Admissions

Admissions criteria for the masters of science in nursing program

• An earned bachelor's degree with a major in nursing.
• A cumulative quality point average of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale in the last 60 credits of the baccalaureate program.
• A score on the graduate record examination of 900 and three, within the past five years.
• A current license as a professional registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Completion of an undergraduate anatomy, physiology, chemistry and introductory statistics course, with grades B or above.
• Four letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your abilities as a nurse. (e.g. nursing program, immediate supervisor or professional).
• Personal interview with the admissions committee.
• A minimum of one year experience as a registered professional nurse in which the applicant has had the opportunity to develop independent decision making, demonstrate psycho motor skills and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring based on knowledge of physiology and pharmacologic principles (e.g. intensive care units, neo-natal, PACU or emergency room experience).
• Current BLS, ACLS and PALS. (Recommended CCRN)
• An introductory computer course is recommended.
• Each applicant must competently demonstrate the sensory, mental and physical abilities of a student nurse anesthetist, as evidenced by satisfactory performance of the programs clinical behavioral objectives.
• Each successful applicant must pass a pre-enrollment physical.

Admission Procedures

• The candidate completes the Application and returns it to the Admission Committee, School of Anesthesia, Hamot Medical Center, 201 State Street, Erie, PA 16550 with the appropriate fee and statement of career goals.
• The candidate must submit to the admissions committee at Hamot Medical Center references, current professional nursing license, official transcripts for all institutions of higher learning including nursing school and the graduate records examination (GRE).
• The admissions committee will review the Application, transcripts, references and exam scores. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure their file is complete at Hamot Medical Center. An interview will not be granted unless the applicant's file is complete. If the admission criteria are met, the committee will grant a personal interview.
• Following the admission interview, the admissions committee will meet and select the eligible students.
• The successful candidates will be notified, by the School of Anesthesia program director and the chairperson of the graduate nursing program at Gannon University.
• Within four weeks of notification of acceptance, the applicant will confirm, in writing, his/her intention to enter the program. A matriculation fee will be required to hold a place in the program.
• Students are enrolled in January. Letters of instruction regarding class registration, required books and schedules will be sent by both Hamot and Gannon.
• Applicants must meet all admission requirements of Villa Maria School of Nursing and Gannon University

Post-Masters Certificate

The nurse anesthesia program has been approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia educational programs to award a post master certificate.

Individuals who have an earned master of science degree in nursing may apply for the post master certificate program

Prospective students must apply and be admitted to the nurse anesthesia program. All anesthesia course requirements must be met to receive the post masters certificate and be eligible to sit for the certification examination.

Retention in the program is dependent upon:

• A candidate for a degree must have achieved a cumulative grade average of B or better in all credits earned as part of the degree program. An average of B or better in all anesthesia Courses.
• A candidate for a degree must have achieved a passing average on all clinical evaluations.
• A candidate for certification must demonstrate behaviors concurrent with those acceptable to the nurse anesthesia practice.
• A candidate for certification must meet all terminal objectives requirements of nurse anesthesia program graduates.

Graduation from Hamot Medical Center School of Anesthesia and Gannon University are dependent on the recommendations of the faculty of the School of Anesthesia and the Department of Nursing. To graduate, a student must:

• Fulfill all requirements of their curriculum.
• Discharge all financial obligations to the medical center and the university.
• Return all university and medical center library books.
• File formal Application for the degree.

Dismissal Policy

As stated in the graduate catalogue, all students whose grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.0 are subject to review each semester by the Program Director and Academic Dean. A student with less than a 3.0 GPA may be denied registration and/or dismissed from graduate studies.

Students in the nursing graduate program must achieve a letter grade of "B" or better for each theory course. Any theory course in which a student achieves a grade less than a "B," including a "B-," must be repeated at the next offered sequence. The student may remain in the program of study, and proceed to the next (sequence) level of courses. Students who achieve a letter grade of "F" in any theory course may not progress in the graduate nursing program option in which the failed course is a prerequisite.

Students who receive a grade less than a "B" for a theory course must meet with the School Director to develop an individual remediation plan, which is documented in writing. The student will receive a copy of the written remediation plan.

A student may only repeat a TOTAL of 2 theory courses within the program of study. In addition, a course may only be repeated once. Students are required to submit a written notice of a repeated course to the Registrar's office. The letter "R" will be placed in front of the original grade and the original grade will not be calculated in the student's cumulative GPA.

Students in the graduate nursing program must earn a satisfactory grade of "pass" for all clinical courses. Students who fail a clinical course are dismissed from the program of study. Students wishing to pursue the program of study must reapply. Students in the nurse anesthesia option who receive a clinical failure must reapply through Hamot Medical Center's School of Anesthesia Admissions Committee. Students in all other options must reapply through Gannon University's Center for Adult Learning, Graduate Admissions.