Texas Wesleyan University's
Nurse Anesthesia Program

Because of its distance learning option, Texas Wesleyan University's CRNA program can be completed in 11 different states!

In comparison to most CRNA School websites, Texas Wesleyan University offers an abundance of information about their program.

In an attempt to save you time, I've boiled it down to what I feel would be most helpful to you in choosing between this program and another. Most information has been summarized, some has been omitted.

For complete details, please visit their program website.

Texas Wesleyan University
Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia Building
1201 Wesleyan Street
Fort Worth, TX 76105

Contact Information
John E Martin, CRNA, MSN, MSNA, Director
Lisa H Milhoan, CRNA, MHS, GPNA Instructor
ph: (817) 531-4406
fax: (817) 531-6508
email: jmartin@txwes.edu

Quick Facts

CRNA Degree offered at Texas Wesleyan University
Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia is the only degree offered at Texas Wesleyan University that is an entry program for RNs. Both the Master of Health Science and the DNAP require that you be a CRNA already.

The Master of Science and the Master of Health are virtually the same. The only difference is that the MHS does not require Phase II (clinical experience), as it is intended for current CRNAs who lack a Master's degree.

Program Length
28 months, full time

Credit Hours
65 semester hours

Starting Month
August

Application Deadline
Applicants are encouraged to submit their application starting January 1 of the year preceding admission. The deadline is November 1 of the year prior to the planned enrollment.

Entire Program Cost of CRNA School at Texas Wesleyan University.
Please note that tuition is calculated at the 2013-2014 rate. Tuition at most schools increases slightly each academic year. Over the duration of the program, expect to pay 5-15% more than what is shown here. It is often difficult to calculate tuition. The tuition total seen below has been verified by the program director and is accurate.

Cost of Tuition at the Texas location: $55,575
Textbooks and fees: $9,710
Grand Total: $65,285

Cost of Tuition at a Distance Learning Location: $58,935
Textbooks and fees: $9,710
Grand Total: $68,645

Tuition Calculation: $855 per unit * 65 units = $55,575

Textbooks and fees calculation: ($90 general and technology fee per unit * 65 units = $5,850) + ($340 per clinical semester * 4 semesters = $1,360) + $2500 textbooks = 9,710.

Add $3,360 to this for distance learning fee ($80 per Phase I unit * 42 units) = $58,935

120-135 for the MSNA. Class size for the MHS depends on the number of applicants.

Number of Applicants
460 apply to the MSNA, not all applicants meet the minimum requirements. Only 300 are generally interviewed.

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CRNA Training

Are you concerned Texas Wesleyan University's CRNA 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).

Didactic Curriculum Phase I

Phase I begins each fall at Texas Wesleyan University and is completed the following August. During this period, you must complete 42 graduate credit hours with a 3.0 GPA in order to begin Phase II.

Long Distance Option
The Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia at Texas Wesleyan University offers two different, COA approved, long distance education options. Both options apply to the MSNA as well as the MHS, as the two programs take classes together.

Option # 1:
In your application, you may request to be assigned to a primary clinical site outside of the Fort Worth-Dallas area. If you are accepted into one of these clinical sites, you would attend class in Fort Worth for Fall quarter, then finish Spring and Summer courses at your assigned primary clinical site, via 2-way audio and video teleconferencing.

In order for this arrangement to be approved, at least 2-3 students must choose this option at any given clinical site. You will be charged an additional $80 per credit hour for distance learning.

Option # 2:
In your application to Texas Wesleyan University's CRNA program, you may request to be assigned to a primary clinical site outside of the Fort Worth-Dallas area. If you are accepted into one of these clinical sites, you would attend class in Fort Worth for the first two weeks of Fall quarter and two weeks during Spring quarters, then finish Phase I at your assigned primary clinical site, via 2-way audio and video teleconferencing.

In order for this arrangement to be approved, at least 2-3 students must choose this option at any given clinical site. You will be charged an additional $80 per credit hour for distance learning.

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Clinical Curriculum Phase II

Phase II begins the third Monday in August and lasts approximately sixteen (16) months. While Phase II is mostly clinical, you'll return to the classroom once a week for extensive clinical related study.

