Of the several million registered nurses in the United States, a select subset of approximately 45,000 are certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), also known as nurse anesthetists. Each year, more than 2,400 students in CRNA programs nationwide graduate, pass the National Certification Exam, and become CRNAs. But what about the CRNA students who are dismissed from their programs?
If you are a CRNA student facing dismissal from your academic program—or have a loved one who is—be assured that dismissal does not have to be the end of the dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist. An experienced Attorney-Advisor can provide guidance on the path to the best resolution possible. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has the knowledge and experience you will need to respond to dismissal.
It's important to remember that whatever the reason given for your dismissal and however difficult the situation may seem, a qualified legal review of your case and a well-informed legal strategy are critical for the outcome you want. You have invested too much to face the prospect of dismissal from your Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program to go down without a fight. You deserve to resume your studies and go on to complete your degree and fulfill the final requirements for becoming a CRNA. Take heart in knowing that the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has helped many CRNA students like yourself face dismissal, and they are ready to help you.
At Risk - Your Future Career as a CRNA
If you face dismissal from your CRNA program, you will lose your opportunity to serve in a highly respected, lucrative profession with a bright outlook. The median salary for a CRNA is more than $125,000, and employment is estimated to grow by about 40% by 2031.
In this nursing specialty, practitioners administer anesthesia to patients, monitor their vital signs, and oversee their recovery from anesthesia. CRNAs may also assist surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, or other doctors. Many nurses who choose to focus on anesthesiology and become CRNAs do so because they are attracted by the high degree of autonomy CRNAs enjoy—CRNAs are qualified to make independent judgments about all aspects of anesthesia care for their patients.
CRNAs also have a wide range of choices when it comes to work settings. Options include surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms in traditional hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, offices of specialists such as dentists, ophthalmologists, podiatrists, and plastic surgeons, military bases, and Veterans Administration healthcare facilities. Many CRNAs work in rural settings in the U.S., where they provide more than 80% of anesthesia.
With a bright future career at risk, it's important to have knowledgeable legal counsel like the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team if you are facing dismissal from your CRNA program. They have experience helping CRNA students like you in academic programs across the country.
At Risk – Your Investment in Your CRNA Education
Becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist requires significant investments of time, money, and effort. Before even applying to a CRNA program, the aspiring CRNA must meet several criteria:
- an undergraduate or graduate nursing degree, or a degree in another appropriate major
- a license as a registered professional nurse (RN) or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
- at least one year of experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting
Upon entry into one of the more than 125 accredited programs to become a CRNA in the U.S., the student must complete the requirements set forth by the school. CRNA programs typically take 24-51 months, and they include both coursework and clinical requirements. Altogether, it can take up to nine years to achieve the education and experience required to become a CRNA. While the exact cost depends on the school and the amount of financial aid a student receives, CRNA programs can cost up to $180,000. CRNA programs are reputedly the hardest nursing specialty programs to complete. Attrition rates in CRNA program average about 5%, with the most common reasons for failure to complete the program and graduate being withdrawal or dismissal.
After graduating from a CRNA program, the CRNA must also take and pass the National Certification Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
Reasons for a Student to be Dismissed from a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Program
Regardless of the CRNA program you are in at one of the accredited programs to become a CRNA in the U.S., you be required to complete coursework and accrue clinical practice hours. You will also be required to abide by the policies of the program and the school it is housed in, and you will need to follow the policies and procedures of the site where you complete your clinical hours. Dismissal is one of the penalties that you can suffer if found to be in violation of any of these areas.
Failure to Meet Requirements or Comply with Policies of Your CRNA Academic Program or School
Institutes of higher education and their CRNA programs hold students to high standards; students who graduate and pass the post-graduate exam will join a profession that requires a high degree of public trust. Examples of typical standards and guidelines these schools maintain include the following:
Timeframe for Completing Coursework
CRNA students must complete their coursework within the required timeframe, which is usually a maximum of four years or so. CRNA students must also follow the program's procedures for requesting an extension if they need to go beyond the required timeframe for completing their coursework. They must also be careful to follow procedures for requesting and securing a leave of absence.
Grade and Attendance Requirements
CRNA students must meet the minimum grade point average requirements, comply with attendance requirements, and submit any required progress reports for their program.
