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Meet our Program Directors
Wanda Wilson, PhD, CRNA
Professor
Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program
Procter Hall, Room 215S
Phone: (513) 584-2440
Fax: (513) 558-2142
Wanda.Wilson@UC.Edu
Dr. Wilson is the director of the Nurse Anesthesia program. Dr. Wilson has a extensive and solid background in nurse anesthesia and program development. In addition, Dr. Wilson holds positions as Assistant Director for Anesthesia Services University Hospital and anesthesia instructor/staff nurse anesthetist. She received her Master of Science in Nursing in 1994 and PhD. in Nursing Science and Physiology in 1998.
FAQ's
How many classes are held each year, and how many students
per class are accepted into the program?
One class of 16-22 students is
accepted each year.
How many students usually apply to the program?
That number
varies greatly year to year. In general, 50-60 completed
applications are processed.
How does the application process work?
See the College of
Nursing's MSN admission
requirements for information on application deadlines and requirements. Applications
are due Oct. 1, interviews are conducted in November, and letters of acceptance
or denial are sent in mid-December.
What is meant by critical care experience?
The Nurse Anesthesia
program requires a minimum of one year of experience in an intensive care unit
(medical, surgical, cardiac or neuro). It is important that the applicant has
experience with pulmonary artery catheters, arterial lines, ventilators, multiple
drips, ABG interpretations and EKGs. Although adult critical care and intensive
care experience is required, an individual with only pediatric intensive care
experience applying to the program will not be excluded from admission. It
should be noted that the balance between adult care and pediatric care is 25
months to two months respectively. Therefore, adult intensive care experience
is the predominant concentration in the 27-month program.
What areas are evaluated in the interview process?
The interviewers
look for motivation, dedication, proof of clinical skills and ability to financially
manage living costs.
When do the classes start?
The classes start the first week
of September. Anesthesia classes are daily the first few weeks until the College
of Nursing classes begin in late September.
When do students begin clinical experiences?
The student
is placed in the operating room once a week to observe for the first quarter,
and then gradually clinical time and responsibilities increase throughout the
program. Clinical experiences take place at University Hospital-a
level-1 trauma center-the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
Children's Hospital Medical Center-which has the largest surgical
service of any children's hospital in the country-and several community
hospitals.
Is it a good idea to get some classes out of the way before
starting the program?
Time is allotted for the student to complete all classes
during the program. If you are a person who is easily overwhelmed or has difficulty
concentrating on many different subjects at the same time, completing some
classes in advance may benefit you.
What are the real expenses of the program?
University graduate
scholarships are available from the College of Nursing. Complete the application
early, even if you do not know if you have been accepted into the program.
Parking is available in the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center
garages for $80 to $150 a quarter. Health insurance is available from the university
each quarter. The largest financial difficulty arises from not being able to
work full-time.
What if I am not accepted into the program the first time?
Students
are encouraged to reapply. Members of the admissions committee are willing
to share advice in order to improve chances for acceptance into the program
the following year.
Is the student allowed to work as a nurse while in the
program?
It is very difficult to work. The anesthesia program is very intense
and time-consuming. It is best to save money before entering the program than
to rely on personal paychecks. A student may be able to maintain a PRN or per
diem position during the first part of the program, but working is not encouraged.
