Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesiology

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesiology at the University of South Florida (USF) prepares registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who deliver safe, high-quality anesthesia care across diverse clinical settings. The program combines advanced science, leadership, and clinical training to develop expert practitioners capable of integrating evidence-based practice and healthcare innovation into anesthesia delivery and patient care systems.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months (full-time)

The program includes an intensive didactic phase followed by immersive clinical training designed to meet or exceed all Council on Accreditation (COA) requirements.

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: 94 semester hours

Starting Month

May

New cohorts begin each May with orientation and foundational coursework in anesthesia sciences and leadership.

Application Deadline

Priority Deadline: August 15

Final Deadline: February 2 (applications accepted on a space-available basis)

Applications open on March 15 of the preceding year. Interviews are typically conducted in the fall and winter months.

Program Requirements

• Educational Background:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program.
• Licensure:
  • Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States.
• Experience:
  • At least one year of full-time experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting. Competitive applicants typically have two or more years of recent ICU experience in adult intensive care units (medical, surgical, cardiac, or trauma).
• Academic Performance:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Science GPA of 3.0 or higher is strongly recommended.
• Certifications:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification is recommended.
• Prerequisite Coursework:
  • Undergraduate-level statistics course completed with a grade of B or higher.
  • Organic or biochemistry coursework is recommended but not required.

Program Overview

The DNP Nurse Anesthesiology program at USF emphasizes the integration of clinical expertise, leadership, and scholarly inquiry. The curriculum includes advanced coursework in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, chemistry, and anesthesia principles, paired with courses in evidence-based practice, systems leadership, and healthcare policy. Students engage in simulated and real-world clinical learning experiences to prepare for independent anesthesia practice.

USF’s close affiliation with the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) allows students to train using high-fidelity simulation technologies that replicate complex anesthesia scenarios in a controlled environment. The clinical practicum phase includes rotations across major hospitals and surgical centers in the Tampa Bay region, covering general, pediatric, cardiovascular, obstetric, trauma, and regional anesthesia specialties.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) and are prepared for leadership roles in anesthesia practice, education, and healthcare systems improvement.

Additional Program Features

• Accreditation: Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Simulation-Based Training: CAMLS provides one of the nation’s most advanced simulation environments for nurse anesthesia education.
• Interprofessional Collaboration: Students train alongside other healthcare disciplines to promote teamwork and patient safety.
• DNP Project: Each student completes a scholarly project focused on improving clinical outcomes or operational efficiency within anesthesia practice.

Contact

University of South Florida College of Nursing
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 22
Tampa, FL 33612

Phone: (813) 224-7808
Email: mlcanale@usf.edu