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FIU
University Park Campus
Health & Life Sciences II
Suite 470
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33199
Phone: (305) 348-7747
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Class of 2009
Licensure, Certification, Employment and Graduation Information
The following information is
presented to assist you in preparation for ARNP licensure, CRNA
certification, employment and graduation. In order to do any of these, you must
graduate and be awarded your Master of Science in Nursing degree, then you may
be granted a temporary ARNP license, you will be eligible to sit for the CRNA board exam, and
you may then be able to begin working. However, between now and graduation day on
December 15th 2009, there are a few things you can do to start the paperwork
process moving.
Listed below you will find information and
applications for the Florida ARNP licensure and the CRNA Certification exam as
well as additional information related to employment and graduation. The
information on this web page will remain posted for you to refer to through
Spring 2010. Two notes of caution. First, it is very important to point out that
the information and applications for ARNP and CRNA exam are very specific and
very detailed. You must follow the instructions exactly or your application may
be delayed or rejected. You may download the ARNP application below and we will
provide you with the CRNA Exam application. You are advised to keep a copy
of every application, supporting documents and copies of checks and mail
receipts. Second, between now and your exam day it is easy to get
side tracked with all of this information as well as the celebration of
graduation. Set aside a regular routine of study time and stick to it until exam
day. After you get the letter that you have passed your exam, then you can get
side tracked and celebrate.
Florida ARNP Licensure Information
Regarding the Florida ARNP license,
all advanced practice nurses in Florida are licensed as "ARNP" with your area of
specialization listed on your ARNP license. If you currently are licensed as an
ARNP for Nurse Practitioner, you must still apply in the same manner for your
nurse anesthetist ARNP specialization. You may submit your application for the ARNP
license prior to graduation. However, the license will not be issued until after
your date of graduation, December 15, 2009. The information here will help you
begin the process of Florida ARNP Application. If you are planning to apply for
licensure in another state, you must contact the Board of Nursing of that state
and complete their application process as instructed. If you are unsure at this
time if you will be seeking licensure in another state, you may wish to consider
applying for ARNP licensure here in Florida first, and then you can apply for
ARNP endorsement in any other state at a later time. Even if you know you are
moving to another state, some graduates from past classes found it easier (and
in some cases faster) to apply for the Florida ARNP and then apply for the
advanced practice license in their new state on the basis of endorsement, rather
than as a first time advanced practice license (especially if they did not have
an RN license in that state either).
To complete the Florida ARNP Application you
need to complete the application form, fingerprints, and submit the application
fee (details for each are listed below). As a suggestion, take the month of
November to complete these items, and then submit your complete application
package to the Board by the end of the month or early December. The Board will
first clear your fees submitted before they begin processing your application. The
fingerprints and criminal background
check takes anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks. On December 15, 2009 we will express
mail to the Board of Nursing a certified list of Class of 2009 graduates. With this list,
the Board will proceed to issue your ARNP (temporary) license, which in the past
has been within 3 to 4 weeks of graduation. Your permanent ARNP license will not
be awarded until the Board has received notice from the Council on Certification of
passing your CRNA exam and you have submitted an official FIU university transcript
showing the posting of your MSN degree. (Again, in this entire process, the
fingerprint care and background check processing takes the longest time, so get
that done and submitted as soon as possible.)
- Florida ARNP Licensure Application
In order to apply for Florida ARNP licensure you need the application form and
a fingerprint card.
The Florida ARNP Application can be ordered from the Board of Nursing, or
it can be
downloaded here, or from the
Board of Nursing Web (
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_ARNP_info.html ).
The ARNP certification is an upgrade of your current Registered Nursing
License. Therefore, if your RN license is up for renewal within 120 days of
applying for ARNP certification you must renew your RN license first before the ARNP
license can be issued.
If you are a current ARNP who is licensed as a Nurse Practitioner, you still
have to apply (using the same application) for the ARNP specialization of
Nurse Anesthetist.
All applicants must complete two (2) fingerprint cards, per
Florida Statutes 464.009(3). Failure to submit fingerprint cards will delay
your application.
All applicants are required to log on to the internet site:
www.fldoh.sofn.net to
enter profile information. Print out the resulting barcode sheet, and mail the
barcode sheet with your completed fingerprint cards to our office at:
Florida Board of Nursing
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin C-02
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252
Entering your profile information is free. The information is stored in the
database and will complete your biometric data when your fingerprint card is
scanned. Handle your fingerprint card with the utmost care and mail it to the
address above in a flat envelope. Smudged, folded, or bent cards may result in
rejected results making resubmission necessary.
