Additional Expenses Students May Incur

Expenses Covered by Tuition & Fees

1. TB Skin Testing: After enrollment, students are required to have a current single-step TB skin test, with results measured in millimeters, on file with the office of the Coordinator of Clinical Support.
   Before entering clinical rotations, students may need to update their TB test records as some affiliates require TB skin test 3 months before the assignment begins. Both the Coordinator of Clinical Support and the Clinical Assistant have been trained by the Davidson County Health Department and are qualified to administer this TB skin test to current students only.
   If results are positive, a chest x-ray is required, until proof of normal chest x-rays for two consecutive years are in MTSA’s file. If the chest x-ray is required, MTSA will refer the student to another facility, and it must be performed at the student’s additional expense. If a student chooses not to have TB skin testing done at MTSA, the student will be responsible for meeting the same testing and documentation requirements, but these will be entirely on the student’s “off” time and at the student’s personal additional expense.
2. Lab Coat: After successful completion of second semester, each student will be presented with a lab coat with the MTSA logo. Students are expected to abide by MTSA’s complete dress code.
3. Molded earpiece: This should be for the ear in which the student’s hearing is best. Traditionally, MTSA has a company come to campus to make earpieces. If hearing is equal in both ears, it may be better to get the earpiece for the right ear, as the clinical instructor usually stands on the left side, allowing the student to better hear instructions.
4. Nerve stimulator: MTSA will order these for all students.
5. Initial Mandatory Drug Screening: Per requirements from some clinical affiliates, all students will receive drug testing after enrollment and at least one additional time during their tenure at MTSA. The cost for this initial testing is included in the fees set by MTSA. Students should also plan on receiving random drug testing, the cost for which is included in tuition and fees.
6. AANA dues: The charge for required associate (student) membership in the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) is covered in the student’s tuition and fees.
7. TASNA/TANA dues and fees: The MTSA tuition and fees covers both the Tennessee Association of Student Nurse Anesthetists (TASNA) fee to each student enrolled in a nurse anesthesia educational program in Tennessee, and the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists (TANA) registration fee for the annual TANA meeting, at which attendance is required by MTSA during the first year.

Expenses Covered by MTSA

1. School/Accident Related Insurance: Because students perform clinical assignments in a health care arena where accidents may happen, such as needle sticks, and because clinical affiliate hospitals are unwilling to assume the risk of caring for students in such situation, MTSA provides an accident insurance policy to assure they have appropriate initial healthcare treatment for an untoward event. Although MTSA provides this personal school-related accidental/injury insurance policy, MTSA does not assume the student's medical care nor provide health insurance. This coverage applies only to school-related activities.
2. Liability/Malpractice Insurance: During the of the program, students are required to participate in the program for student malpractice coverage carried by MTSA with The State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company (SVMIC) underwriters. During the entire portion of the program beyond the, students are required to participate in the program for student malpractice coverage carried by MTSA with American Casualty Company, which is recognized by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). Both insurance companies provide basic limits of liability of a minimum of $2,000,000 per incident with an aggregate of $4,000,000, unless the student is in a state which has a different malpractice limit. Should the second-year basic premium increase, the student will be charged a fee in the amount of the increase only, up to $200. Should the increase be greater than $200, MTSA will cover the additional increase. Should it be determined that the actual limits of this basic insurance need to be increased, the student will be asked to cover the actual cost of this increase.

Each student should be aware that the MTSA DNAP Practice Doctorate Student Handbook is updated annually. While significant changes are rare, students must abide by the current version of the MTSA DNAP Practice Doctorate Student Handbook including abiding by the most current tuition and fee changes. The student will be notified of financial changes in advance.

