1. Submit all required documentation, fees and other materials stated below.
2. Possess a baccalaureate degree from a fully accredited college or university.
3. Possess a current RN license that is valid within one of the fifty states or U.S. territories (license must be unrestricted, free from probation, suspension, or stipulations).
   1. An appropriate state RN license is required for Phase II training.
4. Have completed a minimum of one calendar year full-time experience as an ICU nurse by February 1st of the year of the applicant’s planned start date (ER, PACU and Cath-Lab are not accepted for ICU experience).
   1. Preferably adult ICU
   2. Pediatric ICU also meets requirements
   3. The ICU experience must be obtained at a U.S. military hospital or a hospital located in the United States or U.S. territories.
5. Possess current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification.
6. Possess current Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification
7. CCRN Certification is recommended but not required for the initial application but is required for all subsequent applications to the MSNA program.
8. Meet two or more of the following criteria:
   1. A combined score of 1000 or greater for the verbal and quantitative sections under the GRE scoring system prior to August 1, 2011 or a combined score of 297 or greater under the GRE scoring system after August 1, 2011. The analytical writing section is required; a score of 3.5 or greater is preferred.
   2. An overall GPA of 3.0 or greater (all college/university coursework)
   3. A GPA of 3.0 or greater for the last 60 credit hours of college/university coursework
   4. A GPA of 3.0 or greater for all science coursework. An applicant that has a science GPA of less than 2.5 will not be considered for admission regardless of other qualifications.
9. A college level chemistry course within three years of program start date:
   1. General chemistry, organic chemistry or biochemistry from any accredited college or university will meet this requirement.
   2. Texas Wesleyan University offers an online continuing education chemistry course during the summer before the program start date that will meet this requirement for selected applicants.
   3. Although not required, it is strongly recommended that the selected applicant attend a chemistry course identified in “a” above and attend the summer chemistry course identified in “b” above.

1. Texas Wesleyan University Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia application for admission with a $50 non-refundable application fee payable to Texas Wesleyan University.
2. Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended.
3. Official GRE scores (current within five years of application). Texas Wesleyan University’s institution code is 6828.
4. Verification of current RN licensure that is valid within one of the fifty states or U.S. territories (license must be unrestricted, free from probation, suspension, or stipulations).
5. References: three references are required – one each from a physician, supervisor and academic instructor. All applicants who have previously attended and did not complete another nurse anesthesia program must submit a letter of reference from their prior program director on program/university letterhead.
6. A copy of current ACLS and PALS certifications and, if applicable, CCRN certification.
7. Medical questionnaire/certification form demonstrating applicant's good mental and physical health.
8. CCRN recognition is encouraged for first time applicants and required for reapplication.

Interviews are conducted either on campus in Fort Worth or at select primary clinical training sites. Some of the primary clinical sites wish to participate in the interviews of the students who will train at their facility. Therefore, the applicant may need to participate in more than one interview during the selection process. Clinical sites that wish to interview their own applicants are identified on the program application form.

Total enrollment in the nurse anesthesia programs is limited. Therefore, all applicants who meet minimum requirements for admission may not be selected for an interview or to the program for the particular year in which the applicant wishes to enter. Applicants will be selected on a best qualified basis as determined by the Program Director and/or the GPNA Advisory Committee. The decision of the Program Director and/or the GPNA Admissions Committee is final and not subject to appeal. Selection will be based upon the following criteria:

1. Personal interview in which the applicant demonstrates critical care knowledge, skills, and abilities
2. Work experience
3. Grade point average
4. GRE score
5. References that rate professional performance as excellent or above average
6. CCRN certification (if submitted)

Applicants are selected for a primary clinical training location prior to starting the program. Once the applicant accepts the offered clinical training location, changes are seldom made. The applicant should plan on training at the agreed upon location and not expect to be able to change his/her training location once the program begins.

Accepted students are responsible for obtaining a registered nursing license and maintaining State Board of Nursing practice requirements in the state where they are assigned to do clinical training. Texas Wesleyan University cannot guarantee an alternate clinical site to any student who is unable to obtain an unencumbered nursing license to practice in the state of their accepted clinical site.

Texas Wesleyan contracts with hospitals around the nation to provide clinical training to its nurse anesthesia students. Occasionally, a contract is not renewed or cancelled for various reasons and students cease to train at that hospital. If the selected applicant’s assigned clinical training site ceases to train Texas Wesleyan nurse anesthesia students for any reason, students assigned to that site will be reassigned to another clinical training site. The location where the student is reassigned may or may not be in the same geographical location as the original training site. The student will be reassigned to a hospital that has training positions open to the students at the time of reassignment.

