The School of Nursing has another achievement to add to their growing list of accomplishments. The UTC Master’s of Science in Nursing: Nurse Anesthesia Concentration (CRNA) has received a ten-year accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA).
The CRNA program is a 27-month program that requires full-time study. Upon completion of all didactic and clinical requirements with a specialization in nurse anesthesia, the graduate will be eligible to take the National Certification Examination offered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists.
The program partners also provides students the opportunity to complete their anesthesia coursework while also taking advantage of clinical rotations in several large hospitals in the region, including Erlanger Hospital.
“I congratulate UTC CRNA Program for its recent reaccreditation. Erlanger Health System is extremely proud of our partnership with this program. The joint efforts in advancing nursing education not only improve patient safety and quality but also benefit our organizations, students, patients and the entire community,” Dr. Lynn Whisman, Erlanger Health System Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer, said.
According to Dr. Linda Hill, UTC Associate Professor and Coordinator the CRNA program, the partnerships between the University and local hospitals offer students valuable clinical experience.
“The quality of the partnerships with our clinical affiliates is the cornerstone of our program. Our program would not be what it is without the nurse anesthetists at our clinical affiliates who so freely give our students their time and knowledge to our students,” she said.
Calling the program much like a residency, Hill explained that enrolled students often spend 50 hours a week in a clinical setting while attending classes. In the 2011-2012 academic year, the nurse anesthesia students provided 46,214 supervised patient care hours and administered anesthesia under clinical preceptor supervision to 23,559 surgical and obstetrical patients.
“Partnered with our clinical experience, we offer a strong academic program. Our quality of academic faculty is excellent. We come from different experiences and backgrounds and take pride in guiding our students. We’re strong student advocates,” Hill said.
