Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia program at Fairfield University, offered in partnership with Bridgeport Hospital, prepares registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The program emphasizes advanced clinical expertise, leadership development, and the integration of evidence-based practice to deliver safe, high-quality anesthesia care across diverse healthcare environments.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months, full-time

This full-time, 36-month program follows a cohort model, combining rigorous academic coursework with immersive clinical rotations throughout Connecticut and the surrounding region.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 100 credits

Starting Month

May

Each new cohort begins in May, with an early focus on foundational science courses, advanced physiology, and anesthesia pharmacology.

Application Deadline

Deadline: August 1

Applications must be submitted through NursingCAS by August 1 for enrollment in the following May cohort. Competitive applicants are invited to participate in on-campus interviews during the fall semester.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States.
  • Connecticut RN licensure required before program start.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time critical care nursing experience prior to enrollment (two or more years preferred).
  • Accepted critical care settings include Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Cardiac ICU, and Neuro ICU, involving management of ventilated patients and hemodynamic monitoring.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Strong performance in science courses such as chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology is highly recommended.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is recommended but not required.
• Prerequisite Coursework:
  • Undergraduate courses in Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, and college-level Mathematics completed with a grade of “B” or higher.
• Standardized Test Scores:
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission consideration.

Program Overview

The Fairfield DNP Nurse Anesthesia program integrates academic rigor with extensive clinical exposure. During the first year, students complete advanced science and theory-based coursework, followed by clinical residencies that progressively increase in autonomy and complexity. Students gain experience in all major anesthesia subspecialties, including general, regional, cardiac, obstetric, pediatric, and trauma anesthesia.

Clinical training is primarily conducted through Bridgeport Hospital and affiliated sites, providing students with exposure to a variety of surgical populations and anesthetic techniques. The curriculum also includes leadership, healthcare policy, and systems management courses to prepare graduates for executive and teaching roles in the future.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) through May 2031. Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) for CRNA licensure.
• Clinical Experience: Students perform regional (neuraxial and peripheral nerve block) and general anesthesia procedures under the supervision of CRNA and anesthesiologist faculty.
• Leadership Preparation: The curriculum develops leadership, teaching, and policy advocacy skills, positioning graduates for roles as healthcare leaders, directors of anesthesia services, and university faculty.

Contact

Fairfield University – Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824

Phone: (203) 254-4000
Email: gradadmis@fairfield.edu