Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia Concentration

The DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at Loma Linda University prepares registered nurses to assume advanced clinical, leadership, and scholarly roles as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). This 30-month, full-time program integrates evidence-based practice, clinical mastery, and research to prepare graduates to deliver safe, compassionate, and culturally competent anesthesia care in a wide variety of surgical and procedural settings. The curriculum is grounded in Loma Linda’s mission to provide whole-person care that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Program Length

• 30 months (full-time)

Credit Hours

• 88 units

Starting Month

September

Application Deadline

Application period runs from October 1 to February 1. Priority admission deadline: December 1.

Program Requirements

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited U.S. nursing program or an equivalent international degree.
• Licensure: Current, unrestricted RN license. A California RN license is required prior to starting clinical courses.
• Experience: Minimum of one year of full-time adult critical care experience in the United States at the time of matriculation (excluding orientation). Experience is evaluated individually for clinical relevance and complexity.
• Academic Performance: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate coursework and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in science prerequisites.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) — strongly recommended
• Prerequisite Coursework:
  • A full year of General Chemistry (highly recommended)
  • Introductory Biochemistry course (recommended)
  • Undergraduate or graduate-level statistics course with a grade of “B” or better
• Shadowing Requirement: A minimum of 8 hours of clinical observation with a CRNA must be completed prior to the admission interview.

Program Overview

The Loma Linda University DNP Nurse Anesthesia program blends didactic coursework, clinical immersion, and interprofessional collaboration. Students train in advanced simulation environments before progressing to hands-on anesthesia practice across multiple specialties, including general surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiac, and neurosurgery. The program emphasizes holistic patient care, leadership in healthcare systems, and the translation of research into clinical excellence. Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) upon completion.

Contact

Loma Linda University — School of Nursing
11262 Campus Street
Loma Linda, CA 92350

Phone: (909) 558-1000
Email: kcao@llu.edu
Web: www.llu.edu