University of Tulsa Nurse Anesthetist Program

Oklahoma 1 · Jul 31, 2019

And to be clear as stated the only reason I reached out to peer advisor was because her email was only one that was a available on website my first email to you was returned. I also reached out to your student advisor who at the time was currently in CRNA school. I understand your concern, and it’s clear you have made your mind up about me based on what others have told you and your “Searches” but as I have stated everyone is innocent until proven guilty and I fought and won, and have NEVeR been guilty of any of the accusations brought up against me. I feel the whole conversation got off on the wrong foot, and there were to many assumptions which steered the conversation totally in the wrong direction. I see your point that you have to protect the CRNA profession, but I was not with or about any opposition. I wish things would of went different because after you have so much hate, discord and judgments thrown at you for so many years it’s gets old. Especially when you know the truth. Good luck to you as well, and again I 100% meant no harm.

CowboyMedic, DNP, APRN, CRNA · Jul 31, 2019

2 hours ago, JSchmittCRNA said:
Hello all, I am the current president of OANA. I always encourage anyone who has questions about anesthesia to reach out to me. This thread was brought to my attention by colleagues of mine in the nursing community. I haven’t been on all nurses for sometime, but I felt it was important to return to have dialogue about CRNAs and the Tulsa Program. We will be starting a program in Oklahoma baring any issues with the current candidate that just accepted the program director position. First class anticipated start date will indeed be August 2020. There are 3 approved clinical sites at this time. I have spoken with her at length about her vision for the program and I am very encouraged about the value she will bring to Oklahoma’s healthcare system by increasing the number of well trained CRNAs into our state’s workforce.
Now, Oklahoma 1, I apologize if our interaction was perceived by you to be unprofessional. Our Presidency changes every year so if it was with a previous president I can not speak to how they describe the path to becoming a CRNA. Since I’m not sure who you are it’s hard for me to say one way or another. I speak to hundreds of nurses, legislators, public officials, Universities, etc every month about their interest in anesthesia whether it be via social media, PMs, online discussions as this one, in person, speaking engagements, panel discussions, and so many other venues. So it’s hard for me to remember every encounter. Sometimes it takes me some time to get back to people because Facebook filters messages and I miss those very often. I don’t use this platform so I will try to respond when I have time. But if someone has an immediate question, you can always email me. I make myself incredibly available to discuss CRNAs to not only to my membership but members of the general public, public officials, and the media as well. I always encourage honest and open dialogue about the path to becoming a CRNA. I do not sugar coat anything, because I believe the best path to success to join my profession is to have realistic expectations prior to beginning the journey. In my interactions with non-CRNAs I believe myself to be the upmost professional as I am the voice for our profession here in Oklahoma but also on many other national platforms. I encourage nurses who are interested in pursuing anesthesia as a career path to contact me at [email protected]. I have and will always believe being a CRNA is the best profession in nursing. That is my opinion, but I absolutely love what’s I do and I love sharing that passion with others. I am a very direct person and encourage direct conversation. It is difficult.
Anything worth doing in life that has great reward on the other side shouldn’t be easy. It is a great sacrifice, but the reward on the other side is great. Being a CRNA is both rewarding professionally and financially. But the path is not an easy one and I am always honest to nurses about this. There is a financial sacrifice that must be made by you and your family, you can not work during anesthesia training, so adequate financial preparation is critical as most programs run up tution over $100k. Otherwise student loan debt will be very significant. The time commitment is significant, the stress on your family is significant, it is a sacrifice. But in my humble opinion, 200% worth the sacrifice. It is the most rewarding career. I have worked in many areas of nursing, this by far has been the most challenging and rewarding.
I have had only one interaction that was ever questionable this year that stays in my memory and this was with an individual who was asking a lot of specific questions not just about being a CRNA but started first with questions about our legislative agenda during our big supervision battle for Senate Bill 801 which is confidential information to the board of directors only. This person was NOT even a nurse yet and had not been accepted to any nursing program either. I had lots of members from my CRNA community saying they thought this persons interactions were not with good intention and I reached out to the anesthesia group he claimed to shadow and they did not report back very good information either. I did other research on him through the sheriff’s dept as well because his initial asks raised a LOT of red flags because a quick google search of him brought up a long list of legal troubles and news articles. This person was not even an RN yet and was wanting to skip discussing how to become a nurse first and jump straight into CRNA. I was honest with him about how his focus should be on becoming a nurse first and he had at least 12 years of work in front of him which is the truth.

Thank you for coming and verifying that Oklahoma will finally be getting a CRNA program. My whole nursing career has been geared toward becoming a CRNA so I have passed down any information to the general public that I have come across during this pursuit to help other Oklahoman's that are pursing CRNA as well.

Oklahoma 1 · Jul 31, 2019

Good luck to you Cowboy Medic and it is good news that Oklahoma will be getting a CRNA program! There will be a lot of applicants.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 31, 2019

Best wishes to everyone involved in the program. Personally, I know several CRNAs that I've worked with over the years and they are 100% happy in their role.

FridayImInLove · Sep 19, 2019

September now. Any news on who the new director will be? Are we still set for a Fall 2020 start date?

CowboyMedic, DNP, APRN, CRNA · Sep 19, 2019

7 hours ago, Fridayiminlove83 said:
September now. Any news on who the new director will be? Are we still set for a Fall 2020 start date?

The last email I had from the Director of the Nursing program said they hoped to put out a media blitz in November once everything is set in stone. They plan to have applications around January or February with the hope of a Fall 2020 start.

LATX Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2019

17 hours ago, CowboyMedic said:
The last email I had from the Director of the Nursing program said they hoped to put out a media blitz in November once everything is set in stone. They plan to have applications around January or February with the hope of a Fall 2020 start.

Did they mention anything in regards to admission requirements?

FridayImInLove · Sep 20, 2019

Just now, LATX Nurse said:
Did they mention anything in regards to admission requirements?

I’d like to know this too. I still have a ways to go before applying but I want to get my ducks in a row.

CowboyMedic, DNP, APRN, CRNA · Sep 20, 2019

On 9/20/2019 at 1:57 AM, LATX Nurse said:
Did they mention anything in regards to admission requirements?

On 9/20/2019 at 1:59 AM, Fridayiminlove83 said:
I’d like to know this too. I still have a ways to go before applying but I want to get my ducks in a row.

I posted it further up in the thread but it could have changed since I got that information.

1 year minimum ICU

3.0 GPA

Nursing Research and Statistics classes required

GRE or CCRN won't be required

3 year DNP

1st classes at 15

Around 100K tuition

LATX Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2019

On 9/20/2019 at 8:14 AM, CowboyMedic said:
I posted it further up in the thread but it could have changed since I got that information.
1 year minimum ICU
3.0 GPA
Nursing Research and Statistics classes required
GRE or CCRN won't be required
3 year DNP
1st classes at 15
Around 100K tuition

Do you mind listing the email of the person you’re in correspondence with?

CowboyMedic, DNP, APRN, CRNA · Sep 20, 2019

22 minutes ago, LATX Nurse said:
Do you mind listing the email of the person you’re in correspondence with?

Sent you a PM.

Thinknurse1 · Jan 6, 2020

It's January 2020. Has anyone heard any additional info about this? I check TU's site on a regular basis, no information there yet.