Frequently Asked
Questions
Pre-Program Qualifications
Do I need to have a full year of Critical Care experience before I submit my application?
Yes. Admission to the program is contingent upon fulfilling the critical care experience requirement.
You must have at least one year of critical care experience before you can apply to the program.
What is considered “Critical Care Experience”?
Critical care nurses care for critically ill patients who require invasive monitoring and the administration of vasoactive drugs. Given the higher acuity of patient population, these nurses should demonstrate critical thinking skills and feel comfortable working with ventilators, numerous vasoactive drugs [e.g., nitroglycerine, sodium nitroprusside, dopamine, amiodarone], In addition, these nurses should have a good understanding of EKG interpretation and be able to apply hemodynamic values to their patient care.
Critical care units that usually provide this type of experience are coronary care units, medical or surgical ICUs, and postoperative cardiovascular units. Other working environments and arrangements may be acceptable but must be approved by the program prior to application.
in 2008, the average amount of ICU experience of accepted students was 2.6 years.
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In years past, we have accepted nurses whose experience is exclusively neonatal or pediatric, but it is the exception rather than the rule. The critical care experience required of nurses prior to entering anesthesia school presumes that a certain knowledge base exists when it comes to a number of chronic diseases of adulthood, invasive monitors (i.e. arterial lines, PA catheters), vasoactive drips, etc. A lack of understanding and nursing experience in these areas tends to make the early part of the anesthesia school experience more difficult and stressful than it otherwise would have to be. We do, however, look at each individual applicant in terms of what they have gained from their ICU experience, and we do factor all parts of the application into our decision for acceptance into this program.
How recent should my Critical Care/ICU experience be?
Your ICU experience should be within the past year.
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Yes. Students entering the program need to be able to document current certifications in BLS, ACLS and PALS on the first day of classes. Current status in all three certifications must be maintained throughout the program.
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Do you require applicants to have CCRN certification?
We do not require applicants to have CCRN certification to apply but it is strongly encouraged that applicants are CCRN certified.
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Can I observe the role of a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) before I apply?
Yes. We highly encourage all applicants to become familiar with the role of the CRNA through "shadowing." Spending time with a CRNA is one of the best ways to learn more about the profession and to determine if it will be a good fit for you.
Admissions and Application Process
(Please see Admissions and Requirements for specific eligibility requirements)
When are applications accepted for admission to the Nursing Anesthesia Program?
Applications are accepted on August 1 of every year. No late submissions will be considered.
How competitive is the application selection process?
We receive approximately 110 applications per year. We traditionally accept between 20-28 students for each class but look more to applicant qualifications than to class size when making the decisions each year.
What is an acceptable personal statement length?
Personal statements should be no more than 2 pages.
Do all applicants get an interview?
No. Admission into our program is very competitive. All submitted applications are reviewed by the admissions committee. Each application is trhoughly reviewed by the committee with regard to GPA, GRE/MAT score, clinical experience, reference letters, and personal statements. Invitations to interview are extended to those applicants who the committee feels are most qualified to meet the rigor of the program.
How soon after I apply to the program will I hear if I've been accepted?
Applicants for admission will be contacted within four weeks following completion of the interview process. Individuals selected for admission must notify the School of Nursing and Anesthesia department in writing, with their decision to accept the position.
If a candidate accepts the offered slot in the program, a $1,000.00 non-refundable matriculation fee (a seat fee) will be required to secure the candidate's position in the program.
Is the matriculation fee refundable once I have been accepted into the program?
No, the $1000.00 matriculation fee will be applied to your first year expenses upon acceptance into the program.
Is there a waiting list for admission?
The UTC Nurse Anesthesia Program will not maintain a waiting list of prospective applicants. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in following years.
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No. We can only consider applicants who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
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Please submit scores no less than five years old for the GRE and MAT exams. The Analytical Writing test of the GRE is required. Weakness in one area can be offset by strength in another area. When looking at each application, we are looking for indicators of strong critical thinking skills - the information obtained from GRE and MAT exams are part of the decision-making process. In 2008, the average GRE scores of accepted students were Verbal-502, Quantitative-540 and Analytical-3.83. Further, the total average score for the GRE was-1042. Average GPA for the 2008 class was 3.5 and the MAT was 72.
Our goal is to admit students who will have the best chance at success in the program.
Which institution code should I use to forward my GRE/MAT scores?
The institution code for UTC is 1831.
Are there any prerequisite courses that I need before I apply for admission?
