The University of Kansas Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia accepts applications from all registered nurses who meet the admission requirements set forth by the Council on Accreditation and the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, the KU Department of Nurse Anesthesia and the University of Kansas. In full support of university policies, the nurse anesthesiology program seeks a culturally diverse student body and does not discriminate against any group protected by law.

Requirements  |   How to Apply and the Application Process  |   Application Materials  |   How do I get an Application Packet?  |   Nurse Anesthesia Program Brochure (PDF)

Requirements
To be accepted into the Nurse Anesthesia Program, the applicant must meet the requirements of the Graduate School and the departmental admission requirements as listed below. These requirements are subject to change based on the recommendations of the admission/ curriculum committee.

1. License as a professional Registered Nurse (RN) in the states of Kansas and Missouri, or be eligible for licensure in those states.
   
2. Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline.
   
3. Two years experience as a registered nurse with a minimum 1 year of recent, full-time experience in ICU. The one year of ICU experience must be completed prior to the official enrollment date.
   
4. The following six courses are prerequisites to the program. These courses must be eligible for transfer to the University of Kansas as college/university credit courses and must have been completed with a minimum grade of C and cannot be credit by examination. A Pass grade will not be accepted unless the applicant provides written verification that the Pass designation is equivalent to a grade of C or higher.
   
   
   • Statistics – one class (a nursing research class does not count for this requirement). The class must contain both parametric and nonparametric content; a minimum grade of C must be attained.
     
   • Basic Sciences – the following five science classes are required.
     It is required that you must have an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in these classes:
     
     • Chemistry – you must take two classes. The two classes should have covered the topics of inorganic, organic and biochemistry. 
       NOTE: you do not have to take an Inorganic, Organic or Biochemistry course; the two classes you took should cover these topics)
     • Microbiology – one class
     • Anatomy* –one class
     • Physiology * – one class
       

       ***Physiology is the only course that must have been completed within 10 years of program start date with a minimum grade of B

       NOTE: In lieu of separate anatomy and physiology courses, two semesters of a

       What our graduates say: “KU students are definitely ready to practice anesthesia when they graduate, especially compared to the students who rotate through our facility ... ” – more

       combined Anatomy/Physiology course are acceptable (such as A&P 1 and A&P 2). A grade of B must be attained in both courses and both courses must be taken within the last ten years.
5. A grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all accumulative college work. Applicants with less than an overall 3.0 will be considered case-by-case. All college course work must be documented by one official transcript sent directly from each previous undergraduate/graduate school to the Nurse Anesthesia Department.
   
6. Writing skills appropriate to graduate level education.
   
7. Three references are required: one from your nurse manager/supervisor, one from an advanced practice nurse/MD (anesthesia provider preferred), and one from a former/current instructor or peer/co-worker.
   
8. The applicant must submit a one-page typed statement outlining his or her educational and professional goals. Include any pertinent information regarding participation in professional and/or voluntary organizations.
   
9. Qualified applicants will be invited to attend a personal interview. Only applicants who attend the personal interview are considered for admission to the program.
   
10. Before matriculation, all students admitted to the program must:
     • complete ACLS and PALS and maintain them current throughout the program at the student's expense
     • submit to a background check at the student's expense

Priority is given to applicants who have completed all prerequisites by the July 15 application deadline. All prerequisites must be completed before the program start date. The Prerequisite Review Worksheet can help applicants determine if they have met all program requirements.

Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is strongly encouraged. If qualified, applicants should provide a copy of certification. Participation in professional and/or voluntary organizations or committees (e.g., hospital, alumni, nonprofits) is considered an advantage. Applicants are encouraged to shadow with a CRNA in order to both observe and discuss the practice of anesthesia care. Arrangements can be made to shadow at KU Medical Center by calling 913-588-6612.

Because of the unique design and content of the curriculum, the School does not accept transfer students.

top

How to Apply and the Application Process

The Nurse Anesthesia Education program is undergoing a major change in the application process.  The next application period will be March 1, 2010 --July 15, 2010 for the program that will start Summer 2011. Portions of the application materials will be submitted online.  Please note that most of the application materials will be similar to the current forms and our prerequisite requirements will not change significantly.  Information about the new application process will be available on our website by February 2010.  Please check back then for updated information.

You can view the current application materials below, however, you will not be able to print or submit the application forms, except the Prerequisite Review Worksheet.  Please continue to use the current Prerequisite Review Worksheet which is downloadable to help make sure you meet all of our program requirements.

The application deadline is July 15 each year. Applicants are notified in October of their selection for an interview. Interviews are usually conducted November-December for the class that begins the summer of the following year. All application materials must be received in the program office by the application deadline. It is strongly recommended that applicants complete the Prerequisite Review Worksheet as early as possible to allow the applicant sufficient time to make corrections or obtain missing course work if necessary. Admission to the program is increasingly competitive and applicants who have completed all prerequisites by the application deadline are given priority in the selection process.
top

Application Materials

1. Graduate Student Application Form
   
2. Application Addendum
   
3. Prerequisite Review Worksheet
   
4. $60 application fee, payable to "University of Kansas Medical Center"
   
5. One-page typed statement of educational and professional goals, and any pertinent information regarding participation in professional and/or voluntary organizations.
   
6. Resume (with dates and details of ICU experience)
   
7. One official transcript sent directly from each nursing program/college/university attended.
   
8. Three references using the Nurse Anesthesia department form.
   
   (The GRE is not required.)

The application packet can be downloaded from our website (see grey box at right) from March 1 – July 15th each year. Outside of the this period, the forms will only be available to view; they cannot be printed. This allows the program to update the application materials each year.

All of our program information and application materials are available on our Web site. If you have problems opening or viewing the application materials, or if you would like to receive printed information, please contact our office and we can send you a hard copy of the information that is available online.

Email address: na@kumc.edu
Phone: 913-588-6612

Mail:
KU Nurse Anesthesia Education
Attn: Applications
Mail Stop 2020
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, Kansas 66160

If after reviewing the information on our website, you still have questions, the office staff will be happy to answer any questions that you might have regarding the program or the application process. Please call us at: 913-588-6612.


top





KUMC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and welcomes applications from all qualified persons regardless of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, marital status, veteran status, ancestry or age. For additional information about the EEO/AA policies and procedures, see the EEO/AA section of the KUMC Faculty Handbook. or the KUMC Equal Opportunity Office website.

Direct requests for disability accommodation to Carol Wagner, EO/Disability Specialist: 913-588-1206 (Voice) or 913-588-7963 (TDD). Persons with speech or hearing impairments who wish to contact the hiring department may access the Kansas State Relay at 800-766-3777.

KU Medical Center Equal Opportunity Statement

University of Kansas Equal Opportunity Office (main campus - Lawrence)