Application Requirements
- Complete a NursingCAS application prior to the established deadline
- A degree in nursing from a CCNE or ACEN accredited program. Graduates from non- CCNE or ACEN accredited programs may be evaluated on an individual basis. Please contact the School of Nursing for more information
- An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in the United States or its territories or protectorates
- Submission of all postsecondary academic transcripts to NursingCAS
- Minimum undergraduate nursing GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Submission of a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to NursingCAS
- Submission of a personal statement to NursingCAS
- Submission of three professional reference forms via NursingCAS
- One must be from the supervisor of your most recent critical care setting.
- One must be from a nurse holding a graduate degree in nursing or a related field.
Admission and Enrollment Requirements
- Successful completion of an applicant interview (invitation only)
- Bachelor of Science or graduate degree in nursing from a CCNE or ACEN accredited program prior to program enrollment*. Graduates from non- CCNE or ACEN accredited programs may be evaluated on an individual basis. Please contact the School of Nursing for more information.
- An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates
- Unencumbered Illinois nursing license required prior to enrollment* in the nurse anesthesia educational program
- Residents of non-compact states:
- Unencumbered Missouri nursing license required prior to enrollment* in the nurse anesthesia educational program
- Residents of compact states:
- Unencumbered Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) license required prior to enrollment* in the nurse anesthesia educational program. Should residence change to a non-compact state following enrollment, an unencumbered Missouri nursing license must be obtained.
- A minimum of one year of recent full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent (1,876 hours), as a registered nurse in a critical care setting prior to enrollment* in the nurse anesthesia educational program.
- Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a U.S. military hospital
- A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions
- Successful completion of the following undergraduate course prerequisites with a B or better prior to enrollment* in the nurse anesthesia educational program:
- Physics (minimum 3 credit hours; no lab required)
- Organic chemistry, biochemistry, or organic and biochemistry for health professionals (minimum 3 credit hours; no lab required)
- Successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better
- Successful completion of a drug screen and a criminal background check, as specified by the School of Nursing, to be performed prior to enrollment* in the nurse anesthesia educational program
* Program enrollment – date defined in the acceptance letter but generally two weeks prior to the initiation of the summer term each May.
Preferred Applicant Benchmarks
Applicants not meeting the preferred benchmarks may be considered less competitive.
- Two or more years of current full-time work experience as a registered nurse in a high acuity adult intensive care unit (ICU) is preferred prior to enrollment* in the nurse anesthesia educational program
- An undergraduate nursing GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is preferred
- An undergraduate science GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale is preferred
- An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in preferred
- A CCRN or TCRN certification is not required but highly recommended
- A demonstrated history of experience in leadership roles, service to the community, and participation in scholarly activities or quality improvement projects is preferred
Application Deadline
The application deadline is May 1 for the class entering in the following May.
The program generally interviews candidates in July and admits them to the School of Nursing with notification in August to enroll in May of the following year. Once accepted, a non-refundable advance deposit fee of $1,000 is required to secure a seat in the nurse anesthesia cohort (applied towards future tuition). Payment is due within two weeks of admission to the School of Nursing to validate the candidate’s commitment to enroll in the program.
Applicants may follow up with the School of Nursing at 618-650-3930 or nursing@siue.edu for additional questions or to check on the status of an application.
Transfer Credits
The SIUE nurse anesthesia program may allow incoming students to transfer a maximum of 15 credits of prior coursework. All such work must be approved by the assistant dean of graduate programs in the School of Nursing. Credit is granted only for courses bearing a grade of B or better. Except where stated herein, the SIUE nurse anesthesia program follows all other policies and procedures of SIUE as described in policy 1J6 and on the graduate student records website.
If an applicant has previously been enrolled in a nurse anesthesia program, he/she can apply; however, the applicant must disclose any prior program enrollment during the application process by submitting a formal letter to the program director.
Admitted Students
Graduate students admitted to the School of Nursing may take up to four classes or 15 credit hours as an unclassified graduate nursing student at SIUE prior to enrolling in the full-time nurse anesthesia specialization. Successful completion of coursework with a B or better will be applied towards the degree program. The following classes may be available to take as an unclassified graduate student:
- (3) NURS 516 Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
- (3) NURS 604 Evaluating Evidence for Improving Practice/Healthcare Outcomes
- (3) NURS 606 Leadership and Health Policy for Advanced Nursing Practice
- (3) NURS 600 Theory Guided Practice
International Students
The SIUE International Student and Scholar Services Office is the key liaison to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and provides necessary up-to-date immigration information so you can responsibly maintain your legal status in the U.S. and at SIUE. Additional information and resources for international students can be found on the International Student and Scholar Services website.
