Nurse Anesthesia
Chair: Dr.Richardean Benjamin, PhD, RN
Graduate Program Director: Laurel Garzon, DSNC, CPNP
Nurse Anesthesia Program Co-Director: Michael Jackson,CRNA,MSNA.
Nurse Anesthesia Program Co- Assistant Directors:
Didactic Education Coordinator: Brian Smith CRNA, MSN
Clinical Education Coordinator: Jackie Kavanaugh CRNA, MSN
Once thought to be the best kept secret in nursing, nurse anesthesia is now being recognized for it's contribution to safe, cost effective quality patient care. Nurse anesthesia was the first advance practice role as a clinical nursing specialty. Nurse anesthetists have been administering anesthetics for more than 100 years. Today, more than 25,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA's) administer more than 65% of the 26 million anesthetics given in the US. CRNA's are the sole provider's in 85% of rural settings.
Old Dominion University, School of Nursing's Nurse Anesthesia Program was established in 1995 when two Norfolk, Virginia, Schools of Nurse Anesthesia merged to form a university-based program. DePaul Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia, which was established in 1949, and the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, which was established in 1951, agreed to merge into a single program based within the School of Nursing at Old Dominion University. The program was recently accredited for a period of 6 years.
Currently the Master's of Science Nurse Anesthesia Program is one of several graduate roles within the School of Nursing. Two program options are available in nurse anesthesia. One program option prepares the RN holding a baccalaureate degree to earn a Master's degree in Nursing and sit for the National Certification Examination for nurse anesthesia. The second program option allows practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists to earn a Master's degree in Nursing. For more information on these programs click on the links below. For application information, please contact Anesthesia at (757)683-5068, or 1-800-572-2762. nurseanesthesia@odu.edu
