Saint Marys University
Nurse Anesthetist Program

Saint Mary's University is one of four CRNA schools in Minnesota.

Saint Marys University of Minnesota
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Contact Information
Merri L Moody, CRNA, MS, Program Director
Linka Holey, RN, MA, Associate Vice President and Academic Dean
ph: (612) 728-5100
tf: (866) 437-2788
fax: (612) 728-5121
email: mmoody@smumn.edu

Quick Facts

CRNA Degree offered
Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia

Program Length
28 months, full time

Credit Hours
64 semester units

Starting Month
May

Application Deadline
April 1, of each year for matriculation in May of the following year.

Interviews are conducted once a year, usually during the months of May through July.

Entire Program Cost of CRNA School at Saint Marys University.

Tuition is calculated at the 2012-2013 rate. Tuition at most schools increases each academic year. Over the duration of the program, expect to pay a tuition that is 5% to 15% higher than what is shown here.

Cost of Tuition: $32,640
*Fees and expenses: $4,425
Grand Total: $37,065

*This includes the cost of books, supplies, test fees and miscellaneous school expenses.

Saint Marys University Tuition Link

Class Size
Small class size.

Number of Applicants
Anywhere from 3-4 times the number of available spots in the program.

When did this CRNA Program begin?
Saint Marys University of Minnesota is a A Lasallian Catholic University.

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CRNA Program Summary

Are you concerned that the Saint Marys University Nurse Anesthesia Program won’t give you the specific experiences or training you need to be a successful CRNA? Learn what standards CRNA Programs must meet in order to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia (COA).

This CRNA program (as well as all others that are accredited by the COA) prepares you to take the CCNA certification exam at the conclusion of the program, allowing you to become a CRNA.

The program offers an integrated approach to clinical and academic experiences. It also offers a rigorous academic curriculum that includes formal and informal instruction in scientific principles, clinical practice and professional growth opportunities.

Clinical practicum provides you with the opportunity to apply the principles of anesthesia to direct patient care. You’ll provide supervised care in a variety of settings and have clinical opportunities in over 27 hospitals. This will prepare you to practice in a wide variety of settings and in diverse methods of administering a safe anesthetic.

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Program Requirements

Looking for something specific? Find CRNA schools categorized by their unique requirements.

Some CRNA schools require much more out of their applicants than others. See how the requirements at Saint Marys University compare to most CRNA school’s requirements.

CRNA Program Requirements

Required Bachelor Degree
Appropriate bachelor degree from a regionally accredited institution. Appropriate degree fields are nursing, biophysical, biological or behavioral sciences.

RN:
Current, un-encumbered Minnesota RN license, or eligibility for one.

Critical Care:
A minimum of one year of experience in a critical care setting. This experience may or may not be current.

Acceptable critical care experience includes:

Adult ICU
Pediatric ICU
Neonatal ICU
Emergency Department at a level one trauma center

They do not accept:

Recovery Room
Post Anesthesia Care Unit
Non-trauma center ER
Telemetry
Dialysis
Surgery
CV lab
Step-down units

You must have skills in:

Hemodynamic monitoring
Pharmacologic intervention with vasopressors
Vasodilators
Cardiac inotropes
Cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring graphics interpretation
Ventilator management

GPA:
An overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or higher. GPA of 3.0 – 3.2 or higher in science and/or math courses is needed to be competitive.

GRE scores:
Not required

International Students
All applicants whose native language is not English and/or who submit a transcript from a country other than the U.S. must provide evidence of a TOEFL score of 550 (paper‐based), 213 (computer‐based), or 77 (internet‐based). The TOEFL is not required if the applicant has a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or has successfully completed Saint Mary's University's English Language Academy certificate program.

Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course‐by‐course basis by World Education Services (www.wes.org) or the Education Credential Evaluators (www.ECE.org) and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards. Students are responsible for having their transcripts evaluated, as well as the associated costs. Other English language certifications that are accepted include IELTS and MELAB.

Certifications are NOT required in order to apply. If you have these certifications, you are encouraged to include them as they may help your chances of acceptance:

ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
NALS (Neonatal Advanced Life Support)
NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse)
TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course)
ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support)

There are no specific course prerequisites.
However, if your only science courses were taken with your associates degree, please consider taking additional bachelor’s or master’s level science and/or math coursework. These courses will help your CRNA degree:

Chemistry (organic or inorganic)
Biochemistry
Physics
Calculus
Algebra
Statistics
Pharmacology

Saint Marys University’s website

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CRNA School Performance

CRNA School Rankings - U.S. News & World Report (2011)
2.8 out of 5.0. Ranked 41 out of 107 CRNA programs.

*Please note: CRNA rankings are bias and subjective. Read disclaimer about how CRNA rankings are created.*

Accredited CRNA Programs are reviewed regularly.
Saint Marys University of Minnesota Nurse Anesthetist Program was last reviewed 10/2010. It was given the maximum of 10 years accreditation and will be reviewed again 10/2020. This shows that the program is very stable.

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CRNA Salaries

An average nurse anesthetist salary in Minnesota
Minnesota CRNA salaries are slightly higher than the national average and range from $160k-180k.

An average annual nurse anesthetist salary in the US is $163,467 (according to a 2008 study)

Rural average: $174,214
Metropolitan average: $164,148
Suburban average: $156,630
Average starting CRNA salaries range from: $110,000-$130,000.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who pays for transportation costs?
Transportation between the school and affiliating sites is your responsibility. You may be asked to attend one or more clinical rotations at sites that may be more than 40 miles from the campus.

How many vacation days do I get?
All students are granted 6 legal holidays off annually. All other time off is designated by the Program.

Will I be expected to take “Call”?
Accreditation guidelines and program philosophy require that student nurse anesthetists have a broad base of clinical experience. This includes the opportunity for clinical experience outside of regularly scheduled surgical cases.

As a student at Saint Marys University of Minnesota, you must complete at least 160 hours of call time within the clinical curriculum.

You are not expected to work night or home call. You will be expected to participate in 8, 12, and 16 hour shifts and occasional Saturdays and/or Sundays.

How can I improve my chances of getting accepted?
If you are looking to improve your chances, they suggest that you assess and improve your science/math GPA and/or submit evidence of: