Nurse Anesthesia DNP

Major: Nurse Anesthesia (NA)
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 135.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.3804
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1150

About the Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

The Drexel DNP-NA is a clinically focused practice doctoral degree that combines the scientific and theoretical underpinnings with an extensive clinical experience that culminates in the DNP Scholarly Project. The DNP-NA was developed in accord with the DNP Standards as mandated by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, as well as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) DNP Essentials. The DNP-NA is a 39-month, 135.0 quarter credit, full-time integrated program that begins each spring. The first three quarters of the program (spring, summer, and fall) are full-time and offered entirely online. After the first nine months, students complete the remaining 30 months onsite at Drexel University's campus in Philadelphia. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and is eligible to take the national certification examination offered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

Graduates of this program are able to provide safe, compassionate, culturally competent anesthesia care in rapidly changing practice environments across the lifespan. The DNP in Nurse Anesthesia educational experience will facilitate your professional growth and development into a competent, knowledgeable, and vigilant nurse anesthesia practitioner.

Admission Requirements

• Completed online application
• Degree prerequisite: 
  • For post-BSN applicants: A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing (BSN) from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program.
  • For post-MSN applicants: A master’s degree with a major in nursing (MSN) from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program.
• GPA requirements:
  • A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for both Post-BSN and Post-MSN applicants.
  • Science GPA calculation is based on inclusion of prior completed courses in the sciences. Classes eligible for entry on the science GPA form include: anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, microbiology, genetics, pharmacology, and any other specific science courses taken.
• Certification and transcripts:
  • Specialty Certification: CCRN or population-specific equivalent required
  • Transcripts: Official transcripts from accredited BSN/MSN program and all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (Please note that official transcripts can take up to six weeks to arrive.)
  • Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all the colleges/universities that the applicant has attended.
  • Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school.
  • An admission decision may be delayed if transcripts are not submitted from all colleges/universities attended.
  • Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If the school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
• GRE scores or waiver of eligibility: Applicants to the DNP-NA program who completed their education in the United States, with a BSN/MSN GPA and general science GPA greater than 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, are eligible to have the GRE requirement waived.
• Professional licensure: 
  • Current unencumbered United States Registered Nurse (RN) License with eligibility for licensure in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware
  • Current American Heart Association CPR (BLS) certification
  • Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
  • Please provide at least one of the following: PALS or ACLS. If admitted, you will be required to have the other certification by the time you enroll in the program.
  • Personal statement/essay:
    • Submit a statement of interest detailing your desire to pursue a career in nurse anesthesia practice, your long-term career goals, and identify a current clinical practice problem impacting nurse anesthesia practice.
    • Please limit your statement of interest to two pages, double spaced, using Times New Roman, 12-point font.
  • Current CV/resume:
    • A current curriculum vitae detailing academic and professional experience.
  • References:
    • Three (3) references are required from the following individuals who can attest to the applicant's clinical knowledge, clinical skill, and potential aptitude for graduate-level study:
      • Nurse manager
      • Physician or clinical supervisor
      • Clinical Educator or professor
      • References will not be accepted from colleagues, friends, CRNA/anesthesiologist shadowed by the applicant, or family members.
    • Applicants may use Drexel's electronic letter of recommendation service.
    • If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter, please remind them that it must include an ink signature and be submitted in a sealed envelope.
  • Clinical critical care experience: In accord with the council on accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia program standards:
    • Applicants to the DNP-NA program will possess a minimum of two years (post-orientation) full-time experience working with the most critically ill patients.
    • A minimum of two years current full-time critical care experience where the registered professional nurse has direct patient care and manages invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter; CVP; arterial), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive drips (such as norepinephrine, epinephrine; dobutamine; nicardipine; nitroglycerine). 
    • Experience as a registered professional nurse in critical care nursing (ICU) based within the US or its military bases in which the applicant has had the opportunity to develop independent decision-making, demonstrate psychomotor skills, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring based on knowledge of physiologic and pharmacologic principles. 
    • Preferred areas of practice include: SICU (Surgical Intensive Care), MICU (Medical Intensive Care), CVICU (Cardiovascular Intensive Care), Coronary Intensive Care, PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), and a Level I Emergency/Trauma Unit are also acceptable. Other areas may be considered provided competence can be demonstrated with invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology. 
    • The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs defines a critical care setting:
      • Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a US military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and neonatal intensive care. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology.
      • The Nurse Anesthesia Program requires that all applicants must be able to meet the technical standards for admission, progression, and graduation. The technical standards can be found by clicking on this link: Technical Standards-Nurse Anesthesia

Tuition and Fee Rates

Please visit the Tuition and Fee Rates page on Drexel Central's website.

Degree Requirements

Sample Plan of Study