Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia

The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) at Florida International University (FIU) is designed to prepare highly skilled Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) capable of delivering safe, evidence-based anesthesia care across diverse healthcare settings. The program emphasizes advanced clinical expertise, critical thinking, leadership, and interprofessional collaboration, aligning with the highest standards of practice in the profession.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months (9 continuous semesters), full-time

This intensive, full-time program combines didactic coursework, simulation training, and extensive clinical experiences to ensure graduates are fully prepared for independent anesthesia practice.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 110 semester hours

Starting Month

January

New cohorts begin each January, following an immersive orientation and foundational coursework in anesthesia principles and pathophysiology.

Application Deadline

Deadline: April 1

Applications are accepted through the NursingCAS system and must be completed by April 1 for consideration in the following January cohort. Competitive applicants are invited for interviews during the summer prior to matriculation.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent nursing degree.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States.
  • Florida RN licensure required prior to beginning clinical practice.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time critical care nursing experience as a registered nurse prior to enrollment. Competitive applicants often have 2–4 years of ICU experience.
  • Acceptable critical care areas include Surgical ICU, Medical ICU, Neuro ICU, Cardiac ICU, and Trauma ICU.
  • Experience in high-acuity settings managing invasive monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive drug infusions is preferred.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Competitive science GPA above 3.5 is recommended.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is strongly recommended.
• Prerequisite Coursework:
  • Undergraduate courses in Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Statistics, and Health Assessment are required with a grade of “B” or higher.
  • Recent coursework in pathophysiology and pharmacology is preferred.

Program Overview

FIU’s DNP-NA program provides an integrated curriculum that blends advanced anesthesia sciences with leadership, healthcare policy, and systems improvement. Students begin with rigorous didactic instruction in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and chemistry of anesthesia before progressing into hands-on training using high-fidelity simulation and clinical rotations.

Throughout the program, students gain experience in general, regional, cardiac, obstetric, pediatric, and trauma anesthesia. Clinical rotations are conducted across multiple partner hospitals and surgical centers throughout South Florida, providing exposure to diverse patient populations and complex cases. Students also complete a doctoral project that addresses an issue in anesthesia safety, clinical efficiency, or patient outcomes.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the NBCRNA.
• Simulation-Based Learning: Students benefit from FIU’s state-of-the-art simulation facilities, offering realistic anesthesia scenarios to refine decision-making and technical skills.
• Leadership & Research: The DNP curriculum includes leadership and scholarly inquiry courses that prepare students to become clinical leaders and advocates for quality improvement and patient safety.

Contact

Florida International University
Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
11200 SW 8th Street – AHC 3
Miami, FL 33199

Phone: (305) 348-8062
Email: crna@fiu.edu