Academic Honesty Standards
CRNA students must maintain the academic honesty standards of the school where the CRNA program they are enrolled in is housed. If the school finds that a student has cheated on a test, has committed plagiarism, or has otherwise violated the honor code, they may face dismissal.
Student Code of Conduct
CRNA students must comply with the conduct code of the school where the CRNA program they are enrolled in is housed. Conduct codes usually include guidelines about alcohol and drug use, sexual or physical assault, and bullying. This includes violations of Title IX provisions; Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments of 1972 protects students from discrimination on the basis of sex, and includes provisions about sexual assault and sexual misconduct.
Financial Obligations
CRNA students must meet their financial obligations to the school where the CRNA program they are enrolled in is housed. Failure to meet deadlines for paying tuition or irregularities with paperwork for financial aid such as loans, grants, or scholarships can cause issues for the student that may lead to dismissal.
Failure to Meet Requirements or Comply with Policies of Your Clinical Practice
In addition to keeping track of the requirements and policies of your CRNA program and school, as a CRNA student, you must also follow the policies and procedures of the site where you log your clinical practice hours, which average more than 9,000 for each student. Failure to do so can result in dismissal. The clinical experience typically includes the following elements:
Clinical Evaluation Instrument
All clinical sites use the Clinical Evaluation Instrument to assess the progress of a student during their practicum; it uses a Pass/No Pass grading system for clinical courses. The student must meet all clinical course objectives as well as the critical elements identified in the Clinical Evaluation Instrument within the timeframe stipulated by the program.
Student Progress Tracking System
CRNA programs usually use some sort of electronic system to track student progress toward completing their required clinical experiences. The system also tracks other requirements, such as end-of-program outcomes and graduate standards of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). There are usually tight deadlines for entering and recording clinical experiences, and students are responsible for checking the accuracy of their records.
Other Requirements
The clinical portion of each CRNA program has its own additional requirements, which usually include checklists to complete at the beginning and end of each shift with tasks such as the following:
- Complete onboarding documents.
- Review the clinical site's policies and procedures, parking policies, and dress code.
- Obtain identification badge and codes for department access and medications.
- Brief and de-brief each case.
- Complete the Clinical Evaluation Instrument.
- Submit evaluations to the program director.
Consequences of Dismissal from Your CRNA Program
The consequences of being dismissed from your CRNA program can be devastating. It can be very difficult to come back from the stigma of having been dismissed from an academic program. The psychological effects alone, as you grapple with a sense of failure and loss, can feel insurmountable. And you will still be liable for the financial obligations you made to secure your education. At the same time, the increased income that seemed assured when you began the program is no longer on the horizon.
Fighting Dismissal from Your CRNA Program
Although the prospect of fighting dismissal from your CRNA program may seem daunting, given what you will lose by surrendering, you owe to yourself to fight for your right to be readmitted to your program and complete your academic studies and practicum. And you don't have to do it alone. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team wants to help you as they have helped so many other CRNA students who have faced the prospect of dismissal.
The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm will review every aspect of your case and create a strategy tailored to your needs and wishes and the requirements of your CRNA program and school. Typically, program requirements for reinstatement include submitting a letter to the designated administration official that includes an explanation of the dismissal, reasons for seeking reinstatement, a plan for success if you are readmitted, and a timeline for returning to the program. The consideration of the reinstatement process may also include going before a hearing board at your school. Every step of the way, experienced, knowledgeable legal counsel will provide the best chance for a positive outcome, one that allows you to resume your studies and clinical practice to earn your degree.
Attorney-Advisor for Students Facing Dismissal from Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs
If you are a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist student facing disciplinary action in your academic program, your dreams of a career as a CRNA could be shattered. It is important to develop a sound legal strategy as soon as you know you are at risk of dismissal. If you work with an Attorney-Advisor with extensive experience helping CRNA students, you will have the best chance for a positive outcome. And the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm not only has the experience and knowledge to best represent your case, but they also have the commitment to you as a client that is at the heart of their work for you.
Do not risk your investment in your education to become a CRNA, or your future career as a CRNA. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has the experience and knowledge to forge the best path possible in your legal strategy. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has helped formally dismissed CRNA students across the country gain readmittance to their programs, and they have also secured reversals of dismissal decisions for CRNA students. Call today at 888.535.3686 or contact the Lento Law Firm online to discuss your case and learn how Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team can help you.
