We hope the information provided here will assist you in planning a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

In cooperation with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), School of Graduate Studies, we selected the Master of Arts in Biology with an emphasis in human physiology to provide the didactic foundation on which our program of Nurse Anesthesia is based. The rapidly developing areas of medicine and biomedical technology require the anesthetist to critically analyze and evaluate new data and instruments in order to provide quality care for the patient undergoing anesthesia. Our graduates possess the scientific knowledge and clinical capabilities to meet the challenge of providing high quality anesthesia care, and will allow them to become leaders in their field, both as practitioners and as educators.

Our program is a front-loaded 36-month graduate curriculum. During the first 12 months, students are enrolled full-time at UMKC. Thirty-six hours of graduate credit are taken towards fulfilling the requirements for a Master of Arts in Biology. Physiology, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Medical Neuroscience, and Biochemistry, as well as Research & Statistics, compose the graduate curriculum. Your future classmates will be students from the School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and the School of Biological Sciences.

Completion of the Master of Arts in Biology requires a formal seminar presentation on a clinical topic of the student's interest during the senior clinical year.

The anesthesia curriculum includes a broad fields orientation, professional aspects of Nurse Anesthesia, basic and advanced principles of anesthesia, as well as participation in Journal Club, morbidity and mortality conferences, clinical seminars and a certification exam review course. These courses will occur during the 24 month clinical practicum.

The clinical practicum utilizes the strength of several area clinical affiliate hospitals which provide the student with a wide and varied clinical experience.

The program seeks to graduate self-motivated, independent, professional Nurse Anesthetists. All of our graduates since 1992 have passed the CRNA Board Certification exam on the first attempt. Additionally, employer surveys of our graduates consistently rate TMC-educated CRNAs "good" or "excellent," and all indicate they would recommend hiring another TMC graduate.

Anesthesia is an exciting profession for the RN seeking a demanding, advanced practitioner field. Our program has been training CRNAs since 1950, and providing a Master's degree framework since 1978. Those who have submitted applications are welcome to arrange a visit and see the school first-hand.

Last Updated 7/8/2005