Program Overview

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D.N.P. in Nurse Anesthesia

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) in Nurse Anesthesia program is designed to prepare registered nurses for the advanced practice role of nurse anesthetist. As a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), graduates will be at the heart of important moments in medicine, providing anesthesia care before, during, and after surgery to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Program Requirements

This program prepares registered nurses who have a baccalaureate degree in nursing and a minimum of one year of critical care experience for the advanced practice role of nurse anesthetist.

Program Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor's degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
• An undergraduate grade point average of B or better (3.5 or greater preferred)
• A completed course in statistics (AP credits cannot be accepted)
• A current U.S. RN license
• An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse in the United States or its territories or protectorates
• Official GRE Scores
• A minimum of one year (minimum two years preferred) of full-time critical care experience as an RN in the U.S., its territories, or a U.S. military hospital outside of the U.S., excluding orientation and/or residency experiences
• ACLS and PALS certification
• CCRN certification

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the program is June 30.

The Connell School Difference

The Connell School of Nursing combines rigorous classroom academics with hands-on clinical experiences to prepare students for transformative careers in health care. The school's graduate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Graduate Nursing Student's Day in the Life

The Connell School of Nursing provides students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for a career in nursing. The school's faculty and staff are committed to helping students succeed and achieve their goals.

Filling a Crucial Need in Medicine

CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses who provide care in any setting where anesthesia is delivered, including surgical suites, delivery rooms, and outpatient clinics. In rural U.S. counties, 80 percent of anesthesia providers are CRNAs, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.

At a Glance

• The curriculum requires 29 courses for a total of 97 credits.
• The program requires 36 months of full-time study to complete.
• The program begins in May.

Curriculum

The 36-month, full-time program includes core courses common to all DNP nursing specialties, as well as advanced physiologic and pharmacologic principles, and hands-on clinical experience. The curriculum is divided into three years, with the following courses:

Year 1

• Summer: Epidemiology, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology across the Lifespan, Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice Nursing, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthesia Practice
• Fall: Leadership and Management in Health Care Quality and Safety, Nursing Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Advanced Practice, Population Health Principles, Program Planning and Evaluation, Foundations of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Pharmacotherapeutics in Nurse Anesthesia Practice
• Spring: Health Information Technology for Nursing Professionals, Examining Diversity in Nursing and Health Care, Advanced Health/Physical Assessment across the Lifespan, Nurse Anesthesia Care for Patients with Coexisting Diseases, Cardiovascular Physiology & Pathophysiology for Nurse Anesthesia Practice

Year 2

• Summer: Advanced Practice Principles for the Nurse Anesthetist I, Role of the D.N.P. Prepared Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practice I
• Fall: Foundations of Evidence Based Advanced Nursing Practice, Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practice II, Advanced Practice Principles for the Nurse Anesthetist II
• Spring: Health Care Policy for Nursing Leaders, Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practice III, Methods of Advanced Scholarly Inquiry

Year 3

• Summer: Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practice IV, D.N.P. Project Seminar 1
• Fall: Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practice V, D.N.P. Project Seminar 2
• Spring: Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Practice VI

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Conduct a thorough pre-anesthesia assessment synthesizing data obtained through patient history and physical examination together with that available through facility information systems.
2. Create a patient-specific and evidence-based plan of anesthesia care incorporating the requirements of the planned surgical procedure.
3. Actualize a plan of anesthesia care incorporating various techniques according to established guidelines and current research.
4. Demonstrate leadership with regard to patient safety standards in all aspects of anesthesia care.
5. Critically analyze patient response to anesthesia and surgery and modify the plan accordingly.
6. Discriminate among various anesthetic techniques, selecting the best approach for all patients across the lifespan.
7. Evaluate the need for and interpret information from various monitoring modalities for each individual patient.
8. Formulate and implement a strategy for maintaining perioperative homeostasis through the use of adjunctive medications, fluid replacement, and thermoregulation.
9. Provide anesthesia care across the perioperative continuum insuring safety, comfort, and consultation for other professionals.
10. Engage in self-reflection as a basis for professional growth and improved patient care.
11. Utilize current evidence from the literature as a basis for clinical decision-making.
12. Integrate professional, legal and ethical standards of care acknowledging personal accountability for decision-making in nurse anesthesia practice.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs through June 2026. The Connell School of Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education through December 31, 2027.

