Old Dominion University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia program in Virginia Beach is a Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)-accredited 100-credit, 36-month pathway that blends hybrid didactic instruction with extensive supervised clinical training at hospitals throughout the Hampton Roads region and beyond. Known for its small cohort size and consistently high first-time National Certification Exam pass rates, the program also incorporates a scholarly project addressing patient care or quality improvement and prepares graduates for advanced anesthesia practice across diverse clinical settings.

Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a Concentration in Nurse Anesthesia

This program prepares graduates to provide a variety of anesthetics to patients across the lifespan and wellness continuum.

Program Length

36 months, full-time

The program includes rigorous academic coursework, clinical training, and simulation-based learning to prepare graduates for the complexities of modern anesthesia practice.

Credit Hours

100 credit hours

The curriculum integrates nurse anesthesia specialty and DNP courses, including a scholarly project addressing patient care, quality improvement, or practice improvement.

Starting Month

May

New cohorts commence annually in May, starting with an intensive orientation and foundational courses.

Application Deadline

September 1st

Applicants are advised to submit all materials by this date for consideration for the upcoming cohort.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Licensure: Current, unencumbered multi-state compact license as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time employment in an intensive care unit (ICU) within the last two years.
  • Experience must involve direct patient care in settings such as Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Cardiac ICU, or Neuro ICU.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is required.
• Prerequisite Coursework:
  • Grades of B or better in the following courses:
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Organic or Biochemistry (200 level or above)
  • Statistics (completed within the last 10 years)
  • Pathophysiology
  • Pharmacology
• Additional Requirements:
  • Three letters of recommendation, with at least one from a direct supervisor.
  • A 500-700 word essay specific to the Nurse Anesthesia concentration.
  • A minimum of 16 hours of clinical shadowing experience.
  • Current resume detailing relevant experience.
  • For non-native English speakers: TOEFL scores (100 or above).

Contact

Program Director: Adrienne Hartgerink

Phone: (757) 368-4172

Email: ahartger@odu.edu

Website: www.odu.edu