Admission requirements:

• Receipt of application form by August 1^st
• Receipt of supporting materials by August 15^th
  • Personal Statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae
• *Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• *Overall undergraduate nursing GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0
• *A graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (if applicable)
• Baccalaureate of Science degree in nursing or other appropriate baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse (RN) and/or an APRN in the United States, its territories or protectorates.
• A minimum of one year full time work experience, or its part time equivalent, as an RN in a critical care setting.  The applicant must have developed as an independent decision-maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiologicial and pharmacological principles.  A critical care area is defined as one where, on a daily basis, the registered professional nurse manages invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter; CVP, arterial ), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive drips (such as norepinephrine; epinephrine; dobutamine; nicardipine; nitroglycerine).  The critical care areas include the following:  Surgical Intensive Care, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care, Coronary Intensive Care, Medical Intensive Care, and Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care.  Those who have experiences in others areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology.
• An official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. This exam must be taken within the past five years and scores must be received in the Graduate Admissions Office by August 15th.
• TOEFL Scores- An official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required by any applicant who does not hold US citizenship or permanent residency. This test must have been taken within the last two years and scores must be sent directly from the Education Testing Service (www.toefl.org). This requirement may be waived at the University’s discretion for the following:
  • Applicants who have been full-time students in United States college or university for at least two consecutive years
  • Applicants from countries in which English is the primary language
• Current certification in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS and pediatric advanced life support (PALS)
• Interview with the Nurse Anesthesia Department Admissions Committee

Once admitted students must:  

Pass an independently conducted state and federal criminal background investigation 

• Provide documentation for required immunizations, titers, and health information required by student health services  

• Maintain current ACLS and PALSCertifications as well as unencumbered Wisconsin and Illinois Nursing Licensures 

• Pass a urine drug screen prior to attending clinical residency

Graduation requirements:

Minimum of 104 quarter hours of study

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

• No grade less than a “B” in any HNAS prefix course

• Successful completion of all required courses in the M.S. program

• Recommendation to the Board of Trustees by the department faculty via the Dean of the College of Health Professions, through the University President

For further information:

For additional information, please contact the Department's Administrative Director, Bill Gordon, at 847-578-8396 or at William.Gordon@rosalindfranklin.edu.