Nurse Anesthesia DNP

Major: Nurse Anesthesia
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Nursing Practice
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

Subject to approval by the program accreditor, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

About the Program

The Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) is a 39-month program that offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. This practice-focused doctorate program provides challenging learning opportunities and educates nurses to utilize higher level critical thinking in the synthesis and correlation of didactic theory and best evidence to expand nursing knowledge and enhance patient outcomes. Simulation is integrated throughout the program to facilitate interprofessional communication, collaborative teamwork and the ability to apply theory to practice in a safe environment. An extensive clinical component affords clinical proficiency and the completion of a DNP Project. Our program is designed to graduate professional, knowledgeable, and vigilant anesthesia practitioners who provide safe, compassionate, culturally competent perianesthesia care across the lifespan in rapidly changing practice environments. Upon successful completion of the program's outcomes the student is awarded a DNP degree and is eligible to take the national certification examination offered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

The Nurse Anesthesia Program faculty are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion as part of its admission process and accepts applicants who meet the admission criteria and successfully complete an in-person interview. An individual must be able to independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet the Nurse Anesthesia Technical Standards, of general abilities and those specifically of observation; communication; motor; intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities; as well as essential behavioral and social attributes. Individuals unable to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, are counseled to pursue alternate careers.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Degree:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a CCNE or NLN accredited program. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in both BSN and general science coursework is required.

Standardized Tests:

Acceptable GRE/MAT scores are required and taken within five years of application. The GRE/MAT is waived for a BSN GPA of 3.25 or higher AND a general science GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Transcripts:

Official transcripts from all universities, colleges, and secondary institutions attended are needed. 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 you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates. If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.
Use our Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions

Prerequisites:

• Undergraduate or graduate-level statistics course with a grade of 3.0 or higher
• Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification

References:

Three references required from the following who can attest to applicant's clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study:

1. 1-Nurse manager
2. 2-Physician or clinical supervisor
3. 3-Clinical Educator or professor

References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members. You may use our electronic letter of recommendation service. If the person completing your reference 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.

Personal Statement/Essay:

Describe past professional and educational accomplishments and future goals for graduate nurse anesthesia education.

Interview/Portfolio:

An on-campus interview is required for admission and will be held after the application deadlines. Selection of qualified candidates for interview is based upon meeting the admission criteria as well as the quality of the application materials. Therefore every applicant who meets the admission criteria is not offered an interview. Selected candidates who complete the personal interview with the program’s admissions committee will be notified of the their decision approximately four weeks after the interview.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume:

Required

Licenses:

Unencumbered license or eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware

Clinical/Work/Volunteer Experience:

A minimum of two years recent, full-time critical care experience where the registered nurse has direct patient care plus manage and interpret and utilize non-invasive and invasive monitoring data to guide clinical decision making(such as pulmonary artery catheters, CVP, arterial lines), cardiac-assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive drips (such as norepinephrine, epinephrine, dobutamine, nicardipine, nitroglycerine). Preferred areas 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 competency can be demonstrated with invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology. While applicants must have a minimum of two years recent full-time experience prior to starting this program, they can apply after having one year of experience in a critical care setting.

International Students:

International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. American citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status. Otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

If you take the TOEFL exam, you must have:

• a minimum combined score for listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher
• a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher

Tuition and Fee Rates:

Please visit the Tuition and Fee Rates page on Drexel Central

Degree Requirements

Sample Plan of Study