Program admission is limited and very competitive as the number of applicants surpasses the number of admission seats. The applicant is responsible for compiling and submitting the completed application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants must meet Keiser University graduate school admission and English proficiency requirements, as well as requirements for admission to the program major as listed below.
Applicants must be a Registered Nurse with completion of a:
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program
- Non-nursing Baccalaureate degrees may be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Required cumulative grade point average (GPA) of >3.0 on a 4.0 scale. An emphasis is placed on science course work. Applicants with a graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university will have their graduate and undergraduate GPA included for admissions consideration.
- Completed application to Nursing CAS
- Application fee to be submitted at time of application
- Three letters of recommendation that are signed and dated:
- One must be from the applicant’s current clinical supervisor in ICU and must be provided on the KU recommendation form
- One recommendation preferred attesting to academic work
- One recommendation must be from individuals who can assess the applicant’s performance and level of clinical expertise in an acute care setting
- Current Resume
- A minimum of 40 hours required shadowing an anesthesia provider, preferably a CRNA. Hours obtained during an applicant’s employment hours are not considered as shadowing hours. Shadowing hours must be obtained in the US.
- A personal statement letter (three pages, excluding cover and references in AMA format) addressing the following:
- A clear statement of your goals and expectations for entering the program
- Your understanding of the role of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (applicants are required to shadow a CRNA)
- Include at least one article supporting your understanding of the role of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, cited according to current AMA Format standards
- Current and unrestricted (clear/active) license as a Registered Nurse in one of the states, or one of the protectorates of the United States, with eligibility for Florida RN licensure, which must be obtained prior to admission
- Completion of required undergraduate coursework and official transcripts from all academic institutions attended. If prerequisite science coursework is more than 5 years old, repeating or supplementing with a refresher course at the undergraduate level is highly recommended. An overall science GPA of 3.0 is preferred.
- Completion of the following courses with a B or better:
- Statistics course
- Undergraduate Health Assessment course
- Two Anatomy and Physiology courses
- General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II
- One of the chemistries must have a laboratory component. A least one Chemistry course must have been taken within five years of the program’s start. Introduction to Chemistry, Survey of any chemistry, and Chemistry for Health Sciences are not accepted. The syllabi of equivalents will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- An applicant who is from a country where American English is not the primary language or whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited US institution must submit a minimum:
- TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test)
- Evaluation of bachelor’s degree by a recognized US evaluation service attesting to the fact that the degree is equivalent to that required for admission to the program
- Minimum of one-year experience as a Registered Nurse in a critical care area, and currently employed with a full-time position. The preferred areas of ICU include Medical ICU, Trauma ICU, Neuro ICU, and CVRU. NICU and PICU are not accepted without adult critical care experience. The one- year experience does NOT include orientation to ICU or the unit.
- For admission to the program and throughout its duration, students are required to possess and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications. Please provide copies of these certifications to Keiser University. Once students reach a specific stage in the program, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification becomes mandatory. The university will facilitate the acquisition of this certification. All students are required to recertify their BLS and ACLS certifications twice during the curriculum. Only certifications from the American Heart Association are accepted.
- Current, valid unrestricted driver’s license from one jurisdiction of the United States
- Acceptable background check
Deferral for Admission
An applicant may request a deferral to a future class up to one year after initial application with no further
application fee. The applicant must specify their request in writing and must update their application packet as
designated by the Admissions Committee.
Deferral Once Admitted into the Program
Once admitted into the program, the student may not defer. If the student does not come into the program, they will
need
to reapply and re-interview for the program. At this point, the student will be treated as a re-applicant.
Admission Health Status
Prior to enrollment, each student must show proof of current physical status to include:
- Current Hepatitis B, MMR, and Varicella vaccine status and titers.
- Current Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) / Tuberculosis (TB) test status. If the student presents with a
positive PPD/TB test, the student must show proof of no active disease by x-ray prior to admission.
- All students must have an annual PPD/TB Test and provide that documentation to the Program.
If positive for the first time, the student must have documentation by a physician that the student does not have
active
TB before they will be allowed to continue in the clinical area.
If the student was positive upon enrollment, the student will complete a health (cough) questionnaire every year and
have a chest x-ray taken if symptomatic. Keiser University students are subject to and must adhere to polices
established by the clinical affiliate sites.
TB tests are not to be read by Keiser University clinical preceptors, faculty, students, or family members.
Additional Qualifications for Student Admission, Progression, and Graduation
Although this is not an all-inclusive list, Keiser University believes the following qualifications represent some of
the reasonable physical and intellectual requirements necessary to perform safely in both the educational program
and
profession of nurse anesthesia:
Observation and Communication
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with patients of all ages, family members, and other members on
the health care team in written and spoken English.
