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Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesiology (DNP)

At the heart of the job: delivering safe anesthesia care.

The fully accredited Saint Mary’s graduate program in Nurse Anesthesiology is designed to prepare qualified registered nurses to further their education to become doctorally-prepared Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).* Our program thoroughly prepares you for the certification exam, and with successful completion of the exam, you’ll earn the title of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.*

As a CRNA, you’ll be a critical member of a healthcare team. Our curriculum prepares you to demonstrate ethical leadership skills, advocate for improved patient care, provide safe and compassionate care, and communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.

With a focus on cohort instruction, this full-time program primarily offers classes in person, with occasional online and hybrid sessions. You’ll develop advanced skills as a nurse in a positive and supportive learning environment. Plus, you’ll learn scientific principles and gain clinical practice experience. Academic excellence, professionalism, personal integrity, responsibility, and compassion are core values shared by everyone in our community.

The curriculum of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesiology program is divided into four areas:

  • Scientific core
  • Leadership core
  • Scholarly project core
  • Clinical scholarship core

 

Transition of the master of science program to a practice-oriented doctoral degree program

 

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) requires that all students matriculating into a nurse anesthesia educational program on Jan. 1, 2022, or thereafter be enrolled in a program approved by the COA to award a practice doctoral degree.

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Program Highlights

Our program trains qualified registered nurses to become doctorally-prepared Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). With our comprehensive curriculum, you’ll gain the knowledge and clinical experience to succeed as a CRNA. You’ll be the reason others know compassion. And competent, safe care. Because of you.

85

credits

$995

per credit

Aug

Start Date

On-Campus

85

credits

$995

per credit

Aug

Start Date

On-Campus

Program Features

What Makes it Special:

  • This program can be completed in 36 months of full-time study
  • Saint Mary’s has graduated over 1,000 CRNAs
  • 35+ clinical site options, ranging from small community facilities to large hospitals

What You'll Learn

What You’ll Learn

  • Advanced knowledge, skills, and judgment around human communication
  • Leadership skills to influence healthcare policy and implement changes in care systems
  • Professional, ethical values guided by nursing scientific underpinnings
  • Analytical methods for evidence-based practice within the framework of health
  • Selection, use, and evaluation of healthcare information systems
  • Clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability to improve patient outcomes

Course Catalog

Attention Nurses: Preparing to apply or enter a nurse anesthesiology program?

Enroll in our fully online 15-week course to get the academic and professional preparation you need to attend a nurse anesthesiology program. Gain a broad chemistry review and learn chemistry topics covered on the National Certification Exam (NCE).

 

Our instructors are eager to help guide you through the graduate school application process. Get the competitive edge, and stand out by enrolling in Foundations in Nurse Anesthesiology (DNP800). Classes start soon!

Exam Preparation

Graduates of this program are eligible to take the certification examination offered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. Upon successful completion of the exam, graduates are known as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).* • The Nurse Anesthesia Program at Saint Mary’s is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 10275 W Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemount, IL 60068; (224-275-9130), (www.coacrna.org). The program's next review by the COA is scheduled for May/October 2029.

  • Class of 2021: 32 admitted and 35 graduated; Class of 2020: 32 admitted and 32 graduated; Class of 2019: 32 admitted and 31 graduated; Class of 2018: 33 admitted and 33 graduated; Class of 2017: 33 admitted and 33 graduated; Class of 2016: 32 admitted and 32 graduated.

  • 100% of our graduates have been employed upon graduation and successful completion of the National Certification Exam (NCE). This has been true for the past 10 years

  • Class of 2021: 71%; Class of 2020: 84%; Class of 2019: 74%; Class of 2018: 94%; Class of 2017: 70%; Class of 2016: 80%; Class of 2015: 80% pass; Class of 2014: 88%.

  • Graduates of this program are eligible to take the certification examination offered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. Upon successful completion of the exam, graduates are known as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).*

    The Nurse Anesthesia Program at Saint Mary’s is accredited by:

    Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA),

    10275 W Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemount, IL 60068;

    (847) 655-1160, (www.coacrna.org).

    The program’s next review by the COA is scheduled for May/October 2029.

     

     

    • *CRNAs in Minnesota are required to be licensed by the Minnesota Board of Nursing as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in order to practice. The Minnesota Board of Nursing has approved the graduate program in Nurse Anesthesiology for the purpose of meeting educational requirements for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse.  Many other states require CRNAs to obtain designated licensure from their state nursing board in order to practice; students should check with their state to verify requirements.  For additional information about Saint Mary’s graduate program in Nurse Anesthesiology and professional licensure, visit our Professional Licensure page.

Career Outlook

The intense demand for nurse anesthetists is expected to skyrocket by 45% between now and 2029.1 The DNP in Nurse Anesthesiology at Saint Mary’s prepares you to provide every type of anesthesia-related service, practice in every type of setting, and administer anesthesia in every type of procedure where anesthesia is required.

Nurse Practitioner

$123,780 per year*

Nurse Anesthetist

$200,000per year **
45%

Nurse Practitioner job growth 2020-2030

Accreditation

The Nurse Anesthesia Program at Saint Mary’s is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA),10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603 224-275-9130, (www.coacrna.org). The program’s next review by the COA is scheduled for May/October 2029.

