York College and WellSpan Health have collaborated to establish a Nurse Anesthetists Program designed to fill the gap of CRNA programs in South Central Pennsylvania. The program will begin in Fall of 2006.

The Nurse Anesthetists Program has received initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068-4001, phone: 847-692-7050) a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

The following links will provide information and the necessary forms needed to apply to the program:

Program Philosophy
Program Information
Information for Prospective Applicants
Application Packet (1,136 kb PDF Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download)
Curriculum Schema
FAQs

Program Philosophy

Motto
The motto of the YCP/WH NAP is “Vigilance, Knowledge, and Compassion”. Each of these three components is indispensable for the practicing anesthetist, and every aspect of anesthesia education, both didactic and clinical, will focus on these attributes.

Mission
The mission of the program is to educate future nurse anesthetists in an environment of academic and clinical excellence. This educational mission will be hallmarked by mutual respect, integrity, personalized high-quality instruction, and an emphasis on critical thinking. Education tasks will always be performed in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Philosophy of the Program
“Whom, then, do I call educated? First, those who control circumstances instead of being mastered by them; …those who meet all occasions…and act in accordance with intelligent thinking; …those who are honorable in all dealings, who treat good-naturedly persons and things that are disagreeable…” Socrates

The anesthetized patient is perhaps the most helpless patient in all of healthcare. The nurse anesthetist functions in the role of advocate during the period of the patient’s unconscious or decreased levels of cognition during surgery. The role of the advocate is not easily undertaken. In order to successfully undertake this role, the student nurse anesthetist must excel in the areas of knowledge, professionalism, and psychomotor skills relevant to the administration of anesthesia as a CRNA.

We believe that the nurse anesthetist must have at his or her command the details of a discrete body of knowledge. This knowledge has come from both the medicine and nursing, and is taught to allow the student to better care for the patient. In order to “control circumstances instead of being mastered by them”, the student must understand the wide range of events that can occur during the course of a surgical procedure, as well as the armamentarium of tools at his or her disposal to control these events.

Next, mastering and controlling the events requires “intelligent thinking”. The student must critically analyze the data in both didactic and clinical instruction, and then come to a conclusion and act upon their decision. After acting, the student will always review the effects of his or her actions, and take corrective measures, if needed, to achieve their final goal, whether the care of the patient or the completion of the course assignment.

Being “honorable in all dealings” requires a focus on integrity. The emphasis on autonomy in anesthesia practice makes integrity a crucial aspect of instruction. Students are expected to maintain the highest standard of honesty and openness during their instruction and subsequent practice.

The practitioner in any area of advanced nursing must “treat good-naturedly persons and things that are disagreeable.” Beginning with the student’s classmates and faculty, as well as their enrollment in a rigorous course of study, it will be important for each student to stay focused and positive. Though faculty members are always available for coaching, the student will still need an upbeat outlook and “failure is not an option” attitude to succeed in the program. An unfailing respect for the dignity of every patient as a unique human being with his or her own individual needs and goals is crucial for the aspiring nurse anesthetist. Difficult and demanding cases, highly emotional and stressful situations in the operating room, and a wide variation in the personalities of those working in the operating room require the student to maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Flexibility, calmness, and self-assurance are the hallmarks of the excellent student.

On entry into the program, each core group of students becomes a team. Studying together, reviewing in small groups, and working on group projects enhance the professional relationships that will last a lifetime in the small community of CRNAs. The faculty has but one purpose; to help you become the best possible nurse anesthetists. As faculty and staff, we ask for your trust in our judgment. We promise that 1) your time will not be wasted, 2) that you will be treated with the respect you have earned as professional registered nurses, and 3) that you will be reliably and validly evaluated at every point in your education.

Program Information

The York College of Pennsylvania / WellSpan Health (YCP/WH) Nurse Anesthetists Program (NAP) is a 32-month course of study resulting in the awarding of a Master of Science (Nursing) degree and eligibility to sit for the Certifying Examination of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

The Nurse Anesthetist Program has received initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068-4001, phone: 847-692-7050) a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Information about the York area may be found at this site.
Information regarding tuition and fees may be found at this site.

If you would like an application packet sent to you please email Jo Ann Heim at mailto:jheim@ycp.edu?subject=Nurse Anesthetist Program Information  or call her at 717.815.1462.

