St. Joseph Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia (SJHSNA) program was founded by Associates in Anesthesia (AIA) and accredited in 1962. It was believed the need for formal education of nurse anesthetists was essential for the delivery of quality anesthesia care. In 1990, the program, through a university affiliation, gave the students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science degree. In 2013, AIA formed a partnership with the Rhode Island College School of Nursing to create a program, which offers a Master of Science in Nursing. To date, we have enrolled over 375 students into our program. Although many of our graduates practice as certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) in Rhode Island, we have graduates throughout the country.

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) requires that all students matriculating into a nurse anesthesia educational program on January 1, 2022, or thereafter be enrolled in a program approved by the COA to award a practice doctoral degree. The program plans to submit its application to the COA in the spring of 2021 for approval to award the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree by January 2025. Pending approval by the COA, the program plans to enroll its first doctoral cohort of students in January 2022. Further information regarding this transition may be obtained by contacting the program at Anne Tierney, DNP, MA, CRNA, Program Director, Rhode Island College School of Nursing/St. Joseph Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, 200 High Service Avenue, North Providence, R.I. 02904; 401-456-3638.

The nurse anesthesia program has not accepted a class for June 2020. Applications have been deferred for consideration for the June 2021 class.

SJHSNA is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 South Prospect Avenue, Suite 304, Park Ridge, IL 60068-4010. Telephone (847) 692-7050 (www.coacrna.org). The program will be scheduled for its next consideration for continued accreditation in spring 2026.

For more information regarding application and admissions visit Rhode Island College School of Nursing or call us at (401) 456-3638.

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Updated on:  7/10/20
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