The fingerprint card and your application information, as required by Florida
law, is used to conduct a criminal background check through the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI).
Your local law enforcement agency will roll your fingerprints,
and may charge you a fee. When you contact your local law enforcement agency,
confirm that they have the FD-258 fingerprint card available. If the FD-258 is
unavailable, you may order blank fingerprint cards for a fee at
www.fldoh.sofn.net.
Fingerprinting can be obtained at the
FIU
Police Department or at other police agencies. It is suggested that you call ahead
first, some agencies charge a fingerprint fee or have restricted hours for
fingerprinting.
The
FIU Police Department at UP campus offers a free fingerprinting service
between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., on Friday afternoons. You need to bring with
you the fingerprint card with the information on the top filled out. Call
(305)348-2626 one hour prior to your arrival to ensure a fingerprint certified staff member will be
available to assist you. If you have recently completed fingerprinting and a
background check for Florida RN licensure, our understanding is that you must
still submit fingerprints with your ARNP application. You may also be asked to
submit fingerprints for background screening with your future employer. If
this is required, the fingerprint card for employment purposes can not be
substituted for the fingerprint card issued from the Board.
If you have any current or past "issues" regarding criminal
history, they will come up in
the background check. If this is the case, you should contact the Board of Nursing BEFORE submitting your
application. Issues in this area can only be resolved between you and the
Board directly. For
further information, also see
Criminal History Information from the Board of
Nursing. Also a word about name changes. If you are planning a name change for what
ever reason, keep in mind that the name on your transcript, RN license, ARNP
application, CRNA exam application, and drivers license photo identification,
MUST ALL BE THE SAME NAME. If you must make a name change, do it before or
after....but not during your application and graduation process.
Follow the application instructions that are provided with your ARNP
Application very carefully. Failure to due so will cause you considerable
delay in processing your application. Once you complete the application, it
must be signed and notarized on the last page. (We do NOT have a Notary in the
Nursing Office)
You must complete an entry for each part of the application. If the section
does not apply, write in "Not Applicable". Keep in mind that much of the
information you supply in the application becomes part of your online
practitioner profile. While you are required to submit certain information,
much of the information is voluntary and will be posted on the web for public
disclosure. Two notes about particular sections of
the application follow: NOTE: In section Practitioner Data of the ARNP
Application, you may wish to enter the address of your future employer as your
physical address, that is the address that will be published on the internet
for consumer information access. If you do not provide a physical practice address,
your home address is published. Keep in mind that the information you are
providing on this application becomes part of your Online Practitioner Profile. The
general public will have internet access to
your licensee profile information as is required by Florida statutes.
NOTE: The Financial Responsibility Form (last page of the packet) that must be submitted with your
application refers to the liability coverage you have, or will have with your
prospective employer. Most of you will be checking box #1 under Financial
Responsibility Coverage, or if you will be employed by a government agency
them Exemption #1 may apply. If you are uncertain, check with your future
employer. Keep in mind the liability policy that you were covered
under as a student expires on December 15, 2009 so you can not consider that policy as
your coverage for purposes of license application. For some employers, you may be
asked for your student policy information by your prospective employer or
hospital credentials committee. In this case they are asking for that
information so that they can check to see if you have had prior claims filed
against you, not to verify current coverage. If you need that information
contact the ANP Program Office, it is only requested by a few employers. NOTE:
You should contact your future employer for a copy of the ARNP Protocols that
they file with the Board of Nursing on behalf of their CRNAs. You do not have
to submit your ARNP (CRNA) Protocols with your initial application however,
you will be asked to submit them when your permanent ARNP license is issued.
- ARNP License Processing
Send your completed and notarized Florida ARNP License application and
cashier's check or money order
for the application fee directly to the Department of Health to the address on the application (
Department of Health Post Office Box 6330 Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330) (Note:
It is strongly suggested that you keep a copy of your application, check, and
all correspondence related to your application, and also to mail your
application by first class mail-
certified/return receipt requested.)
For the ARNP license and application, the fee is $148. A worksheet is provided
in the pack to show other fees that may apply. Only a cashier's
check or money order is accepted, no personal checks. Additionally, you may incur another
additional expenses of $10 to $25 for fingerprints,
notary, copies and certified mail.
