Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) DNP Nurse Anesthesia program is a rigorous 27-month, full-time doctoral program designed to prepare registered nurses for advanced practice as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The program emphasizes clinical mastery, leadership, and evidence-based practice while providing a comprehensive foundation in anesthesia principles, advanced physiology, pharmacology, and patient safety. Graduates are equipped to deliver anesthesia care across the lifespan in a wide range of surgical, procedural, and critical care settings.

Program Length

• 27 months (full-time)

Credit Hours

• 112 credit hours

Start Date

August

Application Deadline

September 1

Program Requirements

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program. All degree work must be completed by December prior to the August start date.
• Licensure: Current, valid RN license to practice in the United States.
• Experience: Minimum of one year of full-time critical care nursing experience as a registered nurse.
  • Critical care experience must include management of invasive monitoring and/or administration of vasoactive medications.
  • Acceptable critical care areas include: Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), and Postoperative Cardiovascular Care Unit.
  • Not considered critical care: Emergency Department, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, or Step-Down Units.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate coursework.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for science prerequisites.
• GRE Requirements:
  • GRE must be completed prior to application.
  • Competitive applicants typically score 900 or above on the combined verbal and quantitative sections and 3.5 or higher on the analytical writing section.
• Prerequisite Courses: Completion with a grade of “C” or better in:
  • Chemistry
  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Descriptive Statistics

Program Overview

The UAB Nurse Anesthesia DNP curriculum is designed to integrate didactic instruction with high-fidelity simulation and extensive clinical immersion. Students progress from foundational sciences to advanced clinical management of anesthesia for diverse surgical populations. Training covers all anesthesia subspecialties, including general, regional, cardiac, pediatric, obstetric, and neurosurgical anesthesia. Simulation-based learning allows students to refine their clinical decision-making, airway management, and crisis response skills in a controlled environment before advancing to clinical rotations.

Throughout the program, students engage in scholarly projects addressing real-world issues in anesthesia care, health systems leadership, and patient outcomes improvement. Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

Contact

University of Alabama at Birmingham — School of Nursing
NB 1007
Birmingham, AL 35294-1210

Phone: (205) 975-5700
Email: wrightel@uab.edu