Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia (BSN–DNP Track)

The BSN–DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at Loyola University New Orleans prepares registered nurses for advanced practice as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). This 87-credit, full-time doctoral program integrates advanced clinical anesthesia education with doctoral-level leadership and systems thinking. The program reflects Loyola’s Jesuit values of cura personalis (care for the whole person), reflection, and service, ensuring graduates are compassionate, ethical, and clinically exceptional leaders in anesthesia practice.

Program Length

• Duration: Typically 36 months, full-time.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 87 credits.

Starting Month

Not specified

Applicants are encouraged to apply early through NursingCAS to secure an interview for spring admission consideration.

Application Deadlines

Application Period: Applications are submitted via NursingCAS. Interview invitations are typically extended in spring, followed by final admission decisions. Applicants must submit all required documents, including transcripts, RN licensure proof, and references, before the published NursingCAS deadline.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited (CCNE or ACEN) program.
  • Official transcripts from all previous college coursework required.
• Licensure:
  • Current unencumbered RN license in one of the United States, its territories, or protectorates, with eligibility for Louisiana licensure.
  • Louisiana RN license required before enrolling in Nurse Anesthesia Specialty Track courses.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time, current experience as a Registered Nurse in a critical care setting at the time of application.
  • Preferred critical care areas: surgical ICU, cardiothoracic ICU, neurosurgical ICU, burn ICU, pediatric ICU, or medical ICU.
  • PACU, NICU, and Emergency Department experience are not considered critical care for admission purposes.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate coursework.
• Certifications:
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification required at the time of application.
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification required before beginning the clinical practicum.
  • All certifications must be maintained throughout the program and for ninety days after graduation.
• Letters of Recommendation:
  • Three current letters of recommendation from professional colleagues in leadership positions within critical care.
  • Recommendations from family, friends, or didactic instructors are not accepted.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Personal Statement (maximum two pages) describing career goals, professional journey, and motivation for entering the Loyola Nurse Anesthesia Program.
  • CV or resume detailing nursing experience, CRNA shadowing, and accomplishments.
  • Completion of an on-campus faculty interview and short assessment tool.
  • International applicants must submit a credential evaluation (WES or CGFNS) and meet English proficiency standards (see below).
  • Application fee and submission of all documents via NursingCAS.
• English Proficiency (International Applicants):
  • Paper-based TOEFL: 550
  • Computer-based TOEFL: 213
  • Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): Writing 22, Speaking 23, Reading 21, Listening 17
  • Exemptions: High school or college degree completed in the U.S., or from an English-speaking country.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
• Curriculum Format: Hybrid structure combining asynchronous online coursework with on-campus immersion experiences for maximum flexibility and depth of learning.
• Clinical Experience: Includes multiple anesthesia practicums totaling over 2,000 hours and a broad variety of case types in general, regional, pediatric, obstetric, cardiovascular, neurosurgical, and pain management anesthesia.
• Research & Leadership: Completion of a three-part DNP Scholarly Project demonstrating evidence-based practice improvement, innovation, and dissemination.
• Employment Policy: Outside employment during the program is strongly discouraged due to the intensive nature of coursework and clinical rotations.

Contact

Loyola University New Orleans — College of Nursing and Health

Address: 6363 St. Charles Avenue,
New Orleans, LA 70118, USA

Phone: Not specified

Email: letters@loyno.edu