Degree Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Nurse Anesthesia

The Ursuline College with Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program (SNAP) is a full-time, 36-month doctoral program that prepares baccalaureate-educated nurses to become doctorally prepared Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Offered in partnership with Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program, LLC, the curriculum integrates rigorous academic coursework, simulation immersions, and extensive clinical training in hospital settings across the United States. The program adheres to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) standards and emphasizes clinical excellence, leadership, and compassionate care for diverse populations.

Program Length

• Duration: 36 months (full-time, integrated format).

Credit Hours

• Total Credit Hours: Not specified (meets COA standards).

Starting Month

January 2027

Application Deadlines

Application Opens: October 15, 2025
Application Deadline: April 1, 2026

Program Delivery Format

• Hybrid structure featuring both synchronous and asynchronous online learning.
• Annual on-campus intensives for advanced skills training and competency assessments.
• Clinical practicum rotations in hospitals and healthcare centers nationwide.

Academic Partnership

Established in 2022, the Ursuline College–Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program combines Ursuline’s academic excellence with Somnia’s national expertise in nurse anesthesia education and continuing professional development. The mission of SNAP is to prepare nurse anesthetists who demonstrate advanced, specialized knowledge and leadership in providing safe, high-quality anesthesia care to diverse populations.

Admission Requirements

• Application Fee: $50
• Application & Essay:
  • Submit the Ursuline College Graduate Admission application for the Doctoral Nurse Anesthesia Track.
  • Include a personal essay (≤500 words) addressing:
    • How you have prepared for an advanced practice role as a nurse anesthetist.
    • How you see yourself contributing to the profession.
• Transcripts:
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended (undergraduate and graduate).
  • Must be sent directly to the Processing Center by the issuing institution.
  • Electronic: ProcessingCenter@ursuline.edu
  • Mail: Ursuline College, Processing Center, 2550 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH 44124
  • Degree must be from a regionally accredited university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDoE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Recommendations:
  • Two professional recommendations using the required online form.
  • One must be from the applicant’s immediate supervisor.
  • One must be from a professional colleague (an optional third from an academic faculty is encouraged).
• Resume/CV: Detailed curriculum vitae outlining education, nursing experience, and certifications.
• Interview: Interview with the Admissions Committee (by invitation only).

Academic Requirements

• Baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.2 (Chemistry, Statistics, and Anatomy & Physiology).
• At least one prerequisite course in each category completed within 10 years of the application deadline.

Professional Requirements

• Current unencumbered RN license in one of the 50 states or U.S. territories.
• Proof that all RN licenses (current or inactive) are unencumbered.
• Minimum of one year of full-time critical care RN experience within three years of the program start.
• Experience must be from a U.S. hospital or U.S. military hospital.
• Non-competitive units: PACU, ER, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Step-down Units.
• Competitive ICU experience: Surgical, Medical, Cardiothoracic, Trauma, or Neurosurgical ICUs.
• Observation day with a CRNA (8 hours within the last two years).
• Current CCRN certification required.

International Applicant Requirements

• Proof of English proficiency (choose one):
  • TOEFL: 550 (paper), 213 (CBT), or 80 (iBT)
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • Duolingo English Test: 105
  • GATEWAY (formerly English3/E3PT): 475
• Official credential evaluations from WES, ECE, or GCE required.

Post-Admission Requirements

• Current AHA certification in BLS, ACLS, and PALS.
• Physical Health Assessment Form and updated immunization record.
• Federal background check and drug test (must be free from disqualifying findings).
• Immediate reporting of any arrests, charges, or convictions to the Program Director.
• $2,000 non-refundable deposit required with acceptance:
  • $500 applied to tuition
  • $1,500 applied to Student Activity Fee

Technical Standards

Students must demonstrate the ability to meet the following essential standards, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Observation and sensory abilities
• Effective communication skills
• Motor and psychomotor abilities
• Intellectual, conceptual, and quantitative reasoning
• Professional behavior, integrity, and emotional stability
• Ability to manage stress and adapt to rapidly changing clinical environments

Clinical Practicum

• Begins during the second year of the program.
• Students complete over 2,000 clinical hours and administer more than 800 anesthetics across a wide range of surgical and diagnostic procedures.
• Clinical sites are located throughout the United States.

Program Highlights

• Hybrid distance education with live and recorded classes.
• Annual on-campus skills and competency intensives.
• National network of hospital-based clinical training sites.
• Simulation immersions using state-of-the-art technology.
• Faculty mentorship emphasizing leadership and compassionate care.

Contact

Ursuline College with Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program (SNAP)

Address: 2550 Lander Road,
Pepper Pike, OH 44124, USA

Phone: 1-888-URSULINE or (440) 449-4200

Email: graduateadmissions@ursuline.edu