We do not require any pre-requisite undergraduate classes. bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s course work, however must be satisfactory. Given the strong science-based curriculum of anesthesia. it is important that you can demonstrate undergraduate success in all science-related course work (physiology, pathophysiology, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, etc)
If you make a "C" or lower in any of your science courses, we strongly recommended that you re-take those course(s) to better improve your academic profile.
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It is possible to transfer up to 6 credits of graduate work earned elsewhere. Only courses in which a student has obtained a grade of “B” or better, and which have not been applied to another degree, will be accepted. Following acceptance into the program you need to provide the Director of the Nurse Anesthesia program with copies of course syllabi as well as other documentation so that they can compare your course to that at UTC. All nurse anesthesia courses must be completed at UTC.
What if I already have a graduate degree in nursing?
Most nurses who already possess a master’s or doctoral degree have the option of earning either an additional master’s degree or a post master’s certificate. In either case, the number of required courses and overall program length does not change. The GRE and MAT requirement, however is waived.
Please go the "Admissions Requirements and Procedures" section of the website for more information.
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No. Any plans to develop a doctorate program for the nurse anesthesia concentration at UTC will be in addition to the MSN program.
Financial Aid and Housing
What are the financial costs associated with the program?
Tuition and fees for the graduate student at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for the academic year 2009-2010 was approximately $3277.00 per semester for in-state students and $8,926.00 per semester for out-of-state students. Total tuition for the entire program (based on 2009-2010 rates) is approximately $22,507.00 for in-state students and $61,425.00 for out-of-state students. A 5-15% increase in tuition and fees occurs each year. Current information regarding tuition can be found at http://www.utc.edu/tuition.php
Are there additional expenses besides the cost of tuition?
There are several expenses, in addition to tuition, for which the student will be responsible. These include:
- Textbook fees
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) membership fee
- Clinical Supplies (lab coat, stethoscope, nerve stimulator, ear piece)
- Health Insurance
- National Certification Exam (NCE) fee
- ACLS and PALS Recertification Courses
Please look at the section Estimated Expenses for more information.
What types of financial aid are available?
Financial aid is readily available for nurse anesthesia students. Awards include aid from Federal Stafford loans, Federal Nurse Anesthesia Traineeships, and potential employers. Accepted applicants should contact the UTC Financial Aid office (423-425-4667) when they are notified of acceptance. Begin the process early by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
I live in Mississippi; will I have to pay out-of-state costs?
No. Currently there are no private or public MSN CRNA education programs in the state of Mississippi. As a result, students who are residents of Mississippi are eligible for in-state tuition. This is made possible by the Academic Common Market (ACM).
Please note that Post Master's Graduates cannot participate in the ACM at this time.
What is the Academic Common Market?
This is a consortium of 16 southern states that belong to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Through this program, students wishing to pursue study in graduate programs not available within their home states may be able to attend out-of-state programs at in-state tuition rates.
Currently, the following states are partners in the academic common market: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida (graduate programs only), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina (graduate programs with restrictions), Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (graduate programs only), Virginia and West Virginia.
Additional information on the Academic Common Market can be found at: http://www.sreb.org/programs/acm/acmindex.aspx.
What housing options are available on campus?
To those students who choose to live on campus, UTC provides an array of attractive housing options. For more information please go to: http://www.utc.edu/Administration/StudentHousing/.
General Questions
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The program is 27 months (2 years and 3 months).
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The school year begins in May of each year.
Can I attend the program on a part time basis?
No. The program is designed for full-time study.
Is UTC's Nurse Anesthesia program front-loaded or integrated?
First, an explanation on the differences between the two. Integrated nurse anesthesia programs typically arrange their curricula so that students participate in didactic and clinical education concurrently while front loaded program students complete all didactic courses before beginning their clinical experience.
UTC's Nurse Anesthesia program follows an integrated model.
Does your school have a patient simulator?
Yes, the school owns a Laerdal SimMan® 3G patient simulator.
Can I work during the program?
Being enrolled in the nurse anesthesia program at UTC is a full-time endeavor for 27 months and the curriculum is very demanding. The time commitment involved averages on a minimum of 40 to 50 hours per week in the clinical area and/or classroom.
With that said, we strongly discourage students from working during their time in the program. Doing so could negatively impact your academic and clinical experience.
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Students are required to have a laptop. Computer requirements include high speed internet access, CDROM or DVD capability, and Microsoft Office software.
What is your accreditation status?
The Nurse Anesthesia Program at UTC is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the Nurse Anesthesia Concentration is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA).
For more information, please use our request form, or e-mail Angelique Cook (423-425-2130) or Dr. Linda Hill (423-778-4563).