Clinical Placements

Students experience a variety of practice settings by rotating among 3-6 clinical sites, including:

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Boston Children's Hospital
• Boston Medical Center
• Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Tufts Medical Center
• University of Massachusetts - University Campus

Benchmark Data

The program's benchmark data includes:

• Year of Graduation
• Students Matriculated
• Graduates
• Attrition
• NCE Pass Rate
• NCE 1st Attempt
• Employment at 6 months

Nurse Anesthesia Five Year Benchmarks

• First Attempt NCE Pass Rate: 94.33%
• Attrition: 3.3%
• Employment: 100%

Careers

Our graduates have been hired as CRNAs at local and national institutions, including:

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Boston Medical Center
• Cape Cod Hospital
• Catholic Medical Center (Manchester, NH)
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, NH)
• Johns Hopkins Medicine-Sibley Memorial Hospital (Washington, DC)
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Mission Hospital (Asheville, NC)
• Mount Auburn Hospital
• Newton-Wellesley Hospital
• New England Baptist Hospital
• St. Joseph Mercy Hospital (Ypsilanti, MI)
• Tufts Medical Center
• UMass Memorial Medical Center
• U.S. Anesthesia Partners (Greenwood Village, CO)
• UVM Health Network-Porter Medical Center (Middlebury, VT)

Skills in Demand

The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists is $212,650, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Featured Faculty

Susan Emery, Ph.D., CRNA, is the Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program. She states, "We actively engage CRNA students in the classroom and simulation laboratory to make sure they are prepared for any event they may encounter in the operating room."

Financial Aid

The Connell School and Boston College offer multiple opportunities to fund a graduate education. CSON graduate students receive financial assistance through internal and external sources—including scholarships, fellowships, grants, teaching and research assistantships, and tuition remission.

Application & Deadlines

The application deadline is June 30. Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Résumé or CV
• Goal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Standardized Tests (GRE)
• Supplemental Forms (if required)
• International Students (if applicable)
• RN License & Certifications

FAQ

The program's FAQ section answers common questions about the program, including:

1. What format is the program?
2. What is the process for the DNP project?
3. When are decisions made about clinical assignments?
4. What is considered "critical care experience"?
5. My application has been submitted prior to the deadline but I may not have completed the GRE exam or obtained all reference letters by that date. Will my application be considered?
6. I have been out of my undergraduate program for 10 years, how can I obtain an academic reference?
7. When are interviews scheduled?
8. Are all applicants granted an interview?
9. What are the average GPA and GRE scores for your accepted applicants?
10. Is a course in organic chemistry or physics required for admission to your program?
11. Is it possible to work during the program?
12. Can I begin taking courses before being accepted into the program?
13. I have taken a course that I think is the same as one of your courses. Do I have to retake the course at BC?
14. I am currently working at a hospital that will allow me to go there for my clinical anesthesia experience. Is this allowed?
15. Will I obtain experience in regional anesthesia?
16. Does the program offer a stipend?
17. Is financial aid available?
18. What are the tuition & fees?
19. I do not have a current Massachusetts nursing license; can I still apply?
20. Are there additional costs to attend?

Rights & Responsibilities

The program outlines the rights and responsibilities of applicants, faculty, and students, including:

• Applicant Rights and Responsibilities
• Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
• Student Rights and Responsibilities

Academic & Professional Integrity

Students are expected to maintain high standards of integrity in both the academic and clinical settings. The program adheres to the Boston College policies surrounding academic integrity and the American Nurses' Association Code of Ethics for Nurses.