Frequently Asked Questions

• Thinking About Becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist?
  Here you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the nurse anesthesia program at the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia.
  
  
• Who are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)?
  CRNAs are professional registered nurses who are independently licensed to deliver anesthetics. These specialists work in every healthcare arena in which anesthesia is delivered, from major urban medical centers to the offices of private practice physicians. It is estimated that CRNAs administer more than 65% of the 26 million anesthetics delivered in the U.S. each year.
  
  
• What is the role of a CRNA?
  A CRNA provides anesthesia to patients of all ages during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative period. Some examples of CRNA responsibilities include:
  • performing a preoperative assessment, formulating an anesthetic care plan, and patient teaching.
  • administering a wide variety of anesthetics, including inhalational, IV, regional, spinal, and epidural techniques.
  • applying and inserting appropriate invasive and noninvasive monitoring modalities for the continuous evaluation of a patient's physical status.
  • providing postanesthesia follow-up care.
  • collaborating with other members of the healthcare team to ensure quality, patient-centered care.
    
    
• What employment opportunities exist for CRNAs?
  CRNAs can practice in any setting where anesthesia is delivered, including traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetric delivery rooms; offices of dentists, podiatrists, and plastic surgeons; ambulatory surgical centers; the U.S. military; and the U.S. Public Health Services.
  
  
• Why should I choose to attend the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia at Montgomery Hospital?
  The Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia was founded under the direction of Frank J. Tornetta, M.D., Ph.D., in 1951 and has graduated a class of students each year since. Its graduates are highly respected in academic and clinical areas of anesthesia and many hold top-level positions in educational, teaching, and administrative fields. With over 450 graduates, the School has developed not only a widely favorable reputation, but also a sense of tradition. The School has been fully accredited since its founding.
  
  The Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia is affiliated with the Graduate Nursing Division of La Salle University located in Philadelphia. Established in 1863, La Salle University's Graduate Studies have enabled its nursing students enhancement of their professional competencies and the acquiring of both practical and theoretical knowledge in their chosen fields. La Salle University affords the anesthesia students at Montgomery Hospital Medical Center the opportunity to earn the degree of Master of Science in Nursing. A post-master's certificate is also available.
  
  
• What is the length of the program?
  The practice of delivering anesthesia requires superior knowledge and technical skill. The course of study, therefore, is presently a continuous 27 months that will include both didactic and clinical instruction. Upon satisfactory completion of all program requirements the student will be awarded a certificate from the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia, as well as the degree of Master of Science in Nursing from La Salle University. Upon recommendation from the program director, the student will be permitted to take the National Certification Examination to gain CRNA certification.
  
  
• Are there additional expenses besides the cost of tuition?
  There are several expenses, in addition to tuition, for which the student will be responsible. These include:
  • textbook fees
  • American Association of Nurse Anesthetists membership fee
  • lab coats
  • precordial monitoring equipment
  • certification examination fee
  • administrative fees
    
    
• Is there financial aid available?
  Student loans are available upon demonstrated need after completion of the first three months of an anesthesia program from the AANA. A Guaranteed Student Loan Program is provided through the Financial Aid Office at La Salle University.
  
  
• Are students permitted to be employed while attending anesthesia school?
  Students may work limited hours in related areas with the approval of the Program Director. The Director may not approve work when, in his opinion, the outside work is preventing the student's didactic or clinical progress and development within the anesthesia program.
  
  
• Does the anesthesia program utilize a patient simulator?
  YES, the School of Anesthesia utilizes a patient simulator 'SimMan'. The patient simulator is housed in the Simulation Lab in the School of Anesthesia offices. Students receive clinical instruction and clinical case simulations throughout the clinical curriculum. Videotaped feedback and clinical debriefing are available to enhance student learning.
  
  
• How much time is devoted to learning the didactic information versus time allotted for obtaining clinical experience?
  Generally, from autumn until the spring of your Junior year, the majority of time is spent learning didactic information. The remainder of the Junior year and entire Senior year is devoted to obtaining practical, hands-on clinical experience. It is also at this time that students prepare for the National Certification Examination.
  
  
• How much time will I need to spend studying each night?
  One can expect to spend approximately 2-3 hours per night studying and/or preparing for clinical experiences the following day. Weekend studying time includes 6-8 hours each weekend day during the junior year.
  
  
• When do you start clinical rotations?
  Clinical rotations generally begin in your junior year.
  
  
• When do you begin taking call?
  On call duties begin in the summer of your Junior year. Some of the clinical rotation sites also have on-call requirements.
  