The Program Director is Richard E. Haas, PhD, CRNA. The United States Army Anesthesiology for Army Nurse Corps Officers / State University of New York at Buffalo School of Nursing awarded him a Master of Science in the Nursing Anesthesia Program in 1985. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Georgetown University (1976), a Master’s Degree in Education (1981), and a Doctorate in Educational Research and Measurement from the University of South Carolina (2003). He is employed by WellSpan Health specifically to head the nurse anesthetist program and holds a faculty appointment at York College. Dr. Haas was the assistant program director at the Medical College of Georgia Nursing Anesthesia Program. His teaching experience is vast, and includes local, state, national and international professional presentations, along with numerous articles in journals and chapters for anesthesia and nursing textbooks. He maintains a practice of clinical anesthesia at WellSpan Health.

The Assistant Program Director is Jason S. Lowe, MS, CRNA. Mr. Lowe’s Master’s Degree was awarded by the Georgetown University School of Nursing in Nursing Anesthesia. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Pittsburg, and is a Nationally Registered EMT and Paramedic from the Center for Emergency Medicine in Pittsburg. He is also employed by WellSpan Health and also holds a faculty appointment at York College. Professor Lowe has held an adjunct faculty position in the Georgetown Program, and has also served as the clinical coordinator at, Pitt County Memorial Hospital/University Health Systems of East Carolina. He will maintain a practice of clinical anesthesia at WellSpan.

Dr. Haas is working with Douglas Arbittier, MD, Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology, York Hospital, and Dr. Jacquelin Harrington, Chairperson of the Department of Nursing at York College to further develop the Nurse Anesthetists Program.

The program currently has four clinical site:
      York Hospital, York, PA
      Gettysburg Hospital, Gettysburg, PA
      Hanover Hospital, Hanover PA
      Lebanon VA Medical Center, Lebanon, PA

WellSpan Health Nurse Anesthetist Program
605 S. George Street
Suite 160, Room 107
York, PA 17403
Phone: 815-6864
Fax 849-1651

Information for Prospective Applicants

Prospective students must meet the following criteria in order to apply for entry into the program. Incomplete application packets will be returned via US mail. Documents which are indicated by a + are those documents required in addition to those required by the standard Graduate Studies Admission Application.

• Non-refundable $40 application fee; check payable to York College of Pennsylvania
• A completed graduate studies application
• 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 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher. Students not meeting this grade point average requirement may be admitted to conditional status on the recommendation of the faculty
• Transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education.
• Current RN licensure in Pennsylvania
• 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 statement indicating academic goals for graduate nursing education.
• Current resume +
• Three completed recommendation forms +, one of which must be from a CRNA with whom the applicant has spent time in the operating room observing surgery and anesthesia.
• Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the verbal, quantitative sections, analytical writing sections, and include a copy of his or her scores in the application packet +
• A minimum of one year of acute care experience in the role of a Registered Nurse, defined as experience in personally caring for patients with invasive monitoring devices (arterial line, central venous pressure line, and pulmonary artery occlusion catheters), vasoactive infusions, ECG interpretation, and caring for mechanically ventilated patients +
• Current BLS, ACLS and PALS card +

The Program is a full-time and year-round program lasting 8 semesters (32 months). The curriculum occurs in the following order:

Application and Admission:

How many students do you admit each year?
The Nurse Anesthetist Program anticipates admitting 6 students the first year of program operation, 8 the second, and 10 per year thereafter.

Do you interview everyone who applies to the program?
The number of applicants interviewed is determined by the number of positions available. Approximately 4 times the number of available slots will be invited to interview. So, for the first class of the program, we expect to interview between 24 and 30 individuals.

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 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 following years.

Do you accept scores form any other placement exam besides the GRE (such as MAT, etc.)?
The Graduate Record Examination is required for application to the Nursing Anesthesia Program. 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 nursing anesthesia student?
Undergraduate or graduate courses in 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 of the clinical phase of the program. Information about policy options available through AANA Insurance Services will be provided after enrollment.

Financial Aid:

Is financial assistance available?
Successful applicants will be contacted with information about federal nurse traineeships. Second year students may be eligible for federal nurse anesthesia traineeships as well as scholarships offered through American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Foundation. Complete information about costs may be found here.