This classroom time will include clinical conferences; journal club; and seminars dealing with current topics including, but not necessarily limited to, respiratory, cardiovascular, thoracic, neurosurgical, regional, obstetrical, pediatric, and special areas of anesthesia.

Because of Texas Wesleyan University's emphasis on outcome based nurse anesthesia education,

you'll be expected to:

submit a minimum of 50 written anesthesia care plans
assess the patient pre-operatively before creating each care plan
complete a post-operative evaluation on each patient you are actively involved with
document each visit and assessment on the patient's anesthetic record
take a minimum of 650 cases

Clinical Rotations

During your clinical rotation, you'll gain experience in a Recovery Unit, Holding Unit, Anesthesia Department Management, Surgical Satellite Pharmacy Unit, and Other locations as available.

Since most primary training facilities do not meet all clinical requirements for graduation, you'll need to complete a specialty rotation somewhere else.

In order to do this, you may need to relocate for one or two months in order to complete your specialty rotation. While some hospitals will provide housing during this time, others may not. All travel expenses are your responsibility.

If the rotation site is in another state, you'll need to pay for RN licensure in that state as well.

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Clinical Sites

Primary Clinical Sites are marked in bold

You'll receive 50% or more of your clinical experience at a primary site.

Non-Primary Clinical Sites are unmarked.

These are sites you may visit to complete your specialty rotation at. Specialty rotations generally last for 1-2 months.

Distance Learning Sites

*Distance Learning for the entire program Option 2.
**Distance Learning for Spring and Summer Option 1.
***Distance Learning for Spring and Summer with clinical coordinator approval Option 1.

Alabama:

*Mobile Infirmary, Mobile, Alabama
Mobile Infirmary West Hospital, Mobile
Dauphin West Surgery Center,Mobile
University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital, Mobile
Thomas Hospital, Fairhope

Arkansas:

**Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
**St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock
The Outpatient Surgery Center of Jonesboro, Jonesboro

California:

***Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, California
Kaiser Permanente Riverside, Riverside
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda
Naval Hospital San Diego, San Diego

Colorado:

**Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado
**University of Colorado Hospital, Denver, Colorado
Heart of the Rockies Medical Center, Salida

Florida:

*Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Tallahassee, Florida
Capital Regional Medical Center, Tallahassee, Florida

Kansas:

**Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas
*Stormont-Vail Medical Center, Topeka, Kansas
ExcellENT Surgery Center, Topeka
Surgery Center of Kansas, Wichita

Kentucky:

*Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, Edgewood, Kentucky
*Norton Healthcare System, Louisville, Kentucky
University of Louisville Hospital, Louisville
Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville
Norton Audubon Hospital, Louisville
St Elizabeth SurgiCenter, Crestview Hills
St Elizabeth SurgiCenter, Edgewood
St Elizabeth, Florence
St Elizabeth, Fort Thomas

Louisiana:

**CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Alexandria, Louisiana
*LSU Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
*Willis-Knighton Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
*Glenwood Regional Medical Center, West Monroe, Louisiana
LSU Medical Center @ E.A. Conway, Monroe
Cabrini Surgery Center, Alexandria
Central Louisiana Ambulatory Surgical Hospital, Alexandria

North Dakota:

*St. Alexius Hospital, Bismarck, North Dakota
St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center, Dickinson
Mid Dakota Clinic Surgicenter, Bismarck

Ohio:

*Bethesda North Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
*Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
*Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
*Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, Ohio
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Texas:

Baylor-All Saint's Health System, Fort Worth, Texas
Harris Methodist Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas
Hendrick Medical Center, Abilene, Texas
John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas
Plaza Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas
St. Joseph Medical Center, Bryan, Texas
Valley Baptist Medical Center, Harlingen, Texas
V.A. Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Longview Regional Medical Center, Longview, Texas
Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Brownsville Medical Center, Brownsville
Capitol Anesthesia Associates, Seton Healthcare Network, Austin
Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth
Parkland Hospital, Dallas
Texas Midwest Surgery Center, Abilene
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas (pending COA approval)
Valley Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center, Harlingen
Waxahachie Surgery Pavilion, Waxahachie
Memorial Hermann Southwest, Houston
North Cypress Medical Center, Houston
Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas

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Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) - for RN & BS prepared applicants

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 Texas Wesleyan University compare to most CRNA school's requirements.

