Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia

The University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia is a 36-month, full-time program that prepares highly skilled Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) through advanced clinical training, leadership development, and evidence-based practice. The program is designed for motivated registered nurses seeking to assume independent and collaborative roles in providing anesthesia care across diverse healthcare settings.

Program Length

• 36 months (full-time)

Credit Hours

• 73 semester hours

Starting Month

June

Application Deadline

September 1

Program Requirements

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution.
• Licensure: Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) in Missouri.
• Experience: Minimum of one year of recent full-time critical care experience (ICU strongly preferred). Applicants with experience in high-acuity adult ICUs, surgical ICUs, or cardiovascular ICUs are most competitive.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
  • Particular emphasis is placed on GPA performance in science and math coursework.
• GRE: Combined verbal and quantitative score of 300 or higher (1000 on the older scale). Analytical writing score of 3.5 or higher. GRE scores must be from within the last 5 years.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Prerequisite Coursework: All courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.
  • General Chemistry I and II
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Statistics (upper-division 300-level or higher required prior to graduate-level statistics)
  • Health Assessment

  Applicants may submit course descriptions and objectives for equivalency review if course titles are not clearly labeled on transcripts.

Program Overview

The DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at UMKC emphasizes clinical excellence, leadership, and scholarly inquiry. Students begin with foundational science coursework in chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology, progressing into advanced anesthesia theory, simulation, and clinical immersion experiences. The final year includes clinical residencies across a variety of healthcare facilities, offering exposure to general, regional, cardiac, pediatric, and obstetric anesthesia.

Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). The program’s mission aligns with UMKC’s commitment to developing competent, compassionate anesthesia providers who improve patient outcomes and advance healthcare delivery.

Contact

University of Missouri–Kansas City / Truman Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia
2301 Holmes Street
Kansas City, MO 64108

Phone: (816) 404-1100
Email: tmcanes@tmcmed.org
Web: www.crna.tmchost.com