The University of Akron Nurse Anesthesia Program is a full-time, 36-month Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) that prepares registered nurses for advanced anesthesia practice and eligibility to sit for the National Certification Examination. Typically admitting a competitive cohort of around 25 students per year, the curriculum blends rigorous didactic coursework — including advanced physiology, pharmacology, and ethics — with early and sustained clinical immersion at Grant Medical Center and additional affiliate hospitals in the Ohio region. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, high-fidelity simulation, leadership development, and progressive clinical responsibility as students gain experience across general, regional, obstetric, pediatric, and specialty anesthesia care settings.

Degree Type

DNP

Program Length

36 months, full time

Credit Hours

60 semester hours

Starting Month

June

Application Deadline

August

Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing is required.

Current Ohio State license.

A minimum of one year of current adult critical care experience. Current experience is defined as one consecutive year of adult critical care nursing. Acceptable critical care experience include: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU), and Surgical ICU, Medical ICU. Not acceptable: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU), Emergency Room (ER), Post Anesthesia Care Units (PACU), Operating Room, Labor and Delivery Room, Step Down, Telemetry Units, or Cardiac Catheterization Labs.

A minimum of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale from undergraduate work.

Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum score of 400 in the verbal and quantitative categories and a minimum score of 3.0 in the analytical writing category.

Certifications: ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), and CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) certification prior to interview.

Shadow a CRNA for a minimum of 16 hours.

Prerequisite courses: Basic health assessment skills (BSN level) course, Basic computer skills, and a Graduate level statistics course.

Contact

ph: (330) 972-5175
email: radesic@uakron.edu
web: www.uakron.edu