Trying to decide on Program in Ohio!

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hey everyone!

I've been looking on this site a lot for information about nurse anesthesia schools and it has been very helpful, and I hope some of you will be able to help me further!

I am looking into CRNA programs in Ohio and wanted to find out some more information about Akron vs. Cinci vs. Case Western.

I'm interested in how you like the program (if you're in one of these schools), how the interview went (clinical vs personal questions) and any negatives about the programs.

Thanks so much!

Specializes in Surgical/Transplant ICU.

Living in Georgia where it's warm :)

otterbein is a new program. the nursing school is very highly regarded. the crna is new. the class i believe is small. grant is a good hospital where most of the trauma patients go. grant is in downtown columbus. otterbein is in an upper middle class suburb. one thing about otterbein that stuck out for me was they dont require GRE.

Specializes in Surgical/Transplant ICU.

Thanks....I'm in the application process, but since it is a new program there is limited information on the website and forums. I asked them to clarify if CCRN was required or not. The graduate coordinator said CCRN was required for all CRNA applicants, but some of their admission materials needed to be updated.

Thanks

@Atlantanurse -- I saw your recent private message, but can't respond since I'm new to the site. You can email me at [email protected] for a response. sorry!

The Nurse Anesthesia program at University of Cincinnati is the 4th oldest nationally. The program just recieved a full ten-year accreditation (the highest possible) again in 2011 and surpasses both the required and preferred rates for National Certication Examination passage rate.

UC is a university-based program and thus offers its students all the benefits of a major university. UC's program is fully integrated, so students begin clinical during the first quarter. UC provides eleven clinical sites, and all are within 25 miles of the university (most are within 10 miles). This allows students a great variety of clinical experience without having to travel for clinicals. UC students enjoy the lowest tuition in the state of Ohio and a 100% employment rate after graduation. The small class size allows each student to get personal attention and individually-tailored clinical experience, as well as build lasting relationships with faculty members and classmates.

I would NOT attend UC's program. UC has an attrition rate of like 6-8% which is terrible for any program to have. There should not be attrition rates this high at any graduate level program. Especially one where someone has quit their job in an intensive care, has moved to another city, has taken on a tremendous amount of debt, and has given up numerous hours of time with their family.

UC is a program that will dump you in a heartbeat even if you have completed all or most of your didactic work if they do not like you and the CRNAs do not like you. There are some VERY poisonous personalities at UC hospital and if some of them don't like you, they will try everything in their power to have you removed from school, no matter the cost to you or your family. It is a known fact from several people I know that have attended there and either graduated or were kicked out. You would think at this level they would want you to graduate considering the burden you have taken on financially and in your personal lives but they don't care about that.

Compare that to a program like Akron which has less than a 1% attrition rate in over 15 years!! That is a huge gap compared to a program like UC. Akron also was given a 10 year accreditation. That tells me a lot about the mission of that program and that is one who cares about the student and appreciates the time, money and effort they have given to be where they are. People don't put their entire lives on hold to be kicked out of school. They are paying for an education and some people learn on different levels. Some are slower learners than others and training should be adjusted accordingly. It's not undergrad. A side note here is that UC's former director is now the executive vice president of the AANA so that probably has something to do with the lack of any violations. UC's only strength is it's clinical sites. It is not didactics.

I know a guy who was in this program and the CRNAs that taught class were not always the best teachers. They were not hired full time didactic instructors. Most come in on their days off to teach a section of a course. So that means you would have as many as 4 CRNAs teaching you one class and each having different teaching styles and tests, which from what I understand is very difficult to prepare for with tests. Some of these CRNAs were also recent graduates from the program and some having no experience what so ever in teaching courses on any level.

Again, compare this to a program like Akron who has dedicated faculty to teach ALL of your courses. Having 1 professor teaching multiple courses gives one a huge advantage in continuity of education compared to having multiple instructors for one course. Especially when you consider the dedicated full time faculty have been teaching for many years. Not CRNAs who come in on their days off to rattle off some powerpoints that some didn't even prepare themselves.

When looking at both programs, one would be foolish to choose UC over Akron. Akron also has a well above average board pass rate. Something like a 96-98% pass rate on average. Last year they had 100%. UC can not boast this. And this is a program who has almost a 0% attrition rate. They CARE about the students and not about what a crabby CRNA thinks. If you have trouble in a particular clinical site they will move you. They are VERY student friendly where UC is not.

Do your due diligence in research of programs before you select one. Every program has faults but you will be hard pressed to find fault in Akron's program. It is a very difficult program to get into and their interview process is tough but they do this for a reason.

