La Salle University’s Post-BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia Program in Philadelphia launched as a standalone program in early 2024 and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The extended 41-month curriculum blends online DNP core coursework with hands-on clinical training and individualized clinical plans of study, and its first cohort is expected to graduate in spring 2027, positioning graduates for eligibility to sit for the National Certification Examination.

Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia (DNP)

The DNP program at La Salle University prepares registered nurses to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) with advanced expertise in anesthesia practice, leadership, and evidence-based care. The curriculum integrates didactic and clinical experiences, culminating in a final scholarly project, to ensure graduates are equipped to provide high-quality anesthesia services across diverse healthcare settings.

Program Length

• Duration: 41 months, full-time.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 85 credits.

Starting Month

January

The program begins in January each academic year.

Application Deadlines

Application Period: Applications are accepted from September 1 through December 31 for the cohort starting in January of the following year.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program.
  • Undergraduate coursework must include an introductory statistics course (covering both inferential and descriptive statistics) and a nursing research course.
• Licensure:
  • Current unencumbered United States RN license.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of critical care nursing experience in a critical care area within the United States, its territories, or a U.S. military hospital outside of the United States. This experience should involve managing invasive hemodynamic monitors, cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative nursing degree GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
• Certifications:
  • Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is preferred.
• Letters of Recommendation:
  • Four letters of recommendation:
    • One from a nurse manager.
    • One from a physician (M.D. or D.O.) familiar with your critical care nursing skills.
    • Two additional letters from healthcare professionals (e.g., unit charge RN, medical unit director, physician, CRNA) familiar with your professional nursing skills. Letters from peer nursing colleagues are not accepted.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: The DNP Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
• Clinical Experience: Students engage in extensive clinical practice through rotations in various healthcare settings, ensuring comprehensive preparedness for advanced anesthesia practice.
• Simulation Training: The program incorporates high-fidelity simulation labs equipped with state-of-the-art anesthesia workstations and mannequins to enhance clinical decision-making and technical proficiency.

Contact

La Salle University – School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Address: 1900 West Olney Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA

Phone: (215) 951-1000

Email: nurseanesthesia@lasalle.edu