Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia & Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

The dual-degree Nurse Anesthesia and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at St. John Fisher University prepares registered nurses to provide safe, compassionate, and high-quality anesthesia and acute care. This 36-month, full-time program integrates rigorous didactic instruction, high-fidelity simulation, and extensive clinical practice. Graduates are prepared for dual certification as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs), emerging as highly versatile and skilled leaders in today’s evolving healthcare environment.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months, full-time.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 103 credits.

Starting Month

Spring Semester

A new cohort of 12 students is admitted each spring semester.

Application Deadlines

Application Period: February 1 – April 1 annually. Applicants will be notified by April 15 if selected for an interview. Interviews are conducted on Tuesdays and Fridays in June and last approximately 90 minutes.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university.
  • Undergraduate coursework in Health Assessment, Research, and Statistics, each completed with a grade of B or higher.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unencumbered New York State RN license.
  • Applicants with out-of-state RN licenses must show proof of pending New York licensure at the time of application. Admission is conditional until licensure is obtained.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time critical care nursing experience in an accepted ICU setting.
  • Accepted adult ICUs include CCU/CVICU, MICU, Neuro ICU, SICU, and Trauma ICU.
  • PICU is the only pediatric ICU experience accepted.
  • NICU, ER, OR, and PACU experience are not accepted.
  • Adult ICU experience outside the U.S. is accepted only if obtained in a U.S. military hospital.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (preferred GPA 3.3 or higher).
• Certifications:
  • Current certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are required at the time of application.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
• Clinical Experience: Students complete a minimum of 2,600 clinical hours, including 600 hours in the AGACNP role, across diverse healthcare settings.
• Simulation & Skills Labs: Training occurs in the Glover-Crask Simulation Center and high-fidelity skills labs, providing low- and high-fidelity simulation experiences that mirror real-world scenarios.
• Curriculum Highlights:
  • Advanced airway, spinal, and epidural management.
  • Pharmacology and physiology of anesthesia practice.
  • Regional anesthesia and pain management.
  • Anesthesia crisis resource management.
  • Integrated care for cardiovascular, neurosurgical, obstetric, and emergency anesthesia cases.
• Research & Leadership: Emphasis on evidence-based practice, professional development, and leadership within both anesthesia and acute care nursing domains.
• Program Outcomes:
  • Eligibility to sit for the National Certification Exam (NCE) through the NBCRNA.
  • Eligibility to sit for AGACNP certification exams through the ANCC or AACN.
  • Preparation to deliver safe, evidence-based anesthesia and acute care in any clinical setting.
  • Development of leadership, compassion, and professional excellence in advanced practice nursing.

Contact

St. John Fisher University — Wegmans School of Nursing

Address: 3690 East Avenue,
Rochester, NY 14618, USA

Phone: (585) 385-8000

Email: Not specified