It is best that you have your books at least two weeks before class starts in order to get familiar with the authors and text.

Everyone in the program learns differently but we all definitely have a reliable Ipad and a reliable laptop. The Ipad allows you to record lectures while taking notes using Notability or Good Notes. Both work great!

Yes, you will need it or something similar for courses

Yes, such as learning software like Prodigy and Apex but we are provided with a discount code as a cohort so we can get it at a lower cost. *** APEX is required to be purchased though the university code not in other group buys or independently. Our discount is 20% ***

Also purchasing the Butterfly IQ+ handheld ultrasound is an additional required cost (your ability to get student loan for this has been secured), but National covers the cost of the $400/month/device subscription for the duration of the program.

Apex is the gold standard that all schools use to prepare their RRNA’s for the national exam. So YES. You need it! Apex will help you prepare for most of your classes you will be taking at National.

National will send out an email with a discount code. It is required that all residents purchase APEX with the code we send, do not buy it in a group purchase or individually.

We train our residents in Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia (USGRA) both of which are rapidly becoming standard skills today in anesthesiology. The butterfly IQ+ (BFIQ+) allows residents to learn these skills both in the lab, clinical and at home on their down time. This rapidly expands residents expertise in POCUS and USGRA scanning, assessment and diagnostic skills.

Additionally, the BFIQ+ is utilized in multiple courses and has an educational portion of the online subscription where images and videos can be uploaded, saved and accessed by faculty. We will have assignments and bonus points based on this functionality.

It is imperative to at least dedicate 10-16 hours of studying while trying to have a study-life balance. Studying for 3-4 classes can get challenging so time management and teamwork with co-residents will tremendously help. Always work ahead if you can!

Remember you are not alone, co-residents and faculty are here to help.

The program requires that all residents live within 45 minute commute to the campus.

You will have to be on campus for the sim lab, be close for access to the sim lab to review and study with groups and be on campus for exams and interaction with your study/project groups.

Zoom is not the same as in-person study groups. Where to live is a common question and to be honest it is really about how much you want to spend. Many of the residents felt that if they would have been roommates, they could have saved a good amount of money. We will send out a list of places that are affordable and close to school. With housing, Fresno is a very popular place and you will need to secure housing asap months in advance.

You can find information on www.apartments.com and also resources and recommendations from your upperclassmen that are leaving for clinical rotations.

This link is a list of places to live in Fresno which are local to the campus. It is also editable so your cohort can add to it!

This all depends in your lifestyle but housing in Fresno is affordable and financial aid will be able to cover your housing

Fresno has good public transportation that is nearby the school. If you find an apartment close to the university, then all shopping centers are close by as well. Please keep in mind that you will need transportation when sent to clinicals

This all depends, Simulation lab once a week but open lab is available all week and is highly encouraged to familiarize yourself and learn anesthesia. Additionally, some classes may require you to take exams on campus or come for specific lectures.

Most of your classes will be online via Zoom or Webex. The only class that you must be present for is lab for A&P or Simulation Lab.

We use a software system that activates a lock down browser and turns on the camera and audio on your computer which is saved and reviewed by faculty for exams. Also in person for lab exams and some course exams.

Like every teaching modality it has its challenges but resources are available and the professor is available for assistance at any time. It is imperative that you verbalize your needs and ensure that you are getting the help that you need. The benefit is you can review powerpoints from the comfort of your home or the library. This decreases cost to travel and the difficulty of being in a classroom for 6 hours at a time.

We have synchronous and asynchronous as well as in person components to our courses.

We will be assigning you a mentor which is delegated by cohort above you.

National does offer tutoring services.

Yes, we have university and public libraries available in the area for group studies. There is also a resident lounge in the building.

Our residents range between 1500-2000 cases by graduation, 2-3.5X the requirement by our accrediting body the Council on accreditation (COA).

On average our residents perform:

~200+ ultrasound guided blocks
~50-100 central lines,
~100+ epidurals
~100+ spinals.

We typically have at least 3-4 classes per quarter

Yes, our program director and assistant director are always reachable and ready to help, should you need it (they provide us with their cell phone numbers). Professors are also easily reachable and will get back to you as soon as possible.

We also use Groupme Application where all faculty and residents for each cohort are located. 

The preferred terminology utilized in the program is “resident registered nurse anesthesiologist (RRNA) or Nurse Anesthesia Resident (NAR), which is synonymous to student registered nurse anesthetist (SRNA). National uses RRNA or NAR as RNs are licensed professionals before nurse anesthesiology training with years of critical care experience taking care of the sickest of the sick therefore they are not "students". The term "student" adds additional fear and confusion for patients assuming this is the first time an RRNA has ever seen a patient which is far from the truth. Words matter for patients and using appropriate terminology eases patients' fears.

The AANA eliminated the term "Student" and replaced with it "Nurse Anesthesia Resident" as of 2023.

The SEE exam is an assessment exam taken by residents at a testing center which has been shown to have a positive correlation with performance on the National Certification Exam (NCE)

National wants our residents to be prepared for and pass the NCE on the first attempt. As such, the program requires that every nurse anesthesiology take the SEE exam during the 5th quarter as a requirement to pass ANE 830 and 11th quarter as a requirement to pass ANE 875. Residents must achieve a minimum score of 400 on the SEE for ANE 830 and 425 for ANE 875 exam to pass these classes and successfully matriculate in the program as this has shown to have positive correlation with passing the NCE. Any score less than above will result in an “Incomplete” for that quarter. All “Incomplete” grades must be resolved prior to graduating from the Nurse Anesthesiology Program. More info avaliable in the Resident Handbook.

Residents who achieve a 450 on their second SEE examination may, with approval from the PD/APD and clinical site coordinator, be excused from their last week of clinical for board study.

You can learn more about the SEE exam HERE

The National doctoral program culminates with the completion of a scholarly work that demonstrates the ability to translate research findings into practice. This is an opportunity for the resident to prepare a substantial final written work product, applicable to nurse anesthesiology practice, that reflects the breadth of skills and knowledge the resident has gained throughout the program of study. All residents will receive an email in september of their 1st year with the scholarly project handbook which includes detailed instructions and acts as a guideline.

Some basic information:

Residents will be placed into groups for the project by the program and assigned a faculty mentor
The project will culminate in:
- A full written paper with literature review
- Final voice over PPT which will be posted on the National Webpage
- One additional dissemination method as listed in the handbook.

The requirements for the Scholarly Project are based upon the Council on Accreditation Scholarly Work for Practice Doctorate Nurse Anesthesia Programs: Current State and Guidance found HERE

Email Dr. Mike MacKinnon DNP FNP CRNA FAANA