Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia Track

The BSN-to-DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at Union University prepares registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) through a rigorous 36-month curriculum combining advanced clinical practice, leadership training, and evidence-based research. Graduates are equipped to deliver safe, high-quality anesthesia care across a wide range of healthcare settings.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months, full-time

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 99 semester hours
• Total Clinical Hours: 2,860 clinical hours

Starting Month

August

New student cohorts begin annually each August, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis until the stated deadline.

Application Deadline

Deadline: October 1

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The selection process includes a comprehensive review of academic performance, clinical experience, leadership involvement, and personal goals, followed by an interview with the Nursing Graduate Admissions Selection Committee.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program.
  • Completion of an undergraduate statistics course is required.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license.
  • Eligibility for multi-state compact license or RN licensure in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi is required.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience as an RN within the last three years.
  • Preferred: Experience as a preceptor and/or charge nurse, demonstrating leadership within the ICU or place of employment.
  • Acceptable critical care areas include: Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, or Postoperative Unit.
  • Critical care experience must include management of ventilators, vasoactive drugs, arterial and central lines, and interpretation of hemodynamic data and electrocardiograms.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework.
  • Minimum science GPA of 3.0, defined as Anatomy and Physiology I & II and Statistics.
• Certifications:
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification required.
  • Minimum of 40 documented shadowing hours with a practicing CRNA.
• Leadership & Professional Development:
  • Leadership roles within the ICU or place of employment are preferred.
  • Participation in professional or clinical development projects is encouraged, including policy development, practice change initiatives, or evidence-based practice implementation.
  • Serving as an instructor for BLS, ACLS, or PALS courses is considered advantageous.
• Application Materials:
  • Statement of past clinical and/or work experiences, scholarly activities, and community service outlining motivation and goals for pursuing the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia.
  • Current résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • Three professional recommendations that address clinical skills, leadership, and academic potential.
• Interview:
  • Applicants must participate in an interview with the Nursing Graduate Admissions Selection Committee as part of the admission process.
• International Applicants:
  • Must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination.
  • All transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Services (WES) for equivalency.
• Transfer Policy:
  • Applicants dismissed from any nurse anesthesia or advanced practice program for academic, clinical, or behavioral reasons are ineligible for admission.
  • Applicants previously enrolled in another program must provide a letter of good standing from their program director.

Program Overview

The Union University DNP–Nurse Anesthesia program combines didactic education, simulation-based learning, and extensive clinical experience. Students engage in advanced coursework in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, and anesthesia principles during the initial phases. Clinical rotations provide direct experience administering anesthesia to patients across the lifespan and in a variety of surgical settings.

The program also emphasizes leadership and scholarly practice. Students complete a Doctoral Scholarly Project focused on evidence-based anesthesia practice, clinical innovation, or quality improvement to advance patient outcomes and healthcare systems.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: The DNP–Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
• Clinical Experience: Over 2,800 clinical hours across multiple hospital sites in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
• Leadership Development: The curriculum includes advanced leadership and evidence-based practice coursework designed to prepare graduates for roles as CRNA leaders, educators, and policy advocates.

Contact

Union University – College of Nursing
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305

Phone: (731) 661-6545
Email: nursingadmissions@uu.edu