DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program FAQs

The program does not have graduates yet to calculate an attrition rate. 

The program does not have graduates yet to calculate an employment rate. 

Yes, there is an in-program practice certification exam and practice tests in the final year of the program. Students are also required to take the SEE exam twice during the program. This allows the student to identify areas of weaknesses and assist in preparation for the NCE.

The program does not have graduates yet to calculate a first-time pass rate. 

Once per year.

We anticipate over 100 applicants will apply.

We anticipate 50-60 applicants.

We anticipate 3.4 to 4.0 GPA.

Our Nurse Anesthesia program admits up to 25 students once per year.

The Nurse Anesthesia program track is a full-time program. Students cannot work during this program due to the curricular and clinical demands.

Working in an Intensive Care Unit provides applicants experience with invasive monitor interpretation, titration of vasoactive infusions, management of ventilated patients, and care of acutely ill patients. Operating Room, Emergency Department, Cath Lab, and Telemetry Unit experience do not count as Intensive Care Unit experiences. Flight nursing experience is accepted only if the applicant has one year of full-time experience (or its part-time equivalent) working in an Intensive Care Unit within the last three years and actively manages patients on ventilators and vasoactive drips during transports. Please see “Admission Criteria” for further information related to critical care experience and the COA standards.

Evidence of the equivalent of two years full-time experience working as an RN within the past 5 years; including a minimum of one (1) year full-time experience (or its part-time equivalent) as a registered nurse in an Intensive Care Unit within the last three years by the application deadline.

No, only a full-time program is offered.

No.

Yes, as long as you will finish your BSN by the application deadline. You must also update your transcript demonstrating completion of the BSN degree by the application deadline.

We do not offer a CRNA master’s completion program.

As you prepare, please keep the following things in mind:

• Our goal is for students to be successful.
• Do not worry about saying the "right" thing or using specific jargon or buzzwords. Be concerned with being your authentic self. Take a deep breath and tell your story; we are excited to learn about you!
• We want to hear about your specific goals and aspirations. Why this program and why now? What is your ultimate goal with this degree and certification? Consider your answers to these questions as you prepare.
• Technology can fail us all at times. We use Microsoft Teams for our interviews, which can take some time to become familiar with.
• Applicants should anticipate that interviewers will ask a broad range of questions that attempt to elicit the applicant’s understanding of the nurse anesthetist’s role, motivation, goals and leadership potential as well as clinical knowledge.
• Clinical knowledge includes (but is not limited to):
  • Ventilator management
  • ABGs
  • Vasoactive pharmacology
  • Lab values
  • Hemodynamic, cardiac, respiratory and neurophysiology alterations
• We will ask if you have questions for us at the end of your interview. We are glad to answer any questions you have; but we have a short amount of time with each candidate. Many questions can be answered in our documents and on our website.
• Don’t feel obligated to ask questions to prove that you are interested. We knew that you were interested when you came to the interview. After reading our materials, if you find that you don’t have questions, don’t worry. Consider articulating for the Selection Committee the 2-3 things you want them to remember about you.
• Graduate Interviews can be stressful but also very informative and fun. We want to make sure that you have the information you need to make the right decision for yourself and your family. Ultimately, we want to do what is right for our profession, our university, our program, our students, and you.

Ohio University considers accepting graduate transfer credit on an individualized basis, subject to specific criteria. For detailed information about the criteria and process for transferring graduate credits, please refer to the University Catalog.

No.

Due to space availability and the selective nature of this program, current Ohio University graduate nursing students may not change their program to the Nurse Anesthesia program. Current Ohio University graduate nursing students must apply to the Nurse Anesthesia program to be evaluated alongside other applicants. Admission and selection into the Nurse Anesthesia program is not automatic or guaranteed.

Transfer requests are evaluated on an individual basis.

Some students may be notified that they have been placed on an "on-call" list, which means that they may be selected to join the Fall cohort if a space becomes available.

There is no guarantee that space will become available.

On-call lists are used for the next admitting cohort only, on-call students not offered admission are still required to reapply to the next cohort.

Yes, we review your file and make recommendations for strengthening your application. We have had several first-time denial applicants complete faculty suggestion activities, apply again and successfully obtain admission to the program.

No. We are not offering a Post-Masters option at this time.

Yes, students living outside of Ohio will need to relocate to participate in coursework and clinical hours.

We anticipate 2 to 6 years.

36 months, 9 semesters

Nurse anesthesia classes are taught Monday to Friday during the day. DNP core courses are offered in an online asynchronous format with some expected synchronous sessions. Clinical/practicum courses are generally Monday through Friday; but may also occur at other times, including weekends, nights, and holidays.

Clinical/practicum experiences begin the second year and require emergent case experience that may require weekends, nights, and holidays.

DNP core courses are offered in an online format. All of the nurse anesthesia didactic coursework is conducted in a classroom setting. All coursework must be taken within the 36-month program of study.

Our Nurse Anesthesia program requires 2,300 hours.

Students will administer anesthesia for patients of all ages with a variety of pre-existing conditions undergoing a full spectrum of surgical and diagnostic procedures. Clinical experiences include elective and emergent procedures, call experience, OB, cardiac, ICU, regional, pediatric and rural rotations. Students participate in clinical experiences at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Doctor's Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O'Bleness, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Adena Regional Medical Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital, and Upper Valley Medical Center.

DNP practicum hours are dependent on the course objectives and the student’s DNP Project. Faculty work closely with students in the selection of a preceptor-mentor and clinical setting.

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