The Program office does not need to sign off
on any part of the ARNP License application.
In the ARNP Application, the instructions discuss having your advanced
nursing program complete a Verification of Successful Completion form
completed by your school. This form is only for applicants from schools
outside of Florida. This does not apply to Florida RNs who attend
a school in Florida. Masters programs at Nursing Schools in Florida, including
the FIU Anesthesiology Nursing Program, complete a certified list of all graduates that is sent directly by the
Program to the Board of Nursing on the date of your graduation. The certified
list is used in place of the Verification form for Florida nursing program
graduates to expedite the processing of your temporary ARNP license.
When you receive your temporary ARNP License, you are not finished. The
temporary license buys you some time to complete the exam and submit results
to the Board and also to submit an official university transcript and your
ARNP (CRNA) Protocol between you and your employer.
CRNA Exam Results
On the CRNA Exam Application you will be asked to list all State Boards of Nursing
that you wish your results to be sent to. Results will automatically be sent
to the Florida Board if you apply for the exam using a Florida address.
Official notification of passing is sent from the Council to the Board each
month. If you need to have results sent to a different state, follow the
instructions provided with the exam application. If you plan to apply for licensure in another state, you
must be sure to
include that state board listing on your CRNA Exam Application form.
FIU Official Transcript
After graduation and before you will be issued a permanent ARNP license, you must follow-up with the Board of Nursing and
have an official FIU Transcript
with your MSN degree posted sent directly from FIU to the Board. FIU will have
transcripts finalized and degrees posted by mid-January, this is one reason
why the Board has a temporary license process. Remember you must satisfy all
obligations to the University before transcripts will be released (parking
tickets, fines, Financial Aid exit process, etc.).
Because of federal privacy of information statutes (Educational Rights and
Privacy Act ) we can not request a transcript for you. In order to request a transcript to be sent to the
Board, you must complete a written and signed request. You can use the
transcript form in the ARNP packet, or even better order your transcript from
http://my.fiu.edu . Additional information is
available at the FIU Registrar's web site at
http://registrar.fiu.edu/index.php?id=148
Have your FIU transcript mailed to:
Florida Board of Nursing
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin # C02 - ARNP
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252
ARNP Protocols
All ARNPs in Florida, practice under a set of written protocols agreed upon
between their employing physician or group, and the ARNP. You are responsible
for submitting to the Board the CRNA ARNP Protocols from your employer. In
addition, your employer must file a copy of their protocol with the Board of
Medicine. However, the statutes regarding protocols as it applies to the ARNP,
states that the ARNP is responsible for filing a copy of the protocol with the
Board of Nursing, not the employer. Therefore it is in your best interest to
have a copy of these protocols submitted directly from you, and you should
also retain a copy of the protocol for your professional records as well.
The ARNP Protocols are the legal and authorizing documentation of actions
and procedures that your employing anesthesiologist agree to for performance
of medical acts identified and approved by the joint committee pursuant to s.
464.003(3)(c) or acts set forth in s. 464.012(3) and (4). In addition, your
employing anesthesiologist is required to file a copy of their protocols and
an
ARNP Protocol form with the Board of
Medicine (they are not required to file with the Board of Nursing, that is the
requirement of the CRNA/ARNP). If
you have questions about protocols, contact the Board or see their website for
additional information.
National Board on Certification and
Recertification of Nurse
Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
http://www.nbcrna.com/
CRNA Exam Info
The information that follows relates to the application and exam process
for the CRNA exam. We will provide you with the CRNA Exam Application forms
for your signature on the day you come to campus for out-processing.
In the Typhon system you should check to make sure your name, address and
other biographical information are correct. If it is not, please make the
corrections to the information directly in the system, or contact the Program
Office if the item is one that you can not change yourself in the system. The
Typhon system will generate your CRNA Exam Application form, a form to
authenticate your identification, and a candidate "transcript" that summarizes
you have met the required anesthesia didactic and clinical requirements. These
forms will be printed by the Program Office and made available for your
signature at the Out-Processing session.
Even though the Program Office will be providing you with the printouts of all
of the forms you need to apply for your exam,
you should read the information below about the application process and what
will take place. The Board holds the individual candidates responsible for
this information.
-
CRNA Exam Application Information -
First, download the following pdf file documents:
NBCRNA Newsletter .
