Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia & Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

The Nurse Anesthesia Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP) program at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing (HBSON) is a pioneering, dual-certification doctoral program — the only one of its kind in the New York City metropolitan area housed within a public institution. This full-time, three-year program prepares students to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs) through an intensive, clinically focused curriculum emphasizing advanced anesthesia care, acute/critical care management, and leadership in healthcare delivery systems.

Program Length

• Duration: 3 years (9 semesters, summer–fall–spring), full-time.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 100 credits.

Starting Month

Summer Term

New cohorts begin annually in the summer semester following the November 1 application deadline.

Application Deadlines

Application Period: Annual application deadline of November 1 for admission in the upcoming summer term. All applications must be submitted via NursingCAS, including transcripts, statement of purpose, resume, and two professional letters of recommendation.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution.
  • Completion of undergraduate courses in Statistics and Nursing Research.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unencumbered New York State RN license required.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of two years of full-time post-baccalaureate critical care registered nursing experience required.
  • Experience must involve high-acuity care, invasive monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive medication management.
• Letters of Recommendation:
  • Two professional letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and clinical performance.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Statement of purpose outlining career goals and reasons for pursuing the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia & AGACNP.
  • Resume or curriculum vitae detailing educational background, professional experience, certifications, and clinical competencies.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and approved by the New York State Education Department.
• Dual Certification Preparation: Graduates are eligible for national board certification as a CRNA (NBCRNA), AGACNP-BC® (ANCC), and ACNPC-AG® (AACN).
• Curriculum Design: A 100-credit, full-time program integrating advanced anesthesia training, acute and critical care management, leadership, and research-based practice projects.
• Clinical Partnerships: Prestigious affiliations with NewYork-Presbyterian and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center offer diverse, high-acuity clinical experiences across surgical, trauma, and oncology settings.
• Simulation Training: Students gain extensive hands-on training through the New York Simulation Center for the Health Sciences (NYSIM) and the Weill Cornell Medicine Skills Acquisition and Innovation Laboratory (SAIL), providing exposure to cutting-edge anesthesia and surgical simulation environments.
• Faculty Expertise: Directed by Dr. Stephen Yermal, PhD, RN, CRNA, and Dr. Jennifer Ross-Majumdar, PhD, RN, CRNA — both nationally recognized nurse anesthesia educators and researchers dedicated to advancing anesthesia education and clinical excellence.
• Mission & Values: Rooted in Hunter College’s long-standing commitment to academic excellence, accessibility, and health equity, the program emphasizes serving New York City’s diverse and underserved populations.

Program Goals

• Prepare professional nurses in the art and science of perisurgical anesthesia and acute/critical care.
• Meet societal needs for safe, competent, and patient-centered anesthesia and acute care.
• Provide a supportive learning environment that promotes inclusivity and adult learner success.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Deliver safe, evidence-based perisurgical anesthesia and acute care to patients across all age groups and physical conditions.
• Develop and implement anesthesia management plans throughout the perisurgical and acute care continuum.
• Integrate research and advanced decision-making to improve clinical outcomes.
• Demonstrate ethical, professional communication and leadership in interdisciplinary healthcare environments.

Contact

Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing — Nurse Anesthesia & Adult-Gerontology Acute Care DNP Program

Address: Hunter College — Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing,
425 East 25th Street,
New York, NY 10010, USA

Phone: Not specified

Email: htr-crna@hunter.cuny.edu