Nurse anesthetist program at UMMC welcomes first group of students
A chance to train with Mississippi’s best and brightest in the nursing profession brought 16 registered nurses back to the classroom this semester in the first nurse anesthetist program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
For the inaugural group, it felt like quite an honor to have a seat in class following a months-long application and accreditation process.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to train here at UMMC,” said Joya Johnson, 34, a Meridian native who earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Mississippi College. “You get the best, most rigorous training to prepare you for the real world. It feels like it’s a real privilege to be part of this first class here.”
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or CRNA, program is Mississippi’s second such academic program of study for the specialization and was accredited in July by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The degree itself is the post-baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice, nurse anesthesia track, a 36-month program based on COA standards and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. The state’s only other program is at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“We are elated to start the program here at the state’s only academic medical center,” said Dr. Tina Martin, dean of the School of Nursing. “Nurse anesthetists fill an important role in health care as they are highly educated and board-certified anesthesia experts who deliver specialized care to all patients – from infants to seniors – for every type of procedure in any location where anesthesia services are delivered.”
CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses that are in high demand, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency tracks CRNAs along with nurse midwives and nurse practitioners; collectively, those jobs are estimated to grow 35% by 2034.
“UMMC is very focused on developing and expanding academic programs that match our workforce needs in Mississippi, and the CRNA program is an excellent example of how we are accomplishing that,” said Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Our School of Nursing, with its superb faculty and leadership team in place, is perfectly positioned to create an outstanding CRNA program that will attract top students and prepare them well for practice.”
Eligibility for the advanced program comes after myriad other prerequisites are satisfied, including a BSN or Master of Science in nursing and experience in critical care, to name a few.
Matt Burnham, 25, of Brandon, was accepted to the program after having worked in the pediatric emergency room at Children’s of Mississippi and in the cardiac intensive care unit in the Medical Center.
“UMMC has been home for my career thus far,” Burnham said. “I went to school here and both my parents have worked here. Being part of this first cohort will give me that higher level of nursing practice on my record.”
Applications for the next cohort must be received by Oct. 1. For more details, visit here. For any questions on a submitted application, contact the Office of Enrollment Management at 601-984-1080.