The Nurse Anesthesia Concentration (NAC) at the college is a rigorous 38-month program that will permit the graduate an opportunity to take his or her place among the ranks of the highly respected CRNAs who will be molding the health care history of the next century. Graduates are awarded the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for CRNAs, and are typically employed less than six months after graduation.
The goal of the nurse anesthesia concentration is to prepare qualified registered nurses to become anesthesia practitioners with an advanced scientific knowledge base and a comprehensive array of clinical skills.
Visit the Nurse Anesthesia Website.
PROGRAM FEATURES
- Full-time, year-round enrollment only, with hybrid curriculum including on-campus, online synchronous, and asynchronous activities
- Students are required to live in the Knoxville area where the majority of clinical sites are located.
- On-site requirements provide opportunities for networking with peers and faculty, formative learning, and engagement in scholarly inquiry.
- The curriculum contains courses in the principles and practices of general and regional anesthesia across all general surgery and specialty areas, including neuro, cardiovascular/thoracic, OB, and pediatrics. Considerable course work is devoted to pathophysiology and pharmacology in addition to theoretical foundations of practice, professional issues, and evidence-based practice. Simulation is incorporated into the curriculum in addition to a strong emphasis on clinical experiences.
CURRICULUM
Prospective applicants can review the current Program of Study to learn more about the sequencing of courses and timeline for the program.
ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility
In addition to the minimum DNP eligibility requirements, a complete Nurse Anesthesia application will consist of
- Hold an unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates.
- Complete at least one year of current, full-time adult ICU work experience as a Registered Nurse in the United States, its territories, or a US military hospital outside of the United States prior to program matriculation.
- Hold current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications prior to program matriculation.
Application Requirements
In addition to the minimum DNP application requirements, a complete Nurse Anesthesia application will consist of
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Test Scores – Only applicants with a cumulative GPA from all nursing degrees of less than 3.3 must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A combined score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections and an analytical writing score of 3. 5 or above is recommended.
- Recommendations from a former nursing professor that is familiar with the applicant’s academic work, the applicant’s immediate nursing supervisor in ICU that is responsible for completing the applicant’s employee evaluation, and an attending physician who works directly with the applicant in the ICU.
- Transcripts from all higher education institutions attended must be submitted, regardless of degree conferral or whether the courses appear on other transcripts.
PROGRAM FEES
For more information regarding fees please visit our Graduate Tuition & Fees page.