CRNA Program Requirements

Required Bachelor Degree
A baccalaureate degree from a fully accredited college or university

RN:
Current R.N. license in one of the fifty states. License must be unrestricted; free from probation, suspension or stipulations.

Critical Care:
A minimum of one calendar year of full-time current experience as an R.N. in an intensive care patient setting (within 3 years of admission). The minimum one-year experience must be complete by February 1st of the year you wish to enter the program. Two or more years experience in strongly recommended.

Acceptable critical care experience includes:

Adult ICU is preferred
Pediatric ICU

*The ICU experience must be obtained at a U.S. military hospital or a hospital located in the United States or U.S. territories.

They do not accept:

ER (Emergency Room)
PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit)

GPA:
A minimum science GPA of at least 2.5 is required for admission consideration.

GRE:
An official copy of the GRE (the University's institution code is 6828)

You need to meet 2 of these 4 requirements:

Combined total GRE score in verbal and quantitative sections of 1000 or greater
An overall GPA of 3.0 or greater (all college/university coursework)
A GPA of 3.0 or greater for the last 60 hours of university/college coursework.
A GPA of 3.0 or greater for all science coursework (a minimum science GPA of 2.5 is required for consideration regardless of the other GPAs or GRE scores)

Certifications:

ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) is encouraged for 1st time applicants and required for reapplication

CRNA Educational Requirements

College level Chemistry course within 3 years of admission

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Master of Health Science - for CRNAs who do not yet have a master's degree.

This degree is for those CRNAs who were "grandfathered in" to the profession before it was a requirement to have a masters degree

CRNA Program Requirements

Current Certification/Recertification card from the NBCRNA

Required Bachelor Degree
A baccalaureate degree from a fully accredited college or university

RN:
Current R.N. license in one of the fifty states. License must be unrestricted; free from probation, suspension or stipulations.

GPA:
Minimum overall GPA 3.0 OR GPA for last 60 hours of 3.0 OR Science GPA of 3.0.

Minimum GRE scores:
Combined total GRE score in verbal and quantitative sections of 1000 or greater

Texas Wesleyan University's CRNA program website

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CRNA School Performance

CRNA School Rankings - U.S. News & World Report (2011)
2.4 out of 5.0. Ranked 72 out of 107 CRNA schools. This is a great improvement from the "no rank" they received in 2007.

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

Accredited CRNA Programs are reviewed regularly.
Texas Wesleyan University Nurse Anesthetist Program was last reviewed 10/2011. It was given 10 years accreditation and will be reviewed again 10/2021. This shows that the program is in full compliance with the COA's accreditation standards at the time of the review.

Pass Rate for CRNA Boards at Texas Wesleyan University

First-time test takers: 97% from the program's beginning in 1984
National average (2008): 89.9%

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CRNA Salaries

An average nurse anesthetist salary in Texas
Texas CRNA salaries range from $140k-$170k.

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

Time Commitment
The time commitment at Texas Wesleyan University's Nurse Anesthesia program is approximately 64 hours during a seven-day week. This may vary from week-to-week and clinical site-to-clinical site. This time commitment includes study time. One hour of classroom time generates two hours or more of study time. The clinical day, on average, involves 10 to 12 hours in the hospital.

Clinical Hours and Call Schedule
Clinical students (RRNAs) are scheduled 5 shifts per week on the average. Shifts are typically longer than 8 hours. RRNAs are on a rotating call schedule and should expect to work 40-70 hours per week on the average.

If call is taken from home, this will be viewed as committed time and the RRNA will be given the next day off even when not called back into the hospital.

Holidays
Phase 1: You'll get all Texas Wesleyan University holidays and semester breaks including: Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year, Easter, Independence Day, and Martin Luther King Day. You'll also be given time to relocate to your primary clinical site between Phase I and Phase II.

Phase II: Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. These may not be given on actual holiday.

May I work as an RN while in the program?

As with most CRNA programs, employment is discouraged. It is allowed, however, as long as it does not interfere with Texas Wesleyan University CRNA program commitments.

All information given on this site about Texas Wesleyan University's Nurse Anesthetist Program was taken directly from their Website.

See CRNA School Reviews

*This page was updated April 20th, 2013.*

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