Education and Experience Prerequisites:

Must I have an undergraduate degree in nursing?
Yes. Although some nurse anesthesia programs allow the RN applicant to have a degree in another field, the Program 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?
Yes, a registered nurse who is enrolled in a BSN completion program may be admitted contingent upon completion of the BSN and all other admission criteria.

What if I already have a graduate degree in nursing?
Most nurses who already possess a master’s or doctoral degree have the option of earning either an additional master’s degree or a post master’s certificate. In either case, the number of required courses is reduced but the overall program length does not change. More specific information can be obtained by contacting the Program.

What is the average nursing experience, in years, for accepted applicants?
Applicants are required to have at least one year of acute care experience as a registered nurse when entering the program. Most individuals accepted in Nurse Anesthetist Programs have at least 2 3 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 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 my clinical experience is with neonatal or pediatric patients?
The majority of students enter the program with adult critical care nursing experience; however, this is not mandatory. Students having only pediatric nursing experience should insure they have some background 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.

Can I attend your program on a part time basis?
The Nurse Anesthetist Program currently admits only full time students.

Student Housing:

Is housing available for graduate students?
York College of Pennsylvania has limited residence hall and apartment accommodations on campus. Information about on and off campus housing can be obtained by contacting the housing office.

Miscellaneous:

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

"Tips" for a Successful Application:

Many prospective students ask how they can make their applications more competitive. Here are some tips which might assist you in that process. It is important to remember that the use of any or all of these techniques in no way guarantees your entrance into the Nurse Anesthetist Program.

• Application Letter: In addition to answering the questions at the top of the autobiographical statement, your letter should tell us who you are. Your letter plays a role in the selection of applicants for interview. A good letter tells us why we should select you for an interview and while it is not a requirement that the letter be typed, bear in mind we ordinarily read 70-80 such letters. If we cannot read it, we cannot evaluate your potential for success.
• Resume: Your resume should be both clear and succinct, and should tell us what your work and professional life looks like. Avoid jargon (“CVICU” could be anything, the “Post-operative Open Heart Surgery Unit” only describes one thing.
• Recommendations: Please do NOT ask your relatives and friends for recommendations. We know they think you are wonderful! Your recommendations SHOULD include your current supervisor, a nurse anesthetist with whom you have spent time, and if possible, one of your academic instructors familiar with your work and study habits. Remember that we are part of the School of Nursing, so recommendations from Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA’s), Nursing Supervisors and Nursing Instructors are important.
• Grades: We look at your transcript carefully, on a grade-by-grade basis. As such, a 3.0 GPA from a student who had an “A” in “Appreciation of Television” and a “C” in “Physiology” will be looked at in a different light than one who has the opposite grades. Your science and mathematics courses are carefully scrutinized.
• Spend Time with a CRNA: One of your recommendations must be from a nurse anesthetist. The best way to get a good recommendation is to spend time in the operating room with a CRNA. This is a program that will require an amazing (and sometimes seemingly overwhelming) commitment of time and energy. The information you will receive during your three semesters of didactic instruction is quite specialized. Therefore, it is important that you understand what CRNA’s do in the course of a normal day. Eight hours is probably the minimum amount of time one should spend, and more is probably better (after hour 40, you have probably learned all you can learn). Your goal in this pursuit is NOT to learn how to do anesthesia, it is to see the nature of the role of nurse anesthetists in the pre-operative, peri-operative and post-operative period.
• Critical Care Experience: What you do in the ICU is more important than the type of ICU. Your practice should include ECG interpretation, management of invasive monitors, the use and titration of vasoactive substances, and ventilator management.
• GRE Scores: There is no minimum acceptable GRE score. The overall “average” GRE score is approximately 500 on the verbal, 500 on the quantitative, and 3 on the analytical portion. A low-end GRE (900 on combined verbal and quantitative) is NOT something which will keep you out of the program. Don’t let a GRE of less than 1000 dissuade you from applying; if you aren’t certain if your score is competitive, please call and ask us.

Ask a Faculty Member:

Please email your question(s) to Richard Haas, PhD, CRNA, or call at 717.815.6864