2020-2021 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

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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 500Seminar in Biology

1 TO 2
BIO 517Advanced Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology

6
BIO 518Advanced Pathophysiology and Applied Physiology

3
BIO 519Advanced Neuroscience

3
BIO 525Advanced Physical Health Assessment for Nurse Anesthetists

3
BIO 528Advanced Pharmacology

4
BIO 530Immunology

3
BIO 590Focused Study in Advanced Biology

1 TO 4
BIO 598Research in Biology

3
CHEM 550Basic Organic and Biological Chemistry

3
Total Credit Hours:31

Clinical Practicum (1000 hours of clinical practicum and is 17 months in length):

ANES 500Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice I

3
ANES 501Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice II

4
ACP 502Anesthesia Clinical Practicum

0
ACP 503Anesthesia Clinical Practicum

0
ACP 504Anesthesia Clinical Practicum

0
ACP 505Anesthesia Clinical Practicum

0

Capstone:

Comprehensive Exam

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 the following affiliated school:

Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island School of Nurse Anesthesia, Pawtucket, R.I.: Susan Walker, 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.