Nurse Anesthesia
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is the University of Miami a great place to study?
North and South, East and West converge in Miami-Dade County, creating energy unlike that of any other location. Ours is a place of economic growth, with thriving business and financial district. It is home to a conglomeration of the world's cultures, offering an unparalleled diversity of ethnic backgrounds, religions, cultural traditions and lifestyles. With temperatures averaging 75-80 degrees year round, we offer a never-ending calendar of events.
Who is admitted to your program?
We are very interested in creating a diverse cohort of students. We encourage minority and international registered nurses with bachelor's degrees to apply to the program. We review files twice a year in December and May followed by personal interviews scheduled in January and June. Students with Graduate Record Exam scores of 1000 or better, and an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better, have the best chance of admission. Our academics are rigorous and any student who receives a "B-" in a nursing course is dismissed from the program. A year as a nurse in a critical care unit is also required prior to admission. All students must be registered nurses in the State of Florida. If admitted, students must also pass a drug screening, a background check, have a current CPR certificate, and required immunizations. We expect to admit between twenty and twenty-five students to the program each fall semester.
Are all applicants invited for a personal interview?
No. Our admissions committee reviews every applicant's file. They review GPA, GREs, letters of recommendation etc. and then decide collectively which candidates to invite for personal interviews.
What can I expect during the interview?
Interviews are conducted in the spring and may continue through the summer. The interview is likely to last several hours while the admissions committee asks questions of the applicants and the applicants ask questions of the faculty. Applicants are usually given a tour of the campus and are asked to join us for lunch. We also provide an opportunity for applicants to speak to current students.
Are there any courses that I can take to help me prepare for the program?
We suggest that students trying to prepare for the program or trying to improve their admission packet take a graduate level science course like Biochemistry or take a graduate level statistics course.
I have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing area. Am I eligible to apply to your program?
Registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in another discipline may apply to the program. However, they must have had at least a basic statistics course and sufficient formal education in science in order to be prepared for master’s level coursework.
What kind of experience qualifies for the one year of Critical Care experience?
We accept any experience from any critical care area within the United States (e.g., ICU Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Pediatric ICU etc) where you have gained experience with caring for the critically ill who have required vasoactive drips, mechanical ventilation and/or invasive monitoring. You can also visit the AANA website at www.AANA.com to learn more about requirement and becoming a CRNA.
Who are your students?
64% are female
36% are African American or Hispanic
While most CRNA students have called Florida home for some time, we have students who are from Texas, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Tennessee, Ohio and North Carolina. 15% of our students were born outside of the United States.
Can I work while I am in anesthesia school?
Our program is intensive and requires many hours of study and preparation. We strongly discourage students from engaging in other employment.
Do you allow any courses to be transferred into the program?
No. We want students to take their coursework at University of Miami so that we can ensure that the courses meet our rigorous standards.
