School of Nursing
US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing
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Ranked #1 for 2011 in the US News & World Report “Best Graduate Nursing Anesthesia Programs.”
Application Deadline 7/01/2012 for class starting June 2013. Applications are currently open.
Only Direct Accession, Army Reserve, National Guard may also apply 11/1 for class starting 6/2013
The mission of the US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing is to produce competent clinicians for the safe practice of anesthesia nursing. The graduate nurse anesthetist will function within medically established guidelines in time of peace, and when necessary, in time of war, civil disorder, natural disaster or humanitarian mission.
The U.S. Army has prepared top quality Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for nearly 50 years and since 1981, our graduates have earned a Masters Degree through our University based affiliations. We currently produce virtually all active duty Army CRNAs and provide specialized training in field anesthesia to ensure that our graduate nurse anesthetists are qualified to deploy in time of war, civil disorder, natural disaster or for humanitarian missions. Successful completion of this program results in a Master of Science in Nursing Anesthesia degree from Northeastern University School of Nursing and qualification to take the Certification Examination for Nurse Anesthetists.
The following represents a brief summary of the combined, suggested application and admission requirements for the U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing:
- BSN
- Two years "time on station" by date that PCS is required. *VA applicants are exempt from active duty requirement.
- Undergraduate statistics course.
- Recommended overall science GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours completed.
- Recommended undergraduate class in either Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry.
- At least one year of experience as a Registered Nurse in an acute care setting where the applicant has had the opportunity to work as an independent decision-maker, capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles.
- GRE within five years: Combined recommended score (verbal and quantitative) of at least 1000 on new version of GRE, plus score of 3.5 or higher on writing component.
- Letters of recommendation from Army CRNA Phase 2 Director and Chief Nurse.
*One of the letters of recommendation for Army applicants (both Active Duty and Direct Accessions) needs to be from an Army Active Duty CRNA from the USAGPAN Program.
Admission requirements for civilians and reservists differ in a few very important aspects, and the best source for the most current information is your local Army health care recruiter.
The following describes some of the most important differences:
- You must meet the requirements for accession onto active duty as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps (see your nearest health care recruiter). For civilians or reservists, there is no "time on station" requirement because you will enter active duty specifically to attend our program. All requirements for your active duty appointment must be completed prior to the date you enter active duty (usually by February of the year school begins).
- Northeastern University admission selection is a separate and distinct application process. You must be selected for both an active duty appointment and selected for admission to the USAGPAN program by Northeastern University.
- The USAGPAN considers the following areas as meeting experience requirements in accordance with the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs:
a) ICU (i.e. SICU, MICU, CCU, Neuro ICU, Trauma ICU, PICU, NICU); b) Other areas of consideration (ER/PACU experience will be evaluated on a case by case basis depending on patient acuity). - For civilians and reservists, you must have at least one full year of Acute Care experience (critcal care experience preferred).
*Active duty applicants with at least one year experience in an acute care setting may be considered for admission contingent upon completing a distance learning didactic program and a structured critical care training program of approximately three months duration (usually conducted at an Army Medical Center).
Through the US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing http://www.usagpan.org students are instructed in a manner that encourages independent thought and critical decision-making during times of great stress, both physical and emotional. As the sole providers of anesthesia under many circumstances in the Army, nurse anesthetists have to rely on their skills and training, in consultation with the surgeons, to save soldiers' lives.
Course Curriculum
Phase I (60 Semester Hours)
- Statistics in Nursing
- Clinical Anatomy and Physiology I for Nurse Anesthesia
- Clinical Anatomy and Physiology II for Nurse Anesthesia
- Biochemistry for Nurse Anesthesia
- Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia I
- Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthesia II
- Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
- Fundamentals of Nurse Anesthesia Practice I
- Fundamentals of Nurse Anesthesia Practice II
- Fundamentals of Nurse Anesthesia Practice III
- Theoretical and Research Applications in Nurse Anesthesia
- Information Systems in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Evaluation and Application of Research in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Physical Examination and Differential Diagnosis Simulation
Phase II (44 Semester Hours)
- Nurse Anesthesia Role Practicum I
- Nurse Anesthesia Role Practicum II
- Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum I
- Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practicum II
- Journal Club / Anesthesia Nursing Conferences
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