Texas Wesleyan University 2020-2021 Catalog

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Admission to Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia

Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA)

DISCLAIMER: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF NURSING (AACN) AND THE COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION OF NURSE ANESTHESIA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (COA) ENDORSED MOVING THE CURRENT LEVEL OF PREPARATION NECESSARY FOR ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE FROM THE MASTER’S DEGREE TO THE PRACTICE DOCTORAL DEGREE. THEREFORE, TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE THE MSNA PROGRAM AFTER THE 2018 COHORT GRADUATION (PENDING SACSCOC APPROVAL OF PROGRAM PHASE-OUT.) 

TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COA TO DELIVER AN ENTRY-LEVEL DOCTOR OF NURSE ANESTHESIA PRACTICE (DNAP) PROGRAM BEGINNING AUGUST 2019. THEREFORE, ALL APPLICANTS NEED TO APPLY TO THE NEW ENTRY-LEVEL DNAP PROGRAM. FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS TRANSITION MAY BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE UNIVERSITY WEBSITE.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate that they possess the intellectual and professional knowledge and skills for successful completion of the program requirements. Admission criteria are as follows:

  • Hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;*

  • Current unrestricted Registered Nursing license that is valid within one of the fifty states or U.S. territories;*

  • Complete a minimum of one-year full-time critical care experience** as Registered Nurse; 

  • Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification;

  • Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification;

  • GRE scores complete with writing score, strongly prefer a combined Verbal and Quantitative GRE minimum score of 300, Texas Wesleyan code 6828; 

  • GPA: 3.0 (Overall or last 60 hours); 

  • A college level chemistry course within three years of matriculation with a grade of B or better;

  • Three letters of reference;

  • Personal essay in which the applicant demonstrates their professional development as a Registered Nurse in critical care and how they have prepared for an advance practice role as a nurse anesthetist;

  • Professional Interview in which the applicant demonstrates their critical care knowledge and professional development;

  • CCRN required

  • College level algebra or higher with a grade of B or better.

* College or University Criteria

  • Competitive standing is based in part on prior academic achievement. Degree requirements are accepted from accredited colleges or universities that assign grades on a 4.0 or similar per credit hour scale. Pass/Fail transcripts are not accepted;

  • Clinical rotations in the MSNA program may require multiple state nursing licensure. The nursing degree that qualified the applicant for licensure as a registered nurse must have contained an integrated clinical curriculum to qualify for application.

** Critical Care Experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a U.S. military hospital. The RN must develop critical decision-making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. RNs in critical care areas manage invasive hemodynamic monitors, cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drips and critical care pharmacology on a routine basis.

Admission to the MSNA program and clinical site assignments are competitive. Well-qualified candidates as determined by Texas Wesleyan University will be offered an interview. Competition for admission changes with each application year, and all qualified candidates may not be offered an interview. Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia reserves the right to deny an interview or admission to any applicant as determined by the Program Director and/or Admissions Committee. All decisions by this committee are final and not subject to appeal.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected on a best-qualified basis as determined by the Program Director and/or the GPNA Admission Committee. The selection process is completed once a year for the next cohort.

Selection will be based upon the following criteria:

  • Professional Interview

  • Work experience

  • GRE/GPA

  • References

  • Professional Certifications

  • Personal Essay

Application Process

The following documentation must be submitted:

  • Completed on-line application for Texas Wesleyan University, Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia;

  • Application fee, non-refundable;

  • Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended;

  • GRE exam results officially submitted;

  • Three references are required – one each from a physician, supervisor and academic instructor. Applicants who have attended but did not complete another nurse anesthesia program must submit a letter of reference from their prior program director;

  • Current ACLS and PALS certifications;

  • Personal Essay.

Time Line

Applications, check lists detailing submission requirements, and all forms are available on-line all year. Once an individual begins an application they create a user name and password that allows them to monitor their progress as requirements are received and processed.

Individuals are encouraged to submit their application materials early and monitor their process frequently. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that his/her application is complete if they wish to be considered for selection in the next program cohort.

  1. The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia entry-level (RN to CRNA) program admits one class or cohort each August. General admission season and cohort selection runs from October to January in the year before matriculation;

  2. The priority application deadline is October 15 in the year prior to matriculation. Well-qualified candidates submitting a completed application on or before October 15 will have an opportunity to compete for an early interview and priority clinical site selection;

  3. Invitations to interview and appointments will be made by e-mail from October through January. Verification of interview appointment is expected within two weeks of notice;

  4. Several clinical facilities participate in the program’s interview process to ease the cost of travel for your interview and allow prospective students to meet clinical faculty as well as program faculty. Clinical sites that interview on-site are identified on the program application form. Competitive clinical site interviews will be awarded on a best-qualified basis. Invitations to interview and appointments will be made by e-mail from October through November;

  5. General admission decisions will be communicated to all students with current applications by e-mail on or before February 15th in the year of matriculation;

  6. Early acceptance may be offered to exceptional candidates. All other admission policies continue to apply to candidates accepted early;

  7. Accepted candidates must confirm their intention to enroll and acceptance of their assigned clinical site by submitting a nonrefundable $1000 deposit within 14 days of notification;

  8. Completed applications will be evaluated on a space available basis in the year of matriculation.

Application Correspondence

graduate@txwes.edu; 

(817) 531-44930

or

Texas Wesleyan University

Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia

1201 Wesleyan Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76105-1536

Accepted Candidates Complete Credentialing

Accepted candidates who confirm their intention to enroll and acceptance of their assigned clinical site through e-mail and payment of the deposit will be required to complete several additional admission requirements related to credentialing for clinical residency. Accepted candidates will receive communications from the GPNA office with instructions related to the credentialing requirement process and will be able to monitor their progress on Radius Self Service Center as requirements are received and processed.

  • Background Check

  • Medical Questionnaire

  • Malpractice Insurance Form

  • Pre-requisite completion

Reapplication

Applicants who are not selected or do not enroll in the MSNA program cohort they were accepted in for any reason must reapply to be considered for another admission cycle. If the reapplication is within three years of the original application, the following information must be submitted:

  • Letter of intent and summary of your experiences;

  • Reference from a supervisor (on our reference form);

  • Official transcripts from colleges/universities that you may have attended since applying to our program;

  • CCRN certification (if applicable);

It is unlikely for an applicant to be granted a third interview. Applicants who do not attend their interview or orientation, or who do not matriculate without notice will not be considered for reapplication. Texas Wesleyan does not maintain application materials after a potential student informs the program that they have accepted enrollment in another program.