Program Description

The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) degree is offered by Missouri State University upon successful completion of a cooperative program between the Department of Biomedical Sciences of Missouri State University and Southwest Missouri School of Anesthesia (SMSA) of St. John's Regional Health Center, both located in Springfield, Missouri. SMSA was founded in 1952 as an integral part of the Department of Anesthesiology. The clinical program is sponsored by St. John's Clinic-Anesthesia, a division of St. John's Health System. The didactic portion of the program is administered through the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Graduate College of Missouri State University. The Department of Biomedical Sciences is located in the College of Health and Human Services of Missouri State University.

The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, the official accrediting agency for nurse anesthetists. They may be contacted at 222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068; phone (847) 692-7050. Missouri State University is accredited to offer masters, specialists, and clinical doctorate degrees by the Higher Learning Commission - North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

The 30-month MSNA full-time program is available only to qualified registered nurses admitted simultaneously to Missouri State University and Southwest Missouri School of Anesthesia. Students are matriculated into the MSNA program in August and January of each calendar year. Students receive approximately 1400 hours of clinical anesthesia experience and by completion of their training have administered 1000 to 1200 anesthetics. The clinical teaching faculty of the SMSA hold adjunct graduate faculty status at Missouri State University. These physicians and nurse anesthetist specialists share classroom teaching, participate in, and closely supervise the student's clinical education.

For more information Please go to the St. John's School of Nurse Anesthesia at Missouri State University web site www.stjohns.com/schoolofanesthesia.