2009 Candidate Examination Handbook
2009 CRNA Exam Content Outline
2009_Candidate_FAQ.pdf
Alternative Question Format FAQ and Tutorial
Read the information in the NBCRNA Newsletter first, as you will
see the Program Office is responsible for submitting all exam applications
directly to the NBCRNA as one class packet. Therefore it is essential that we
have everyone's cooperation in completing your case count logs, completing your
CRNA training transcript, your exam application and collecting your exam fees
and copy of your RN license.
As you will note the NBCRNA has very strict policies and procedures and
applications must be submitted without errors. Any errors on your part may
result in a fee charge by the NBCRNA or the ANP Program, or both. Please read
the candidate information in the Handbook, failure to do so
may delay your application, eligibility, or admission to the exam site. The
Handbook also details the specific policies and procedures followed by
the NBCRNA with respect to the exam process.
On a date to be announced- ALL Graduating Seniors from the Class of 2009 will
be
scheduled to attend a mandatory Out-Processing session on-campus.
Appointment times will be 8am, 10am and 12 noon according to an assigned
schedule. Because the ANP Program will be in the middle of moving to the new
building, completing final exams and grades for the Class of 2010 and 2011, and
will be interviewing applicants for the Class of 2012 - we request your
cooperation to complete the out-processing and applications procedures.
Prior to your Out-Processing Date you will be notified by the ANP Program Office
regarding your CRNA Exam application form information as well as your final case
count information. Your final case counts must be completed by 5pm on Friday
December 4th so that we can have these copied to your CRNA Application forms and
ready for your signature at out-processing. Again, we will provide you with the
CRNA Exam Application form however, on your Out-Processing day
you will need to bring a photocopy of your current RN license and a money order
or certified check for the exam fee in the amount of $725 made payable to
"Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists" (no personal checks are accepted
by the NBCRNA).
The NBCRNA will begin final processing of your application after December 15th, 2009. Note
that you have 3 months from the date of your exam eligibility notice to sit for the
exam. If you have not taken the exam within the 3 months, you will have to
reapply and submit another exam fee.
Finally, please read the Handbook and FAQs carefully before
you sign your application form during Out-Processing. Again, the NBCRNA has very strict rules and guidelines that they
follow and your signature serves as the legal acknowledgment of those rules,
procedures, and policies. Neither FIU nor the ANP Program can or will assume
responsibility for any failure on your part to comply with and adhere to all
NBCRNA Policies and Procedures.
Employment Related Information
- Employment Application and Staff Privileges
In addition to the exam application and ARNP application you will need to
fill out various application forms with your prospective employer (anesthesia
group) and also for the facility (hospital or hospitals) where you will
practice at.
These are two different things. For the most part the group can establish
their own rules as it relates to employment forms and process. However, the
hospital or SurgiCenters are governed by numerous regulations including those
from JCAHO and have a number of compliance obligations they must meet. Once
your paper work for the hospital is complete you must still be approved by a
medical credentials committee. Keep in mind that the Medical
Credentials Committee at the hospital
facility may only meet once a month or less, so it is
important to complete that process early and to submit a complete application
so that it is not delayed to the following month because of incomplete
information. Each employer and facility has their own forms, rules and
timeline for this process. It is suggested that you get the application
package materials in October/November and submit them by December. Keep in
mind that this application is a professional practice application and the
appearance of the application package that you submit will be the first
refection of you by this facility and the members of the medical staff. It is
strongly suggested that you keep copies of all of the applications and
documents that you complete. Additionally, some employers or medical
facilities will require you to submit to a health exam, and/or criminal
background check,
and/or toxicology drug screen. You should inquire about the timing and any
associated costs with these requirements. In some cases, there is a $100 to
$500 application fee that is charged by the facility for your credentialing
application, you may want to negotiate the payment or reimbursement of those
fees with your prospective employer in advance.
One of the requirements for the Medical Credentials Committee will be to verify
the completion of your CRNA education and your masters degree. Be sure to
provide the Medical Credentials staff office with the following address
information for this verification. If they send the verification form to the
University Registrar's Office it will be delayed there for some time before it
is forwarded to the ANP Program office, if at all. You can avoid this delay by making
sure the verification forms are sent to:
Jeffrey Groom, PhD, CRNA
Director - Anesthesiology Nursing - CNHS
Florida International University - HLS 470
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33199
We would prefer the form be sent by email:
jeffrey.groom@fiu.edu
As an alternative they may submit the form by FAX direct to the ANP Office:
FAX 305-348-7823
- Professional references
For professional references, it is customary to request to use the name of
specific university and clinical faculty BEFORE supplying their name as a
reference. If the reference will be sent as a form to complete, please use the
following address information:
Name of Faculty member from whom the reference is requested
Anesthesiology Nursing Program
Florida International University - HLS 470
11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33199
ANP office number: 305-348-7747
ANP FAX number: 303-348-7823
For letters of reference that need to be written by the faculty member, be sure to tell us the name and address of the
individual the reference should be addressed to. As a general rule, the
faculty do not provide open references, meaning that it is not addressed to a
specific individual or facility.