If I'm not mistaken UC also has a new director who has never been a program director before. So, he has very little experience running a program, which can cause a lot of issues in regards to how smooth the program operates. Choosing a program where faculty have been stable over a number of years has a smoother educational experience.

Just do the research and you will see. I am not sure about Case but I doubt they can boast about what Akron has done and does do on a yearly basis.

"The small class size allows each student to get personal attention and individually-tailored clinical experience, as well as build lasting relationships with faculty members and classmates. "

I have to also comment on this. Most CRNA programs have small class sizes so this is not any different than most programs around the country. They do not tailor clinical experience. They put you where they want and they work you like an employee from what I understand. That means lots of call even on days you have class and tests. You could have call then have a test the same day. There is no rhyme or reason to clinical and class because UC uses you as an employee to get their surgeries done since they are state/government funded hospital. There might be times where you will have 1 CRNA watching over 2 students.

Compare this to Akron where at the most you have 4 days of clinical in a week with 1 day of class. In addition, class and clinical days are kept separate to allow you to prepare accordingly. At UC you could be placed on call your 1st semester in clinical where as at Akron they wait to place you on call at a later time in your career as a student so you are more comfortable.

Also, Akron has 33 clinical sites throughout the state of Ohio. If you want, you can live in the Akron area and do most if not all of your clinicals within that area, or if you live in columbus or cleveland you can do most clinicals there if you are from those areas. I believe they also have clinical sites in Toledo and Dayton which helps those that want to live in those cities without having to move. It is much more student friendly in that regard.

All around, Akron is just a much better program to be a part of.

Obviously you have a personal axe to grind, and the fact that you keep harping on the attrition rate makes it even more obvious. UC's attrition rate is below the national average. Most cases of attrition are due to personal or health issues, but occasionally a student does fail in clinical or didactic. As you know, Mr. gastoker, students at UC who are failing are placed on probation and given ample chance to improve their performance.

UC's program is difficult because its mission is to produce only excellent clinical CRNAs. I hardly think that the fact that everybody passes is a measure of program superiority and is in fact a disservice to the profession and the public who place their trust in CRNAs. Graduates and their employers appreciate the fact that all UC graduates leave the program fully prepared to function as safe and independent clinicians from their very first day of practice.

UC Health University Hospital is a private institution which is ranked as one of the top clinical and research hospitals nationwide. Students in the UC program are always supervised at levels which meet, and usually exceed, COA standards. Student schedules at all times meet the recommendations of the COA and provide more than the required hours for class, studying, and rest.

I would urge the OP to investigate and compare all the programs and choose the one that is the best fit for you. UC is proud of its statistics and publishes them on its public website, which is found here: http://nursing.uc.edu/academic_programs/msn/onsite_programs/nurse_anesthesia/program_info/accreditation.html I don't believe that any other program in Ohio is advertising their statistics on their website, but the program directors have the information and are required to provide it to you if you contact them. Ultimately, you are wise to pursue your graduate education in Ohio because there are several excellent programs in our state.

OK, back to business......

There are seven nurse anesthesia programs in Ohio. All the programs are quality, fully-accredited nurse anesthesia education programs, and each one offers benefits that potential students may find appealing.

A great source of information about nurse anesthesia education in Ohio would be our state's professional organization, the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Their website address is http://osana.org/aws/OSANA/pt/sp/home_page If you have questions about any of the programs in Ohio, OSANA can help you find CRNAs and students who can give you information and answer your questions.

Specializes in Surgical/Transplant ICU.

Hello,

Where are graduates finding jobs in Ohio? Do a lot of graduates leave Ohio for Georgia, Texas, Illinois, or Penn?

Thanks

I am a srna in the Case western/Cleveland Clinic program. I love my program. We have such a vast amount of clinical experience. Our totals by graduation double the minimum requirements required. We work in a very highly technical environment and take some of the most complicated cases in the world. As a personal bias, I feel that our clinical experience and training is awesome and prepares us as competent practitioners.

Specializes in Med- Surg ICU, CCU, PACU.
I am a srna in the Case western/Cleveland Clinic program. I love my program. We have such a vast amount of clinical experience. Our totals by graduation double the minimum requirements required. We work in a very highly technical environment and take some of the most complicated cases in the world. As a personal bias, I feel that our clinical experience and training is awesome and prepares us as competent practitioners.

That is good to hear since I am interviewing there next week. Is there anything else you particularly love about the program? Since you are at the Cleveland Clinic, do you do most of your clinicals there? Just curious. :)

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