Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia Specialization

The Nurse Anesthesia Specialization of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Murray State University prepares baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses for advanced clinical practice as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The program blends distance education with in-person clinical training to promote flexibility and accessibility while maintaining rigorous academic and clinical standards. Graduates are equipped to practice independently and meet the anesthesia care needs of diverse and rural populations across Kentucky and beyond.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months (May to May), full-time.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: Not specified.

Starting Month

May

The DNP Nurse Anesthesia program begins each May and runs continuously for 36 months.

Application Deadlines

Application Period: Applications are submitted through NursingCAS. The deadline for submission of all materials is October 1. Applicants are notified of acceptance by mid-February.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited nursing program.
  • Undergraduate course in Statistics (required prerequisite).
• Licensure:
  • Unencumbered RN license.
  • Eligibility for RN licensure in Kentucky required prior to matriculation.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience (excluding orientation) within the past five years, completed by the October 1 deadline.
  • Acceptable experience must be in a U.S. critical care area involving routine management of invasive hemodynamic monitors, cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions.
  • Examples of accepted units: surgical ICU, cardiothoracic ICU, coronary ICU, medical ICU, pediatric ICU, and neonatal ICU.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Certifications:
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications required.
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) or Neonatal Intensive Care (NIC) certification recommended.
• Letters of Recommendation:
  • Three professional references submitted through NursingCAS.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Completion of formal interview with the Nursing Graduate Admissions Selection Committee (if selected).
  • TOEFL score required if English is a second language.
  • Applicants dismissed or withdrawn from any graduate nursing program must provide a letter of good standing from all previously attended programs.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
• Program Format: Blended distance-learning model. The first two semesters (Summer and Fall) are 100% online; subsequent semesters combine online core courses with in-person specialty coursework delivered via Zoom and on campus.
• Clinical Experience: Clinical training begins in the second year at Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville or St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Third-year enrichment rotations occur across rural and urban sites statewide. Students average approximately 1,200 anesthesia cases — exceeding COA minimum standards.
• Tuition: In-state Kentucky tuition rates apply to all students, regardless of residency.
• Faculty & Values: Instruction by experienced CRNAs and nursing educators emphasizing compassion, professionalism, excellence, and integrity.

Contact

Murray State University — Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse Anesthesia Specialization

Address: 102 Curris Center,
Murray, KY 42071, USA

Phone: (800) 272-4678

Email: msu.admissions@murraystate.edu