- National Provider ID Number
Once you have passed your exam and are officially a CRNA, you will need to
apply for your national provider ID number. This number is required to bill
through Medicare and Medicaid. In most cases your employer will be able to
assist you in this process. For reference you may find these two links useful
-
AANA national provider ID number info
and
CMS Provider ID Application
- Paper work
There is not much that you can do to speed up the processing of your
various applications. However, with all of these applications there are lots
of ways to slow down the process - the most common things that will delay your
applications: failing to follow the instructions, failing to answer all the
questions, and failing to provide all of the requested documents, fees, or
signatures on the application forms. You are strongly advised to make a copy
of all applications and documents you submit and to use certified mail
receipts for all deliveries.
- The million dollar question, When can you $tart working?
FIRST, you can NOT work until you receive your temporary ARNP license which will
be good for 12 months, or until you take the CRNA exam. If you fail the exam,
the temporary ARNP license is no longer valid until you pass the exam. If you never take the
exam for 12 months, you can not renew the ARNP without having passed the exam
after that point. Under no circumstances can you work in the capacity of an
ARNP (graduate nurse anesthetist or CRNA) without an ARNP license.
SECOND, once you have your ARNP license whether or not you can work prior to
passing the CRNA Exam is totally up to your prospective employer and your practice
facility. Some employers will allow you to work before you pass the exam.
Others will not. In some cases the
hospital or the employer's insurance carrier may be the ones that require you
to be certified before you can work. You are not eligible for reimbursement
under Medicare until you are a CRNA so many employers choose not employ GRNAs. NOTE: If
you start working and then you fail the exam, remember that your temporary ARNP license is no longer valid at that
point and you are not legally permitted to be functioning in the role of an
ARNP (nurse anesthetist). Since everyone is going to PASS the CRNA exam on the
first shot, that shouldn't be a
problem....
In the past, students that completed the ARNP application, exam application, and
medical credentialing applications as suggested above were able to sit for the
exam by mid-January and were working and had received their first pay check by
the beginning of February. In other cases, where some students were less
proactive and not as careful about the process, it was 4 to 6 months after
graduation before they were working. The ball is in your court....
Graduation Related Information
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Graduation and Commencement
Graduation Commencement is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 7:30pm
at the FIU Arena on UP Campus. For Important additional information and
details about the proceeding, go to
http://commencement.fiu.edu/index.html
Note that Oct 30 is the LAST day to order your pass and tickets for graduation.
see:
http://commencement.fiu.edu/passtickets.html
Graduation cap and gown, graduation announcements, rings, and diploma frames are
all available and coordinated through the
FIU
Bookstore. All of these items must be ordered in advance.
Information for Dec 15th Graduation Commencement (parking, arrival, ceremony)
see:
http://commencement.fiu.edu/CommencementDay.html
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Diploma
You will not receive your actual diploma at the commencement ceremony, you will
receive a "prop" for your photo op's. The actual diploma is mailed to you
several weeks later. For those who may wish to frame your diploma, the
FIU bookstore sells a customized frame
for $145 especially designed for FIU diplomas. The frames are on display at the
bookstore, they have a medallion of the university and gold lettering of
Florida International University on the matting. Custom framing at a framing
store will cost $145 - $200. Don't have a spare $145? Drop a few hints to the
relatives, a custom frame would make the perfect graduation gift.
FINAL TIPS- CRNA Exam Information
-
CRNA Board Exam Preparation
Board exam preparation material you may not have received at the review course.
We have prepared a
Top Ten list for you to use
in your study motivation for the CRNA Board Exam.
Last
Update:
01 Nov 2009
©2001-2008 MSN Anesthesiology Nursing Program
College of Nursing and Health Sciences - Florida International University, Miami, Florida
All Rights Reserved
For Comments - Questions Contact Pagemaster
groomj@fiu.edu
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