Cedar Crest College’s Doctorate of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia Program is a 36-month, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)–accredited pathway designed for post-baccalaureate RNs and integrates didactic coursework with simulation and more than 2,000 clinical hours to support administration of over 800 anesthetics across diverse surgical and diagnostic settings. The program operates within the School of Nursing at Cedar Crest, a private liberal arts college in Allentown, Pennsylvania, positioned near major healthcare systems in the Lehigh Valley.

Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia

The Doctorate of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia Program at Cedar Crest College is a 36-month, full-time program designed for post-baccalaureate registered nurses seeking certification in anesthesia and doctoral education. The program integrates rigorous didactic coursework, high-fidelity simulation, and over 2,000 clinical hours, ensuring that students administer more than 800 anesthetics to patients across a broad range of surgical and diagnostic procedures.

Program Length

• 36 months (full-time)

Credit Hours

• Includes didactic, simulation, and over 2,000 clinical hours

Format

• Hybrid: on-campus coursework, simulation, and clinical rotations
• Hands-on training in advanced simulation labs
• Clinical practicum in diverse surgical and critical care settings

Start Date

Fall 2026 (next admission cycle)

Admission Cycle

Annual

Program Structure

The DNP Nurse Anesthesia program is divided into three progressive phases that integrate academic learning, simulation, and clinical experience.

• First Year: Focus on foundational sciences and didactic coursework with introductory simulation experiences in airway management, sterile field preparation, and anesthesia machine operations.
• Second Year: Combines advanced didactic coursework, clinical practicum, and simulation-based workshops in obstetrics, pediatrics, and trauma anesthesia. Students begin applying theory to practice in the operating room environment.
• Third Year: Emphasizes advanced clinical practice, completion of the DNP project, and preparation for the National Certification Examination (NCE) with mandatory on-campus study sessions throughout the year.

Admission Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program with a BSN degree completed prior to the application deadline.
• Unencumbered RN license required; Pennsylvania and New Jersey licensure must be documented prior to starting the program.
• Minimum of one full year of intensive care experience in the United States prior to the application deadline.
• Certification in Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) is mandatory.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale (no GRE required).
• Successful completion (grade B or better) in Anatomy and Physiology I & II, General Chemistry, and Nursing Research.

Application Process

Applicants must submit the following materials to be considered for admission:

• Three current letters of recommendation (academic, supervisor, and mentor/colleague).
• Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.
• Proof of current ACLS, PALS, and BLS certification from the American Heart Association.
• Personal essay (APA 7th edition format, ≤500 words) outlining professional goals for graduate study in Nurse Anesthesiology.
• Documentation of observational experience with a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
• Interview with the Admissions Committee.
• Current Curriculum Vitae (CV).

International Students

• Permanent residents or U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. may apply online.
• Applicants holding valid U.S. work visas may also apply; financial documentation is not required for those with a work visa.
• All non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized credential service (e.g., WES or ECE) with a certified course-by-course evaluation sent directly to Cedar Crest College.
• Evaluations must be received by the program by the May 1 application deadline.
• If English is not the applicant’s first language, completion of one of the following is required: TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, or ACT.

Transfer Credits

• Up to 6–9 transfer credits may be accepted toward the DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.

Clinical Experience

The program integrates didactic instruction with over 2,000 hours of clinical and simulation-based training. Students gain hands-on experience through the Graduate Simulation Center, which includes adult, pediatric, and obstetric high-fidelity manikins in realistic critical care, preoperative, and operating room settings. Students train on anesthesia machines, bronchoscopes, video-laryngoscopes, ultrasound devices, and other hospital-grade equipment. Audiovisual systems support live-streamed simulations and remote debriefing.

Simulation activities include:

• First Year: Gowning and gloving, sterile field preparation, IV and arterial line insertion, anesthesia gas machines, pre-operative evaluation, patient positioning, induction and emergence from anesthesia, basic airway workshop, and problem-based simulation.
• Second and Third Year: Difficult airway and central line workshops, pediatric bootcamp, spinal and epidural procedures, obstetrical simulation, trauma scenarios, crisis resource management, and peripheral nerve block workshops.

Employment Policy

Employment during the program is highly discouraged. Students can expect 3–5 hours of study on weeknights and 6–8 hours per weekend day in addition to 32–40 clinical hours per week.

Contact

Cedar Crest College
100 College Drive
Allentown, PA 18104

Phone: 610-740-3780