After acceptance into the MSNA program, all students will be given instructions on how to complete a required background check. The background check must be completed using the system put in place by the program between the date of the acceptance letter and July 1st of the year the student is scheduled to start the program. All students may be required to complete and pass a background check at the completion of Phase I to meet the requirements of clinical training facilities. The cost of the background checks is the students’ responsibility. Students who do not pass a background check may be denied entry into the program or entry into Phase II of the program which will result in dismissal from the program.

After starting the program, drug screens will be conducted on a random basis throughout the program.

Upon entering Phase I and immediately prior to Phase II, a physical examination is required to include a TB test or chest x-ray. Additional documentation of various immunizations or titers prior to starting clinical training will required prior to starting Phase II including:

1. Tetanus/Diphtheria (one dose within 10 years of starting the program)
2. TB test or Chest X-ray (within one year of starting the program and during the summer immediately prior to starting Phase II)
3. MMR (x2) – Mumps/Measles/Rubella
4. Varicella titer
5. Poliomyelitis
6. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B (A complete series or proof of immunity is encouraged prior to beginning direct patient care)
7. TDaP – Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis inoculations are required for all students training at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, California.
8. Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirements. In compliance with Texas Senate Bill 1107, Texas Wesleyan University requires all new students, including freshmen, transfer, graduate and law students, under the age of 30 to submit evidence of being immunized against bacterial meningitis. This requirement is effective beginning in the Spring 2012 semester.
9. Any addition immunization(s) required by clinical training site.

For additional policies, see the complete current catalog.

HSC 6201 Professional Aspects of Anesthesia I .............................. 2 hours
A study of medical ethics with emphasis on its relevancy to anesthesia.

HSC 6411 Applied Chemistry for the Nurse Anesthetist .............................. 4 hours
Applied Chemistry for Anesthetist 6411 is a four-credit graduate level Chemistry course which is an overview of general chemistry principles, gas laws, organic functional groups and biomolecules as it pertains to anesthetics. The student will be introduced to atomic theory and structure, bonding, gases, acids and bases, pH, organic structure, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, metabolism and nucleic acids.

HSC 6421 Advanced Pharmacology .............................. 4 hours
Prepares the Registered Nurse (RN) and enhances the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in their respective roles on the anesthesia patient care team and in the administration of anesthesia by teaching the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, uptake and distribution, and selected systemic pharmacology as applicable to anesthesiology.

HSC 6641 Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology I .............................. 6 hours
Study of structure and function in health and disease of human nervous, endocrine, and excretory systems.

HSC 6231 Research Methods in Nurse Anesthesia .............................. 2 hours
Comprehensive overview of research process including methodology, design and interpretation of findings, emphasizes acquiring knowledge and skills essential for critical evaluation of research reports.

HSC 6271 Selected Topics of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology ............... 2 hours
An investigation into special areas of anatomy and physiology that are not discussed in 6641 and 6642. Course may be repeated if the topics are different.

HSC 6422 Advanced Anesthesia Pharmacology .............................. 4 hours
Prepares the RN for a role on the anesthesia patient care team and in the administration of anesthesia by teaching analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills in selecting and discussing appropriate anesthesia drugs for utilization in patient care situations.

HSC 6642 Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology II .............................. 6 hours
Study of structure and function in health and disease of human cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

HSC 6603 Principles of Anesthesia Practice I ......................... 6 hours with laboratory
Prepares the RN for a role on the anesthesia patient care team and in the administration of anesthesia by teaching a basic level of expertise in understanding and using anesthesia equipment in a competent and safe manner.

HSC 6605 Principles of Anesthesia Practice II ......................... 6 hours with laboratory
Prepares the RN for a role on the anesthesia patient care team and in the administration of anesthesia by teaching a basic level of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor expertise for the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative anesthesia periods.

HSC 6481 Clinical Practicum A .............................. 4 hours
The application of the principles of anesthesia care performed under the supervision of clinical instructors.

HSC 6285 Clinical Didactics A .............................. 2 hours
A study of the advanced anesthesia principles throughout the life cycle Part 1.

HSC 6482 Clinical Practicum B .............................. 4 hours
The application of the principles of anesthesia care performed under the supervision of clinical instructors.

HSC 6286 Clinical Didactics B .............................. 2 hours
A study of the advanced anesthesia principles throughout the life cycle Part 2.

HSC 6383 Clinical Practicum C .............................. 3 hours
The application of the principles of anesthesia care performed under the supervision of clinical instructors.

HSC 6287 Clinical Didactics C .............................. 2 hours
A study of the advanced anesthesia principles throughout the life cycle Part 3

HSC 6484 Clinical Practicum D .............................. 4 hours
The application of the principles of anesthesia care performed under the supervision of clinical instructors.

HSC 6288 Clinical Didactics D .............................. 2 hours
A study of the Professional Aspects of the nurse anesthesia profession to include, but not limited to, practice settings, malpractice insurance, legal concepts, cultural diversity, billing and reimbursement.