Biological Sciences: Anesthesia M.S.
31 credits
Coordinator: Ruth Rollin
Program Rationale:
The MS Biological Sciences: Anesthesia Program is designed for registered nurses who wish to become nurse anesthetists and to expand their background in the areas of biology specific to their disciplines.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Graduate students will:
- demonstrate a thorough understanding of physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, immunology, and the anesthesia-specific areas of patient safety, anesthetic management, and professional role;
- describe scientific methodology and conduct experiments;
- be able to read and comprehend primary literature;
- deliver effective oral presentations (poster or PowerPoint); and
- effectively communicate on research in written format.
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.70 on a 4.0 point scale (where A is 4.00), or its equivalent, and good standing (3.00 GPA) in all post-baccalaureate course work. Additional admission requirements are as follows:
• must have completed a BSN or other appropriate Bachelor’s degree
• must be a licensed registered nurse with a minimum of 1 year of critical care nursing experience
• must have completed one year of anatomy and physiology, one year of chemistry, and one course in microbiology (one course in anatomy and physiology and one course in chemistry must be less than 10 years old; organic or biochemistry is required by two of our affiliates)
• must have satisfied both the University’s and the affiliated school’s admission criteria
The following items are required:
• Official transcripts from all institutions in which undergraduate and graduate work has been taken
• Graduate Record Examination scores for the aptitude test may be required by one of our affiliates
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to one of the affiliated schools of nurse anesthesia. Prospective students apply first to an affiliated hospital school of anesthesia. The hospital school will then provide the necessary information regarding University and Hospital School application and acceptance procedures.
Contact: Dr. Ruth Rollin 860-832-2659
Course and Capstone Requirements:
Major Field Requirements
| BIO 500 | Seminar in Biology | 1 TO 2 |
| BIO 517 | Advanced Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology | 6 |
| BIO 518 | Advanced Pathophysiology and Applied Physiology | 3 |
| BIO 519 | Advanced Neuroscience | 3 |
| BIO 525 | Advanced Physical Health Assessment for Nurse Anesthetists | 3 |
| BIO 528 | Advanced Pharmacology | 4 |
| BIO 530 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIO 590 | Focused Study in Advanced Biology | 1 TO 4 |
| BIO 598 | Research in Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 550 | Basic Organic and Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 31 |
Clinical Practicum (1000 hours of clinical practicum and is 17 months in length):
| ANES 500 | Basic Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 0 |
| ACP 501 | Anesthesia Clinical Practicum | 0 |
| ACP 502 | Anesthesia Clinical Practicum | 0 |
| ACP 503 | Anesthesia Clinical Practicum | 0 |
| ACP 504 | Anesthesia Clinical Practicum | 0 |
| ACP 505 | Anesthesia Clinical Practicum | 0 |
Capstone:
Note to prospective anesthesia students: The student must be a licensed registered nurse and satisfactorily complete the program of study in anesthesia at an affiliated hospital-based school of nurse anesthesia which includes 1000 hours of clinical practicum and is 17 months in length. The practicum starts the second summer in the program. To start the clinical practicum you must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 with no grade lower than C in any course and no more than two grades of C/C+ in courses in the Planned Program. Students resigning from or dismissed from the clinical portion of the M.S. Biological Sciences: Anesthesia Program cannot continue in the M.S. Biological Sciences: Anesthesia Program but may be eligible to change to a different master's degree program. Students not requesting the change of major and receiving approval for that change will be dismissed by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to one of the following affiliated schools:
Nurse Anesthesia Program of Hartford, Hartford, CT: Kenneth Wells, M.D., medical director, Program of Nurse Anesthesia; and Joan Dobbins, M.S., CRNA, program director.
Yale-New Haven Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, New Haven, CT: Marianne S. Cosgrove, CRNA, DNAP, APRN program director; Roberta Hines, MD medical advisor.
Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island School of Nurse Anesthesia, Pawtucket, R.I.: Peter Baziotis, M.D., medical director; and Mark Foster, M.A., CRNA, program director.
Note: Additional work, as described in the course syllabi, will be required for graduate credit in 400-level courses. Students may take no more than nine credits of 400-level courses.