standards of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing as well as other appropriate advanced standards of care.
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Oakland University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action institution.
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All data in this document reflect information, as it was available at the publication date. School of Nursing and Oakland University reserve the right to revise all
information contained in the publication at its discretion and to make reasonable changes in requirements to improve or upgrade academic and non-academic
programs.