University of Minnesota Twin Cities School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Area of Study 5-160 Weaver-Densford Hall 308 Harvard Street S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455
Contact Information Kathleen A Fagerlund, CRNA, PhD, Program Director Angela R Mund, CRNA DNP, Clinical Director ph: (612) 624-1115 fax: (612) 625-7180 email: fager003@umn.edu
Cost of CRNA School at University of Minnesota Twin Cities Cost of In State Tuition: $54,132 Fees and expenses: $13,800 Grand Total: $67,932
Cost of Out of State Tuition: $80,406 Fees and expenses: $13,800 Grand Total: $94,206
Class Size 10
Number of Applicants Each year they receive between 60-100 applications for the 10 available positions. It is not unusual for applicants to apply more than once before gaining acceptance into the nurse anesthesia area of study.
Interviews Nurse anesthesia faculty review applicant files in early September; interviews are conducted in October. All applicants receive a letter informing them of whether or not they are granted an interview. They typically interview 30 applicants for the 10 positions.
Students are chosen for the program in late November/ early December.
The three-year (9 semesters) DNP curriculum integrates anesthesia didactic coursework, anesthesia clinical experiences, and DNP coursework.
Your clinical experience will primarily be held at Minneapolis VA Medical Center. In addition, you will rotate to several urban and rural clinical sites, which offer a broad spectrum of practice experiences. Some of the clinical sites are required, and some are optional. All required clinical sites are within daily driving distance of the campus.
When you graduate, you will possess expertise in general and regional anesthesia techniques, and will be prepared to provide leadership in the practice setting.
The program is the first nurse anesthesia program in the U.S. to be accredited to offer the entry-level Doctor of Nursing Practice. At University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the DNP replaced the Master degree in Anesthesia in the fall of 2009.
Required Bachelor Degree You MUST have a A baccalaureate degree with a nursing major (or entry-level Master of Nursing)
RN: You must hold an RN license in the state in which you will complete clinical courses.
Critical Care: 1 year of critical care nursing experience required. The average accepted student has approximately three years of high-acuity adult surgical critical care experience.
Other critical experience considered on an individual basis.
GPA: Successful applicants typically have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.4 or above (on a 4.0 scale). Each applicant will be considered individually for any exception to the stated requirements.
GRE: The GRE must have been taken after October 1, 2003. This revised test includes the new analytic writing test. The GRE code for the School of Nursing is 5942.
International Students
If your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score at least 586 (written) 240 (computerized) or 95 (IBT). The School of Nursing will accept TOEFL or MELAB exams taken within three years of the time of application. If the TOEFL is not available in your country, you must take the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) and score at least 85.
You are exempt from taking the test if, within the past 24 months, you have completed 24 quarter credits or 16 semester credits in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States.
You must submit a photocopy of a current RN license from your home country.
You must obtain a Minnesota license by the end of your second semester in residence. You will need to pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) exam and the NCLEX exam in order to obtain a Minnesota license. You are encouraged to take the CGFNS exam in your home country prior to enrollment. For more information, contact the Minnesota Board of Nursing: or call 612-617-2270.
Accredited CRNA Programs are reviewed regularly. University of Minnesota Twin Cities Nurse Anesthetist Program was last reviewed 01/2009. It was given the maximum of 10 years accreditation and will be reviewed again 10/2018. This shows that the program is very stable.
Pass Rate for CRNA Boards at University of Minnesota Twin Cities
First-time test takers: 94%
National average (2008): 89.9%
Attrition Rate The 10-year attrition rate for 1999-2008 is 1.1%
CRNA Employment Rate of program graduates Except for an occasional graduate who, at graduation, is deciding which job offer to accept, 100% of our graduates have jobs on the day of graduation.
What do they look for in an applicant? The typical successful applicant has an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 to 4.0, approximately three years of high-acuity adult surgical critical care experience, good personal references, and knowledge about what a CRNA does on a daily basis.
With the implementation of the DNP curriculum, the Admissions Committee at University of Minnesota Twin Cities will look for evidence of leadership potential. They look at each applicant individually, and make a decision based on all the criteria.
How many vacation days will I have? The 36-month nurse anesthesia program runs year around. You’ll get a 2-week winter break, 1-week spring break, and 1-week summer break each year of the program.
Are sign-on bonuses available when I graduate? The shortage of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) has prompted many employers (primarily hospitals) to award significant sign-on bonuses in return for some years of service to the awarding hospital. Often the sign-on bonuses are paid during school to offset tuition and living expenses.
*If you have additional information or there are other questions you would like answered about University of Minnesota Twin Cities Nurse Anesthetist Program, email joy@all-crna-schools.com