  
• When may I start taking my courses at La Salle University?
  La Salle University currently requires a total of seven, three-credit, courses as part of the MSN curriculum. It is highly recommended to begin taking these classes upon initial acceptance into the Graduate Nursing Program at La Salle University regardless of one's actual start date in the Anesthesia Program at Montgomery Hospital Medical Center.
  
  
• How can I pay for attending the Nurse Anesthesia program?
  You will not have time to work for pay while attending the nurse anesthesia program. The options for paying for the program for most students will be one of the following, or a combination of the following: savings, financial aid administered through La Salle College of Financial Aid office, loans, scholarships, and traineeships. Each of these is discussed briefly below. Other possibilities include enlisting in the military, attending as an active duty military officer, or making individual arrangements to work with a hospital or anesthesiology group practice in return for money to pay for school expenses.
  
  Savings: Many students may have limited savings; however, students who apply for Financial Aid are assumed to have either some savings or at least an obligation to pay for a portion of their own education.
  
  Financial Aid: Students apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon after January 1 as possible. This form is available through the Financial Aid Office (215) 951-1070, but may also be obtained from libraries and college financial aid offices across the country.
  
  Loans: Students may apply for loans. Federal Stafford Loans may be a part of the Financial Aid package worked out with La Salle. The maximum Federal Stafford Loan for a graduate student is $ 18,500 per year; however, not everyone may borrow this amount. Some students may also be able to borrow from family members (e.g., parents, grandparents.)
  
  Traineeships: This is a Federal grant. The School of Nursing applies for the traineeship annually, but there is no guarantee the School will receive funding. It does not cover the entire cost of the program. You must be a full-time graduate student to receive the award (i.e., Post-Master's certificate students do not qualify, nor do those receiving other federal stipends such as military pay.)
  
  Scholarships: There are limited scholarships available through the School of Nursing. Please contact the School of Nursing (215) 951-1413.
  
  If you belong to any professional nursing organizations (e.g., AACN, ONS), you may contact your national organization to see if there are scholarships available for graduate study.
  
  More information and suggestions:
  
  In anticipation of the costs of the graduate school, consider doing the following:
  • Pay off credit cards so there is no balance remaining
  • Pay off major expenses such as automobile
  • The costs of graduate education include tuition and fees for La Salle University School of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia at Montgomery Hospital clinical tuition fees. Courses, books and your cost of living (rent, utilities, and food) are also included. The amount of money a student qualifies for is based on analysis of the information supplied on the FAFSA. The Financial Aid office has determined an average figure for graduate students, assuming 6 semester hours of enrollment, which includes amount for books and rent, utilities, etc. Also, if there are changes in the information originally supplied on the FAFSA, the student should write a letter to the Financial Aid office explaining the changes.
  • Students sometimes feel that they do not receive enough money from the Financial Aid package. Please understand that Financial Aid is designed to provide, at most, an amount of money to sustain a frugal lifestyle. It will not replace the income that a working RN has already earned in that 8+ months to starting the program.
  • Read carefully all materials you receive from Financial Aid, lender, etc. Question any wording that is unclear to you. Do not make assumptions. For example, the phrase "full-time student" may have one definition in one setting and a different meaning in another.
  • When you telephone the Financial Aid office, be certain to present all of the specifics of your situation when asking a question. The Financial Aid office is working with several hundred graduate students. An answer that would be correct for 95% of the graduate students might not be different for you if the person answering the question has all your appropriate information; that you are/plan to be a full-time graduate student in the nurse anesthesia program, that you will be enrolled in more than 6 semester hours, that you plan on 6 semesters of continuous enrollment, etc.
  • Try to work with the same person all the time. The La Salle University School of Nursing and Health Sciences recommends Joseph Henderson, who can be reached at 215-951-1070, fax number 215-951-5098 or e-mail: hendersonj@lasalle.edu, however, if you develop a good working relationship with another counselor in Financial Aid, feel free to continue working with that person.
  • If you have several items to discuss with your Financial Aid contact, set up an appointment. They are open all day, with staggered lunch breaks, and would be happy to meet with you at an appointment time.
  Financing a two-year, full-time graduate program takes planning. Begin early. Plan to live frugally. Pay off bills and loans. Be realistic. Do not assume that you will be the exception who will be able to work and attend the anesthesia program, because students have found that they do not have the time or energy to do so.
  
  
• What are the local attractions in the Norristown area?
  Norristown is approximately 15 miles outside of Philadelphia. The area is culturally rich with many historical sites, theaters, parks, and restaurants in which to indulge oneself. One of the largest shopping malls on the East Coast, the King of Prussia Mall, is only minutes from the hospital. The Pocono Mountains and the New Jersey Shore are also in close proximity.