Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I apply?
- An application can be mailed to you or you can access a copy on the college website.
- Where do I send my application materials?
- A completed application with a $100 application fee should be sent to the Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, Office of Enrollment Services, 671 Winyah Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
- How much is the tuition?
- Please refer to the NAP Financial Information page on our website for current tuition rates.
- What financial aid is available?
- Please refer to the financial aid information available from the home page.
- How much critical care experience do I need? What is considered critical care experience?
- A minimum of one year of critical care experience is required for admission into the program. We evaluate every applicant based on individual critical care experience. We prefer applicants that have experience in hemodynamic monitoring (CVP, arterial lines, PAP, continuous ECG), management of patients with ventilators, and vasopressors. Most of these experiences can be obtained in Cardiothoracic ICU, Surgical ICU, Trauma ICU and Medical ICU. Emergency Department experience is accepted but it must be from a Level 1 Trauma facility. Students with pediatric or neonatal ICU experience have been accepted to the program and have easily adjusted to providing care to adult patients.
- Which graduate or undergraduate courses are helpful for entrance in to the nurse anesthesia program?
- Courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, physics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry are suggested to enhance the competitiveness of your application.
- When is the application due?
- The application deadline is April 1st of every year for enrollment the following January.
- Will an interview be required?
- After all applicants are screened, the most qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Meeting the minimum requirements for application does not guarantee you an interview. The interviews usually occur in June of every year.
- Who should my letters of recommendation come from?
- Your letters of recommendation should come from your nursing supervisor, nursing school instructor, and a CRNA you shadowed.
- What is a competitive GRE score? What is the minimum?
- A competitive Graduate Record Examination score is 500 verbal, 500 quantitative, and 3.5 analytical writing. A minimum of 900 on the Graduate Record Examination is acceptable.
- Is the GRE waived?
- The GRE is waived for students who have a cumulative 3.75 GPA in all undergraduate coursework.
- Do you require any other placement examinations besides the GRE or MAT?
- An applicant, whose first language is not English, must attain a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- When does the program start?
- The program starts in January of every year.
- Is there a part-time program?
- A part-time program is not available. We only accept students on a full-time basis to the nurse anesthesia program.
- Can I work during the program?
- Working during the program is highly discouraged due to the intense nature of the coursework.
- How many applicants are accepted each year?
- The Nurse Anesthesia Program admits approximately 22 students every year. Each class begins in January at the Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences in Orlando, FL.
- What clinical sites does FHCHS use?
- The anesthesia program provides a variety of clinical experiences to fulfill the requirements for graduation. The nurse anesthesia students will be required to rotate through all of the facilities in order to provide a well rounded clinical experience. The current clinical sites our anesthesia students use include Florida Hospital Orlando, Florida Hospital Celebration Health, Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Florida Hospital East Orlando, and Florida Hospital Altamonte. The nurse anesthesia program continues to pursue other clinical experiences.
- How long is the program?
- The curriculum for the Master’s of Science Degree Program requires 28 months of continuous full-time study.
- Is liability insurance required for my clinical rotations?
- Liability insurance is required and it must be purchased before beginning the clinical practicum. Information about liability insurance is available through the AANA and the information will be provided after enrollment. Costs of liability insurance are the responsibility of the student.
- Must I have an undergraduate degree in nursing to apply for the program?
- While a BS in nursing is preferred, we also accept applicants who have a BS in a related field and an AS in nursing. Related fields may include biology, chemistry, exercise physiology or respiratory therapy.
- Can I apply for admission if I am enrolled in a degree completion program and scheduled to finish my BSN after the application deadline?
- Yes, a registered nurse who is completing their BSN may apply to the program, but the degree must be conferred prior to enrollment.
- Do you require a capstone project?
- The capstone project is required for graduation from the anesthesia program. This project will contribute to you professionally as well as the anesthesia profession. Examples of capstone projects include scholarly papers submitted for publication, teaching projects, original research, participation on research teams, etc. The project can be done alone or students may work with other students, faculty, or clinical preceptors.
- Does the program have a human patient simulator?
- The FHCHS Nurse Anesthesia program has two human patient simulators. The human patient simulation lab has one adult and one child simulator. The simulators provide a variety of experiences ranging from anesthetizing, intubating, resuscitating and giving anesthesia drugs. The anesthesia lab also contains fully operational anesthesia machines, fiberoptic bronchoscopy simulator, epidural injection simulator, spinal injection simulator, ultrasound for guiding central catheter placement, and various airway management trainers.
- Is there a waiting list for admission?
- The Nurse Anesthesia Program does not maintain a waiting list of prospective applicants. Applicants not achieving admission may reapply the following year.
- If I am not a Florida resident, do I need a Florida nursing license before applying for the program?
- An unrestricted Florida license to practice as a registered nurse is an admission criteria and it must remain in good standing during the entire time the student is enrolled in the program. Florida licensure must active before enrollment, but not necessarily at the time of application.
- What is the average nursing experience, in years, for accepted applicants?
- Applicants are required to have a minimum of 1 year of critical care experience to enter the program. Most applicants have at least 2-3 years of critical care experience.
- Is housing available for graduate students?
- The FHCHS has limited student housing. For information about housing you can contact the Housing Office at 407-896-5869. Florida Hospital student housing consists of two housing complexes: Bay Run and LaSalle (for students 21 and older). Both complexes are used solely by FHCHS students, and a dean is available 24 hours per day. In addition, Campus Security is also on the premises during designated hours. FHCHS does not provide housing for married couples.
- The FHCHS Nurse Anesthesia Program is accredited by whom?
- The FHCHS Nurse Anesthesia Program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The entire Health Sciences Center is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
- Do you require a student portfolio?
- Students in the Nurse Anesthesia Program are required to complete a portfolio chronicling experiences accrued during the entire 28 months of the program. The portfolio will showcase each student’s professional achievements. The portfolio also documents that requirements have been met for graduation.
- Are students required to take call?
- Yes. Call experience involves all “off” shifts and these include 3p-11p, 11p-7a, and weekends. A qualified anesthesia provider is always available to supervise students when they are “on call”.
- Is a final program examination required?
- Yes, a final comprehensive program examination is administered in the last practicum course, MSNA 545. This exam is given by computer and designed to prepare students for the computer adaptive national certification examination administered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA).
- Is there a typical profile of a successful applicant?
- While there is not a typical profile of a successful applicant, successful applicants have an understanding of the commitment that is required for the Nurse Anesthesia program and profession. Common characteristics of successful applicants include the ability to communicate effectively and function as a team member and leader, the capability to use critical thinking skills and to function in stressful situations, and a passion for the specialty practice of nurse anesthesia. Typical students’ GPA ranges from 3.0-4.0; GRE scores should be 500 on verbal, 500 for quantitative and 3.5 in analytical writing; MAT scores should be at or above the 50th percentile rank, and critical care experience should range from 2-3 years or more.
