Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia

The Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nurse Anesthesia program at George Fox University prepares highly skilled and compassionate Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) through a rigorous, mission-driven education that blends advanced clinical training, online learning, and in-person residencies. Students gain the expertise and empathy needed to provide safe, effective anesthesia care and to serve as leaders who expand access to high-quality medical care throughout Oregon and beyond.

Program Length

• Duration: 3 years (9 semesters, no summers off)

Start Date

Fall 2025

Format

• Hybrid model combining synchronous and asynchronous online courses
• On-campus immersions each semester at the Portland Center
• Five supervised clinical residencies at healthcare facilities across Oregon

Students Per Cohort

• 25 (Year 1)
• 30 (Year 2)
• 30 (Year 3)

Credit Hours

• 90 semester credit hours

Cost

• $1,800 per semester credit hour (8–12 credits per semester)
• All stated financial information subject to change; financial aid available

Accreditation

Initial accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)

Program Overview

The 90-credit Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nurse Anesthesia program combines advanced coursework with immersive learning and clinical experience. The curriculum emphasizes leadership, patient safety, interprofessional collaboration, and ethical care. Students gain over 2,300 hours of clinical practice through five structured residencies. The program’s front-loaded hybrid model allows first-year students to complete most coursework online while attending short, in-person intensives each semester.

Clinical Training

• Residency 1: 390 hours
• Residency 2: 390 hours
• Residency 3: 520 hours
• Residency 4: 520 hours
• Residency 5: 520 hours
• Total: 2,340 clinical hours

Curriculum Summary

The program is divided into nine 15-week semesters, each building upon the last through online study, simulation, and clinical immersion.

• Semesters 1–3: Foundational coursework in physiology, pharmacology, research, and ethics
• Semesters 4–6: Advanced anesthesia practice, patient safety, and interprofessional care
• Semesters 7–9: Leadership, evidence-based practice, and clinical residencies

Admission Requirements

• Verified application through NursingCAS
• Application opens: August 7, 2025
• Application deadline: October 1, 2025 (for Fall 2026 start)
• Applications must be verified by NursingCAS by the deadline

Degree & GPA Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Post-Baccalaureate BSN, or Master of Science in Nursing entry
• Degree from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program (ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA)
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits of nursing coursework
• Grade of B or better in Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, and Statistics
• General Chemistry or Physics course (with gas laws, moles, molecular concepts) completed within 10 years

RN License

• Current unencumbered Oregon RN license required
• Proof of active Oregon RN license must be submitted by application deadline

References

• Two professional references:
  • One from a supervisor
  • One from a peer or CRNA shadow preceptor

Transcripts

• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Must be verified by NursingCAS within two weeks of the application deadline

Experience

• Minimum of one year (1,800 hours) of continuous full-time critical care ICU experience within the past three years
• Qualifying units: coronary, cardiac, burn, flight crew, medical, surgical, trauma, neuro, or pediatric ICU
• Non-qualifying units: neonatal ICU, emergency room, progressive care
• Must demonstrate competency in:
  • Adult ventilator management
  • Advanced monitoring and interpretation
  • Titration of vasoactive medications

Certifications

• ACLS, BLS, PALS, and CCRN certifications required by the application deadline
• Certifications must be maintained throughout the program
• ACLS, BLS, and PALS must be issued by the American Heart Association

CV

Submit a current CV (PDF format preferred).

Shadowing Experience

• Minimum of 20 hours shadowing a CRNA within the last three years

How to Apply

• Submit application via NursingCAS by October 1
• Add George Fox University under the “Add Program” tab
• Ensure Oregon RN license and all documentation are verified before the deadline

Contact

George Fox University — Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nurse Anesthesia Program

Address: 12753 SW 68th Avenue, Portland, OR 97223, USA

Phone: (503) 538-8383

Email: admissions@georgefox.edu