The Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP program at CUNY is a pioneering, COA-accredited clinical doctorate that uniquely prepares students for dual certification as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and is the only public institution in the New York City area offering this combined pathway. Applications are competitive, generally requiring at least two years of critical care RN experience, and the program follows a structured three-year curriculum with a summer start for nurse anesthesia applicants.

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