Program Overview

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Nurse Anesthetist

Program Type

D.N.P.

Est. Time to Complete

3 Years

School

Graduate and Professional Programs

Delivery Mode

On Campus

Increase your career potential.

Being a nurse anesthetist requires vigilance, knowledge and compassion. You will learn to plan and administer the anesthetic, monitor every aspect of the patient’s well-being, and advocate for the patient during the surgery.

With successful completion of the didactic and clinical requirements, graduates of the York College of Pennsylvania Nurse Anesthetist Program will be awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Upon graduation, you'll be eligible to take the National Certification Exam to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) by the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

Quick Facts:

• 102 credits
• 2,000 clinical hours
• Full time
• May start
• 36-month program
• Campus-based

Program Requirements

Prospective students must meet the following criteria in order to be

considered for entry into the program:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree program with an NLNAC or CCNE accredited major in nursing from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent as determined by the Department of Nursing Faculty.
• Grade point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher.
• Transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education. Please provide official transcripts.
• An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates
• Successful completion of the following courses: a statistics course that covered descriptive and inferential statistics, a physical assessment course, and a nursing research course.
• A personal goal statement. In 400 words or less, please provide an academic statement that provides insight into your journey into the nurse anesthesia profession.
• CRNA Shadow log: Each applicant will keep a log of visit(s) to the operating room. It should contain the hours they were there, with whom they spent time, and a reflective statement. Please have the CRNA sign your shadow log. (8-hour minimum).
• Current CV
• Program requires (3) recommendation letters. A CRNA recommendation letter is required. The purpose of the CRNA letter is for you to obtain a CRNA mentor to whom you can ask questions and gain insight into Nurse Anesthesia.
• To ensure your recommendations are a true reflection of your abilities and skills, ask someone who can speak to your level of expertise and professionalism.
• A minimum of 1 year of full-time critical care work experience as a registered nurse is required. The applicant must have developed as an independent decision maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles. Most individuals accepted in Nurse Anesthesia Programs have at least 2-4 years' experience.
• Current BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications. (PALS is not required until accepted).
• CCRN is required.

Nurse Anesthetist Courses

Your class schedule will include a series of core courses related to your field and taught by faculty experts.

Course Name| Course Code| Credits

• Application of Nursing Research| NUR 508| 4 Credits
• Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents| NUR 621| 2 Credits
• Technology and Techniques in Anesthesia Practice| NUR 622| 6 Credits
• Anesthesia and Co-Existing Diseases| NUR 630| 2 Credits

Frequently Asked Questions

Application and Admission

• Is there a deadline for my application?
  Yes; we are now accepting applications for the Class of 2030. All documents including transcripts and Letters of Recommendation must be submitted by October 1, 2025. No documents will be accepted after the deadline.
• How many students do you admit each year?
  The Nurse Anesthetist Program admits 16-18 students each year.
• Do you interview everyone who applies to the program?
  The number of applicants interviewed is determined by the number of positions available. Approximately 3 times the number of available slots will be invited to interview.
• How long after the application deadline does the interview process begin?
  Selected applicants are notified approximately four to six weeks after the application deadline and scheduled for an interview within the following month.
• Is there a waiting list for admission?
  The Nurse Anesthetist Program will not maintain a waiting list of prospective applicants. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in the following years.
• What if my first language is not English?
  Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum score of 600 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Graduates of foreign nursing programs must also have transcripts and application materials evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
• Which graduate or undergraduate courses might be helpful to me as a nurse anesthesia student?
  Undergraduate or graduate courses in research, statistics, and health assessment are prerequisites for admission. Courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, physics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry are suggested but not required. You may wish to consider additional education in those areas of the sciences in which you feel you are weak.
• Do I have to obtain my own liability insurance for clinical rotations?
  Liability insurance with specific coverage for nurse anesthesia students must be purchased before beginning the clinical phase of the program. Information about policy options available through AANA Insurance Services will be provided after enrollment.
• Will my advanced standing or transfer credits be applied toward my degree? A maximum of seven credits (or two courses) in graduate study may be transferred to York College of PA prior to matriculation. All courses are reviewed by the Director of Graduate Programs in Nursing. Graduate-level research courses without an EBP component will not be accepted for transfer credit.

Financial Aid

• Is financial assistance available?
  Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more information, regarding programs that may be available to provide you with financial assistance.

Education and Experience Prerequisites

• Must I have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN)?
  Yes. Although some nurse anesthesia programs allow the RN applicant to have a degree in another field, the program at York College of PA requires the student to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
• Can I apply for admission if I am enrolled in a degree completion program and scheduled to finish my BSN after the application deadline?
  No. A completion of a baccalaureate degree program from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited major in nursing from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent, as determined by the Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions Faculty, is required to be considered for admission.
• What is the average nursing experience in years for accepted applicants?
  Applicants are required to have at least one year of critical care experience as a registered nurse when entering the program. Most individuals accepted in Nurse Anesthetist Programs have at least 2-4 years of experience.
• Which type of clinical experience is preferred?
  Applicants are encouraged to practice in clinical environments that require dynamic decision-making while caring for patients with continuous ECG monitoring, invasive lines (such as a pulmonary artery, central venous, and arterial catheters), vasoactive infusions, and ventilatory support. Most applicants obtain these experiences in surgical, cardiothoracic, trauma, or medical intensive care units. However, we are interested in the quality of nursing experience, not a unit’s name.
• Does it matter if all of my clinical experience is with neonatal or pediatric patients?
  The majority of students enter the program with adult critical care nursing experience, but this is not mandatory. Students with only pediatric nursing experience should ensure they have some background in providing care for adult patients, as the majority of their education will be in this venue.

Program Format

• Is your program offered by distance learning?
  No. Our classes are campus-based.
• Can I attend your program on a part-time basis?
  The Nurse Anesthetist Program currently admits only on a full-time basis.

Student Housing

• Is housing available for graduate students?
  No, students must make their own arrangements for housing.

Miscellaneous

• How many hours per week can I work while enrolled in the program?
  Outside employment is discouraged because of the intense nature of the program.

Meet the Faculty

Stacey Holtzman

Program Student Coordinator

D.N.P., Nurse Anesthetist

Cherie Adkins, Ph.D., R.N.

Associate Professor of Nursing

Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions

Jason Lowe, Ph.D., C.R.N.A., P.H.R.N.

Program Director, YCP/WellSpan Nurse Anesthesia Program

Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions

Karen S. March, Ph.D., R.N., ACNS-BC

Professor of Nursing

Director of Graduate Programs in Nursing

Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions

Nurse Anesthetist in Action

YCP/WellSpan Nurse Anesthetist Program Achieves 100% Board Pass Rate for

Second Consecutive Year

Nurse Anesthesia Program Celebrates 100% Board Pass Rate for Class of 2024

Two York College faculty members honored among Forty Under 40

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