Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesiology (DNP)

Applicants seeking admission to this program must meet the admission requirements for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs and for the Doctor of Nurse Practice in Nurse Anesthesiology Program. In addition to University admission requirements, applicants must have: 

• Completed an appropriate baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Degrees must be completed and final transcripts must be submitted by the September 15 deadline. Appropriate degrees include the areas of nursing, biophysical, biological or behavioral sciences.
• Overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or higher.
• A calculated Science and Math GPA of 3.0 or higher (this is explained and determined as a part of the application process). * Current unencumbered licensure as a Professional Registered Nurse in the State of Minnesota, or eligible for reciprocity.
• A minimum of one year of experience as a Registered Nurse in a critical care setting at the time of application. Critical care employment must be ongoing until 90 days before the program is started. Critical care as defined by this program includes cardiac ICU, neuro ICU, neonatal ICU, and pediatric ICU. The cardiac cath lab, PACU, long term acute care, and emergency room care do not meet the program definition of critical care. Flight nursing will be considered on a case by case basis.
• A completed application submitted by the September 15 deadline.
• A completed Health Status Form must be submitted prior to matriculation. Documented immunity is required for rubella, rubeola, varicella, Hepatitis B, and mumps. Vaccinations will be required in non-immune students. Proof of receiving the Tdap vaccine (protection against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) that extends to the date of the student’s graduation from the program is required. 
• Additional annual health-related documents are required later in the program including proof of a negative 2-StepTB TEST test, QuantiFERON®-TB Gold-in-Tube test (QFT-GIT), or a T-SPOT® TB (or completion of the Positive TB Test Protocol) and proof of annual vaccination against influenza. Students that are positive for TB must follow the Nurse Anesthesia Student Protocol. This includes proof of a negative chest x-ray within the last year that must be submitted to the Clinical Director for all students who have positive TB tests. In addition, the student must have an annual exam with their primary care provider indicating that there has been no change in their lung health.
• Documented proof of COVID vaccine(s) is required by most hospitals/ same-day surgery centers. Students must comply with the facility policy and, in most cases, be fully vaccinated. Students must be aware that the school cannot guarantee clinical experiences (e.g. pediatrics, cardiac, major medical anesthesiology) in the event that a student decides to not be vaccinated. This could result in a delay of program completion, or, the inability to complete the program.
• These requirements meet or exceed the Standards and Guidelines set by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

Students with transcripts from universities outside the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada (except for the Quebec Province) must take and pass English proficiency testing.

Saint Mary’s accepts:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0
• Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 74%
• International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
• Duolingo with a minimum score of 100.

Your application must include the following items:

1. A completed application form
2. An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.)
   • Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards.  
   • Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
3. An official transcript(s) for the applicant’s nursing degree, and for any coursework represented on the Academic Evaluation Form completed as part of the application process, if separate from the Bachelor’s degree transcript.
4. An official transcript for a college-level chemistry or pre-anesthesia 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.
   • Saint Mary’s is able to order transcripts on behalf of applicants from institutions that allow third-party requests. Contact your enrollment counselor for more details.
   • Official Transcripts should be sent to Office of Admission
     • Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
       2500 Park Avenue
       Minneapolis, MN 55404
     • Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu
5. A personal statement that includes the following:
   • brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience; and
   • statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and their reasons for seeking admission to the program; and
   • description of the areas the applicant considers to be their strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities; and
   • personal information the applicant wishes to share. Please do not state any personal identifying information within the essay, as the essays are blinded for the readers to ensure a fair process.
6. Two professional references, one of which must be from a current supervisor, as requested by the program by the admission deadline of September 15;
7. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

Fall 2025: September 15, 2024

Fall: September 2, 2025