Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia Track

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia Track at the University of Miami equips registered nurses with advanced knowledge and clinical expertise to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The program integrates anesthesia sciences, leadership, and scholarly inquiry to prepare graduates to deliver safe, high-quality anesthesia care and improve healthcare outcomes across diverse clinical environments.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months (9 semesters), full-time

The program is designed as an intensive, continuous full-time course of study that includes both didactic instruction and extensive clinical practice. Students progress through basic to advanced anesthesia concepts while completing doctoral-level coursework in systems leadership and evidence-based practice.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 132 semester hours

Starting Month

January

New cohorts begin each January, with the first semester focused on anesthesia foundations, pharmacology, and leadership preparation.

Application Deadlines

Application Opens: September 1, 2024

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025 (for Spring 2026 cohort)

Interviews are typically conducted in the spring prior to matriculation, and offers are extended to the most qualified applicants based on holistic review.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States.
  • Florida RN licensure required prior to enrollment.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of two years of full-time critical care nursing experience as an RN within the past five years.
  • Preferred experience includes management of invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions in settings such as Surgical ICU, Medical ICU, or Cardiac ICU.
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Strong science GPA is recommended, particularly in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and pharmacology courses.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – must be obtained prior to clinical rotations.
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is highly recommended.
• Prerequisite Coursework:
  • Undergraduate-level courses in Statistics, Health Assessment, and Research with a grade of “B” or higher.
  • Recent coursework in chemistry or pharmacology is encouraged.

Program Overview

The University of Miami’s DNP Nurse Anesthesia program provides a robust curriculum blending science, technology, and clinical immersion. The first year focuses on foundational sciences, advanced physiology, pharmacology, and anesthesia principles. Subsequent semesters emphasize clinical integration, where students provide anesthesia care across a wide range of surgical specialties under supervision.

Clinical experiences are conducted at multiple facilities, including the University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System—one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country—offering exposure to trauma, pediatric, cardiac, obstetric, and regional anesthesia cases. Students also complete a doctoral project that contributes to practice improvement or patient safety in anesthesia care.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) through November 2028. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the NBCRNA.
• Simulation-Based Learning: Students utilize high-fidelity simulation technology to master complex anesthesia scenarios before entering clinical rotations.
• Research and Leadership Development: The curriculum emphasizes the DNP Essentials, fostering clinical scholarship, systems thinking, and interprofessional collaboration to advance healthcare outcomes.

Contact

University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies
P.O. Box 248153
Coral Gables, FL 33124

Phone: (305) 284-3666
Email: sonhs@miami.edu