Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia

The DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at Samford University is an intensive, full-time, 28-month program that prepares registered nurses for advanced clinical practice as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The program emphasizes clinical excellence, patient safety, and evidence-based anesthesia practice, equipping graduates with the knowledge and technical expertise required to deliver anesthesia care across a broad range of surgical and clinical settings.

Program Length

• 28 months (full-time)

Credit Hours

• 82 credit hours

Start Date

January

Application Deadline

May 1

Program Requirements

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an NLNAC or CCNE-accredited nursing program, completed prior to the application deadline.
• Licensure: Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Experience: Minimum of one year of full-time acute or critical care nursing experience as an RN. Acceptable critical care areas include:
  • Medical ICU (MICU)
  • Surgical ICU (SICU)
  • Neuro ICU
  • Neonatal ICU (NICU)
  • Pediatric ICU (PICU)
  • Burn ICU
  • Trauma ICU
  • Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)
  • Cardiovascular Recovery

  Note: Experience in the Emergency Department, Recovery Room, or Operating Room does not qualify as critical care experience.

• Academic Performance: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• GRE: Minimum verbal score of 153 and quantitative score of 144. Applicants who took the older version of the GRE must have a combined score of at least 1000. Scores must be within the past 5 years.
• Prerequisites: The following undergraduate courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or better:
  • General Chemistry
  • General Research

Program Overview

Students in the Samford DNP Nurse Anesthesia program gain extensive experience in anesthesia care through advanced coursework and hands-on clinical training. The curriculum integrates pathophysiology, pharmacology, chemistry, and anesthesia principles with clinical decision-making and leadership development. Students participate in clinical rotations across multiple healthcare settings, including tertiary hospitals and specialty surgical centers, where they manage anesthesia care for diverse patient populations.

The program is designed to foster critical thinking, professionalism, and collaboration within multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Graduates are prepared to sit for the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

Contact

Samford University — Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
800 N Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229

Phone: 205-726-2047
Email: amaddox@samford.edu