Mar 29, 2024  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Science in Nursing: Nurse Anesthesia


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School of Nursing
3008 Human Health Building  (map)
(248) 370-4253 • Fax (248) 364-8740
www.oakland.edu/nursing

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Interim Program director:
Anne Hranchook
3024 Human Health Building
(248) 364-8708
hranchoo@oakland.edu

 

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. In addition, the Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

Program description

The plan of study for the Nurse Anesthesia (NA) program prepares nurses as specialists in anesthesia care. As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. 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, advanced pharmacology and gross anatomical dissection 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 on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists

Master’s program objectives

Building on the foundation of the undergraduate program, the master’s program will prepare the graduate student for advancement in nursing practice. The Master’s graduate will:

  1. Integrate theories and research findings from nursing and the related sciences to translate evidence into practice.
  2. Integrate professional practice standards and guidelines in the provision of nursing practice in the student’s specialty area.
  3. Demonstrate the foundational competencies necessary for successful completion of the certification examination in the student’s specialty area.
  4. Demonstrate the foundational competencies necessary for continued study at the doctoral level.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

  • September 15 for the following fall semester
Readmission and program transfer

Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.

International application deadlines

International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.

University graduate application requirements
  • Application for Admission to Graduate Study    
  • Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
  • Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
    • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
  • Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

Program application requirements
  • Two School of Nursing Supplemental Application forms: one for the School of Nursing and one for the Nurse Anesthesia program
  • The two recommendations (above) must be from healthcare professionals (prefer letters from nurses in leadership/education) who are able to attest to the applicant’s nursing skills and/or abilities. Program applicants must have one recommendation from their current nurse manager.
  • Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results for those applicants whose undergraduate GPA’s are less than 3.5.
    • Satisfactory achievement on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (V>400, Q>400, A.3.0 for tests taken prior to August 2011; V> 146, Q> 140, A >3.0 for tests after August 2011).  
  • For applicants with undergraduate GPAs of 3.5 or greater, the GRE is not required.
  • Professional Goal statement of 500 to 1,000 words. The goal statement should focus on career goals after completion of the program, how recent clinical experiences have prepared them for advanced practice role, and plans for professional development. The goal statement will be evaluated on content and appropriate use of grammar, style, spelling and rhetoric.
  • Individual interview with School of Nursing faculty will be scheduled after all admission materials have been submitted.
  • Proof of BLS and ACLS certification. 
  • Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
  • Applicants must be eligible for a current Registered Nurse license in their state of practice.
  • Applicants must have completed an undergraduate physical assessment course.
  • Undergraduate physiology and pathophysiology courses must be within seven years of applying to the program. Undergraduate anatomy, pharmacology and either organic chemistry or biochemistry must be within 10 years of applying to the program. Grades in each of these courses must be at or above a 3.0.
  • A minimum of one year of critical care clinical experience as an R.N. is required during which time the applicant has functioned as an independent decision maker, demonstrated advanced psychomotor skills, and used and interpreted advanced monitoring techniques. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience must have occurred within two years of the application deadline. Emergency room, recovery room and step-down units typically do not satisfy the ICU requirement. This experience must be completed at the time of application.
  • Qualified applicants will attend an interview and complete a brief evaluation of their critical care nursing knowledge and skills. 

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

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 gradually in 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.

Course requirements


a. Foundation courses (16 credits)


Foundation courses address critical content needed by all graduate nursing students. These courses include content on nursing theory, diversity, research, ethics, health policy and roles of advanced practice nursing. A total of 16 credits are required in the foundation courses.

b. Clinical core courses (18 credits)


The clinical core courses provide graduate students with advanced clinical knowledge and skills in pharmacology, assessment, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and advanced nursing interventions.

c. Specialty courses (22 credits)


The specialty courses are comprised of didactic and clinical courses that prepare students for the advanced practice. The specialty courses build upon nursing knowledge and skills learned at the undergraduate level and during foundation and clinical core courses.

Satisfactory academic progress


Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing


All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

  • Holding a Graduate Assistantship
  • Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
  • Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
  • Going on a leave of absence
  • Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Program requirements:  Students are required to follow the university policies and procedures for graduate students, as described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. In addition to the university requirements, specific School of Nursing policies and procedures are outlined in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Students are expected to earn a grade of 3.0 or above in each course in the MSN program. In courses graded Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U), students are expected to earn a course grade of satisfactory. Students who are not making satisfactory progress in the program may be placed on probation with conditions imposed for retention in the program or may b recommended for dismissal from the program.  Students are required to keep RN license and health requirements current.  See the School of Nursing Web site for health requirements. Students are also required to meet any requirements of the health care facilities where they have clinical learning experiences.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information


Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework.

Note:  Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Advising

Students are responsible for requirements and policies stated in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook and in each course syllabus. Every student admitted to the MSN program is assigned both an academic adviser and a faculty adviser who has teaching responsibilities in the graduate program. These advisers are available to discuss coursework, plans of study, concerns regarding progression in the program, and student career goals.

 

 

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