Expenses Covered by Student

1. Textbooks: Students will purchase textbooks prior to entrance into the program. Prior to enrollment, MTSA distributes the list of textbooks for the school year. There are two lists: required texts, and optional “additional reading” texts.
2. Physical Examination: Each accepted applicant is required to have a physical exam during the months prior to enrollment and complete the Health History Form.  This form is to be returned to the MTSA Admissions Coordinator by December 13, with all information required on the Health History form, or the accepted applicant’s position in the incoming class may be forfeited. This includes:
   1. The actual lab reports showing evidence of either immune or non-immune for the titers Rubella and Rubeola.
   2. The actual lab reports giving evidence of positive Varicella titer drawn from a reputable laboratory with date and result, OR evidence of two Varicella vaccines given no less than one month apart and a post-vaccine titer. Any Varicella titer in the negative range (indicating no immunity) must have the Varivax vaccine in the two-stage process. If the Varivax vaccine is indicated, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain this vaccine and to provide documentation of such to the MTSA Admissions Coordinator prior to enrollment at MTSA.
   3. Written documentation of completed series of three Hepatitis B vaccines or documentation of refusal of the vaccine (from physician’s office).
   4. Record of tetanus booster (from physician’s office in the last seven years).
   5. Documentation (the actual report) of completion of the CDC-required TB skin test will be required within at least the 12 months prior to enrollment.
   6. Some clinical sites require various other vaccines prior to participation there, and these vaccines will be required (i.e. H₁N₁, flu, TDAP vaccine past the age of 18).
   7. All student health records may be shared with appropriate personnel at any clinical affiliate, if requested. Students must sign a release of information form.
      MTSA reserves the right to deny admittance of an accepted applicant if the physical examination or health information deems that the person would be incapable of completing the program.
3. Nursing license in other states: If MTSA develops affiliates in other sites where the student is assigned, or if the student desires to participate in any other out-of-state affiliate, such as a Senior Elective in a state that is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, licensure in that state must be obtained at the student’s expense and be presented to the Coordinator of Clinical Support of MTSA prior to assignment at that location or prior to full approval of that Senior Elective site.
4. Health Insurance Coverage: Each student must provide evidence of personal health insurance coverage upon enrollment and must maintain coverage and documentation of such until graduation from MTSA. MTSA does not assume the student’s medical care or cost for medical care. MTSA does provide information to accepted applicants during the required first day of class regarding some group health insurance plans that are available for students to purchase.
5. Scrubs: Each student is required to own his/her own scrubs for use on campus and at clinical sites that do not provide scrubs for students to wear. Appropriate operating room apparel is furnished by some of the hospitals and may charge the student if the scrubs are not returned. Students are expected to abide by MTSA’s complete dress code.
6. Parking (refundable): At all affiliating institutions, students will park only in authorized parking lots.
   
   Vanderbilt parking -The fee the student submits to MTSA is paid by MTSA to Central Parking for a limited number of Vanderbilt parking cards/tags. These cards/tags are kept at MTSA by the Coordinator of Clinical Support. They are to be signed out by students only if they have a scheduled Vanderbilt rotation. The student is expected to pay a $60.00 “lost park card” CASH deposit to the Coordinator of Clinical Support upon receipt of the park card. No checks will be accepted for this deposit.
   
   After the student’s rotation at Vanderbilt ends, the student must sign the card and tag back in to the Coordinator of Clinical Support at MTSA, and she will return the “lost park card” deposit to the student and then will give the card and tag to the next student scheduled to be at Vanderbilt. The student is not to pass the card and tag on to another student but must turn it in personally. The School will keep the “lost park card” deposit if the card and tag are not returned to the School within one week after the rotation has ended.
   
   General Hospital parking will paid by the student with reimbursement via parking stipend.
7. Meals: Meals are not provided. Arrangements for meals vary at each affiliation for students. Students in semesters 3-5 returning to class from affiliates will be given adequate time for quick meals. The student lounge is equipped with tables and chairs, microwave ovens, coffee makers and coffee cups, a sink, ice machine, and refrigerators. If students wish to bring their own meals, they must provide their own dishes and utensils. MTSA does not provide daily housekeeping services, so students are expected to be responsible for keeping the lounge tidy (i.e. discarding one’s trash, wiping up spills, etc.).
8. Basic Housing: It is the students' responsibility to find housing while attending MTSA, as no student housing is available.
9. Accommodations while taking call: While assigned on call, the student is required to stay within thirty (30) minutes of any hospital at which they are on call. Some hospitals, but not all, provide a room for the student to stay in-house while taking call. If the hospital does not provide a room and the student’s home is farther than thirty (30) minutes from the hospital where they are assigned on call, the student is responsible to make their own arrangements for accommodations while taking call (i.e. staying with a classmate).
10. Protective eyewear: These are to be worn at all times in operating rooms; cost varies.
11. Electronic Device: Every student will need to purchase a smart phone, an iPad/laptop, or a Microsoft Surface Pro.  *See technology requirements for specifications.
12. For-Cause Drug Screening: Any for-cause drug screens requested will be at an additional cost to the student (see Student Drug Testing Policy).