Our Faculty

Laurie Roy

lroy@smumn.edu
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Frequently Asked Questions

    • Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.
    • Amery Hospital & Clinic, Amery, WI.
    • Gunderson St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Wabasha, Minn.
    • Aspirus St. Mary’s Hospital, Rhinelander, WI.
    • Cambridge Medical Center, Cambridge, Minn.
    • CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, Minn.
    • CentraCare – Plaza Surgery Center, St. Cloud, Minn.
    • Children’s Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.
    • Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby, Minn.
    • Allina District One Hospital, Faribault, Minn.
    • Essentia Health-Duluth (Miller-Dwan Building), Duluth, Minn.
    • Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center (Duluth), Duluth, Minn.
    • Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul, Minn.
    • Glencoe Regional Health, Glencoe, Minn.
    • Hayward Area Memorial Hospital, Hayward, WI.
    • HealthPartners Regions Hospital, Saint Paul, Minn.
    • HealthPartners Same Day Surgery Center, Saint Paul, Minn.
    • Health Partners Lakeview Hospital, Stillwater, Minn.
    • Lakewood Health System, Staples, Minn.
    • Lakewalk Surgery Center Duluth, Minn.
    • M Health Fairview East Bank, Minneapoois, Minn.
    • Marshfield ASC Eau Claire Center, WI.
    • Marshfield ASC Marshfield Center, WI.
    • Marshfield ASC Minocqua Center, WI.
    • Marshfield ASC Wausau Center, WI.
    • Marshfield Medical Center-Marshfield, Marshfield, WI.
    • Marshfield Medical Center-Neillsville, Neillsville, WI.
    • Marshfield Medical Center-Rice Lake, Rice Lake, WI.
    • Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague, New Prague, Minn.
    • Mercy Hospital (Mercy & Unity Campuses), Coon Rapids, Minn.
    • Northfield Hospital, Northfield, Minn.
    • Owatonna Hospital, Owatonna, Minn.
    • Ridgeview Medical Center, Waconia, Minn.
    • River Falls Area Hospital, River Falls, WI.
    • Riverwood Healthcare Center, Aitkin, Minn.
    • St. Croix Regional Medical Center, St. Croix Falls, WI.
    • St Cloud Surgical Center, St. Cloud, Minn.
    • St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, Minn.
    • Surgical Specialty Center of Minnesota, St. Louis Park, Minn.
    • HSHS St. Vincent’s Hospital, Green Bay, WI.
    • Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minn.

  • Applicants must submit a transcript for a college-level chemistry course completed with a letter grade of “B” or better in the last five years. The course should have some element of inorganic, organic, and/ or biochemistry. All prerequisite courses must be taken at an accredited college/ university. Classes may be taken at an accredited two-year college. In progress coursework will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may affect application ranking.

  • Applicants must meet the chemistry requirement within five years of the applicant anticipating starting the program. For example, if a student is planning to apply for a fall 2025 start, they must demonstrate they have completed a Chemistry course that meets the stated requirements and ended in summer 2020 or after.

  • Yes, the course can be in-progress at the time of application, however, it may affect the applicant’s application ranking, meaning a candidate with a completed chemistry course may be selected over someone who has not completed the chemistry requirement for matriculation into the program.

  • Nurse Anesthesiology curriculum is very science dense. It is important for the program to evaluate the candidate’s recent science experiences as part of the application process. It is also important for students to take a recent science course to confirm they are ready for the rigor of a nurse anesthesiology program.

  • At this time Saint Mary’s does accept the Barry pre-anesthesia course (ANE 695) as a chemistry pre-requisite, in addition to our own pre-anesthesia course (DNP800). Otherwise, Saint Mary’s Nurse Anesthesiology program does require applicants to take a college-level chemistry course as described above. The best thing an applicant can do is KEEP THE COURSE SYLLABUS, just in case Saint Mary’s admissions department should have any questions.

  • The DNP application process is lengthy, as is the file review process. The deadline for applications each year is September 15. It then takes 5 weeks to ensure all documents are present and ready for the Nurse Anesthesiology department to review the files. All Essays are blinded and evaluated by CRNA instructors and faculty to ensure fairness. The complete file is then taken into consideration, and the most qualified individuals are offered an interview to determine if they are a good fit for Saint Mary’s, and, for the candidate to determine if Saint Mary’s is a good fit for them! Nurse Anesthesiology plans to conduct remote or in-person interviews in December through January. Acceptance letters are sent out in February for a fall start in the program.

  • Yes, Saint Mary’s does keep a very short wait list. It does not roll over from year to year. For example, if a student was on the waitlist to start the program in fall of 2022, and they did not matriculate into the program, then they must reapply and go through the process again for the fall of 2023 and so-on.

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (visited April 12, 2022).

2. American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, 2021 CRNA Compensation & Benefits Survey at https://store.aana.com/Products/ProductDetails/S-ANA-001/2021-CRNA-Compensation-!26-Benefits-Survey (visited October 7, 2022).