CRNAs in Puerto Rico?

nilepoc · Mar 7, 2004

Start your search with the AANA.com

Here is their info on the programs there.

Schools in Peurto Rico

In case the link did not work here is the text.

InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico

Master of Science in Anesthesia

P.O. Box 4050

Arecibo, PR 00614

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Program Information

Date of Last Review: 10/2000

Next Review Date: 10/2004

Degree(s): Master of Science in Anesthesia

Program Length: 24 months

Starting Month(s): AUG

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Contacts

Josue R Ramos, CRNA, MS, Program Director

ph: (787) 878-5475 ext. 2504

fax: (787) 881-3831

email: [email protected]

web: http://www.arecibo.inter.edu

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University of Puerto Rico

Medical Sciences Campus

School of Nursing

P.O. Box 365067

San Juan, PR 00936

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Program Information

Date of Last Review: 05/2000

Next Review Date: 05/2004

Degree(s): MSN with Specialty in Anesthesia

Program Length: 25 months

Starting Month(s): AUG

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Contacts

Crucita Mattei, CRNA, MSN, Program Director

Gladys Vélez, RN, MSN, Graduate Department Director

ph: (787) 758-2525 ext. 5613

fax: (787) 281-0721

email: [email protected]

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NOPAIN · Mar 9, 2004

Also you need to know Spanish (communicate, read, understand). Classes could be either English or Spanish, textbooks most likely English, communication with your patients Spanish. Therefore you need to be bilingual.

Alexandres · Jan 17, 2006

Great info!

I have been wondering about this for a while, but finally did a search. Another question that I've been pondering is are there practicing CRNA's in PR? I have read about the low wages for RN's, does this carry over to CRNA's as well?

Thanks,

Alex

JHC · Jan 18, 2006

Yes. I just moved to PR and there are CRNAs here. The pay is about as much as in some of the lowest paying states in USA. I know one who's making 5,250.00 a month. Mondays to fridays. She has a part time job with another hospital on weekends carrying the oncall pager. I think they pay her 150.00 per shift for carrying the pager. If she gets called in she gets paid per hour plus the 150.00 but I'm not sure how much.

I checked out the program at the Universidad Interamericana and it's very good! I think they have like a 98-99 percent passing rate on the certification board exam. Less than half of the students enrolled on the first semester end the program. They're very strict on GPA maintanance.

You don't need Spanish for the classes but you do for the practice. Patients are Spanish speakers.

A few hospitals here in PR pay for the masters, including books etc... and give you $1,000.00 stipend per month. Once you finish you have to serve them for 4 years. That's the case of this girl I mentioned. Hospital Susoni (I don't know how to spell it) sponsored her.

Alexandres · Jan 18, 2006

Wow, I did not even know about this possibility.

I am originally from PR and it would be awesome to work there at some point, as well as to study there since I still have family there. Have to brush up on my Spanish though. Conversational is pretty good, but learning all the medical terms will be a challenge.

Still have to finish up the nursing program, but it does provide some inspiration!

Thanks!

JHC · Jan 19, 2006

Don't worry, ALL the medical terminology is in English including Doctors' orders, physicals, I mean EVERYTHING everywhere in PR. I've only known one Dr. who writes all his orders in Spanish and that was actually weird, every one found it strange it and hard to comprehend. He was a nationalist and hated English, the US and the rest of the world.

Alexandres · Jan 20, 2006

Hi JHC,

So are you and your friend native Spanish speakers? If not, how has the transition been for you?

Icare4all · Nov 3, 2010

Anybody has any info about the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico CRNA program? I would like to know more. Please let me know.