Nurse Anesthesia D.N.P.

Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a US military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following:

• Invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g. pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters)
• Cardiac assist devices
• Mechanical ventilation
• Casoactive infusions

A minimum of one-year full-time adult critical care experience is required, two or more years is preferred. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to:

• Surgical intensive care
• Cardiothoracic intensive care
• Coronary intensive care
• Medical intensive care
• Pediatric intensive care
• Neonatal intensive care

While all nursing experience is valuable and is considered helpful in forming a well-rounded practitioner, we do not accept experience in the following areas to meet the critical care requirement:

• ER
• PACU
• Step-Down Units
• Cath Lab
• Interventional Radiology
• Surgery

The completion of an upper division Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry course at an accredited university or college is required prior to admission to the Nurse Anesthesia Program. If you have not met this requirement, you may still apply to the program and be accepted, however, the course would need to be completed prior to matriculating in the program. These required courses can be taken either in on-campus or online formats and it does not need to have a laboratory component. These courses are in addition to chemistry courses that are commonly taken as part of an undergraduate B.S.N. or B.A.N. program.

Examples of Biochemistry courses that will satisfy this requirement include (listed alphabetically):

• Lake Region State College – CHEM 260 Elements of Biochemistry (online course)
• Minnesota State University Moorhead – CHEM 400 Biochemistry I (online course)
• North Dakota State University – CHEM 260 Elements of Biochemistry
• University of New England – CHEM 1005 Medical Biochemistry (online course)
• University of North Dakota – BIMD 301 Biochemistry and CHEM 341

Subject to Change

Financial Assistance

Nurse Anesthesia Traineeships may be available to full-time Nurse Anesthesia students during their program. This traineeship is funded by the Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) of the federal government.

Textbooks

Students will be required to purchase textbooks for the Nurse Anesthesia Program. The average cost of these textbooks is approximately $1500.

AANA Student Associate Membership

Students are required to become an associate member of the AANA (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists). The current cost for membership is $100 and includes a subscription to the AANA Journal and AANA News Bulletin. Costs are subject to change.

Certification Examination

Program graduates are required to write a Certification Examination administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. This exam is required for all graduates to enter practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, regardless of which nurse anesthesia program you attend. The current exam cost is $995 and is subject to change.

Anesthesia Review Courses

The UND Nurse Anesthesia Program provides a review course as part of the curriculum to help students prepare for the Certification examination. Often students will attend an additional review course that is not associated with the University of North Dakota. All expenses incurred for additional review courses are optional and at the expense of the student.

Certification Exam Review Software

Students will be required to purchase the Prodigy Anesthesia certification examination review software. This software will be utilized throughout the nurse anesthesia program. The regular price for this software is $449.99, but often is less due to group discounts offered by the company. This cost is subject to change.

Precordial Stethoscope

Students will be required to pay for a precordial stethoscope that will be utilized during the program. The current cost for the stethoscope is $75. This cost is subject to change.

Professional R.N. Licensure

Students are required to obtain and maintain current R.N. licensure. Costs may vary by state. The student is responsible for these costs.

Health Insurance

Students are required to maintain and provide proof of health insurance coverage. The student is responsible for these costs.

Educational Meetings

Students are required to attend one state anesthesia meeting per year. Financial support may be available to students from the North Dakota Association of Nurse Anesthetists as well as from the University Nurse Anesthesia program. Additional expenses may be incurred by students.

Clinical Rotation Expenses

Students will rotate to 5-6 clinical affiliate sites for the clinical component of their education. Relocation expenses, living expenses, and travel expenses will be incurred by the student. Students often share information regarding housing opportunities at these various sites. A few sites offer discounted housing or meal rates. Clinical rotation sites are located in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota.

Clinical Data Tracking System

A web-based clinical case tracking system is utilized for case entry, evaluations, and care plans. Students are responsible for a $100 one-time fee to utilize this system for the entirety of the program.