- Ability to process large amounts of information and activity in the operating room using visual, auditory,
tactile, and other sensory cues to monitor and plan patient care.
- Ability to audibly distinguish the changes of pitch and tone of patient monitor devices and alarms.
Motor
- Display fine motor skills, coordinating touch and vision, necessary to complete complex tasks such as
cannulation of veins and arteries, performance of regional anesthesia and direct laryngoscopy etc.
- Demonstrate strength and ability to assist safe transfer of patient.
- Stamina to stand or sit for extended periods of times.
- Respond quickly to changes in patient condition and participate in intervention, including but not limited to
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and emergency transportation.
Cognitive
- Possess foundational knowledge and ability to complete complex mathematical calculations without the use of
electronic assistance.
- Skill to read and retain large amounts of information and draw from this information to critically analyze and
problem solve.
- Ability to distinguish standard patient responses from non-standard responses and plan interventions accordingly
using critical thinking. Also possess judgment to know when to call for assistance from other members of
healthcare team.
Behavior
- Exhibit professional and appropriate behavior when interacting with patients, all members of the healthcare
team, and the general public.
- Maintain professionalism and confidentiality when dealing with patient issues, adhering to HIPAA guidelines.
- Demonstrate flexibility and efficiency while working in a rapidly changing environment.
- Display good judgment and ethical behavior that including honesty, integrity, sensitivity to culture and the
person, and adherence to the professional nursing code of ethics.
Health and Malpractice Insurance
Keiser University requires that all students enrolled in the Nurse Anesthesia Program must participate in the
accident
& health insurance program sponsored by the university, unless proof of comparable coverage is documented each
year.
Please review your current coverage to be sure you are adequately covered. For those having adequate coverage, you
will
need to waive out of the Keiser University Student Health Plan. Many students have insurance coverage under their
parent's or spouse's plan. If that plan is a managed care type plan, providing benefits through certain network
providers, the student should determine what benefits will be available in the vicinity of the school.
The health insurance information can be accessed at: http://www.insuranceforstudents.com/kunaples.
Keiser University will facilitate Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist’s (SRNA) purchase of medical malpractice
insurance in the amount of $1,000,000/ $6,000,000 (per occurrence/aggregate) prior to their clinical practicum
assignment. The medical malpractice insurance must be kept active for the duration of the program.
Criminal Background Check:
Criminal background checks will be conducted before, during and after matriculation. The university reserves the
right
to deny an application. Additionally, should the student become involved in criminal activity after program
acceptance,
in which the initial criminal background clearance status becomes compromised, the student will be withdrawn from
the
program. The program and the university will not modify the curriculum for students who have an unsatisfactory
criminal
background status.
All students must complete both a criminal background and drug screen checks. A student may encounter potential
problems
with completing clinical practice placements and/or obtaining licensure and certification if he or she has a
criminal
record. For specific information, contact the Board of Nursing through its website. If a student has a criminal
record,
it is the student’s responsibility to inquire with the Board of Nursing and certification/credentialing body as to
whether a criminal record may limit the student's ability to obtain licensure and/or certification or to practice in
certain settings. Additionally, students must disclose any criminal record /prior arrest to the admissions
committee.
The criminal record may disqualify an applicant for admissions.
Health and background / Drug screening
All applicants must affirm and attest to sound physical health, emotional stability, and personal integrity that will
enable them to successfully complete the educational program and to comply with criteria for nursing licensure and
adherence to American Association of Nurse Anesthetist's professional codes of conduct and practice. Applicants must
affirm and attest that they are free of addiction to substances of abuse, are not restricted in their practice of
nursing or under investigation by any Board of Nursing, and are willing to adhere to Drug Free Workplace policies
and
procedures of affiliate clinical training sites, to include submission to randomized drug testing and/or testing for
cause and upon Program demand.
Students should notify Keiser University of any change in health status, if it may inhibit his/her ability, to
participate in the program.
Many drugs alter one’s physical and mental status, and optimal physical and mental status is crucial during the
provision of anesthesia. Students may be screened for drugs and alcohol at any time they are committed to either
clinical or classroom assignments. All students involved in medication errors and narcotic discrepancies will be
required to submit to a drug screen at their own expense. Students should be aware that if they are found to test
positive for any prohibited substance or for alcohol, they may be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion
of
the Program Director. All students must be aware that taking any drug may impair the ability to safely participate
in
their education, including the safe administration of anesthesia in the clinical environment.
