Program Description
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice registered nurse trained in the theories and techniques involved in delivering anesthesia. CRNAs participate in all aspects of patient care throughout the perioperative continuum and practice in all fifty states, providing approximately 32 million anesthetics annually. CRNAs deliver 65% of anesthesia services across the United States.The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program of the Loma Linda University School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Concentration offers a didactically front-loaded, 39-month, full-time graduate curriculum designed to educate critical care registered nurses in the nurse anesthetist role across the lifespan. The program’s curriculum follows the American Academy of Colleges of Nursing’s Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs’ (COA) Practice Doctorate Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs. It consists of graduate-level core nursing courses, nurse anesthesia concentration courses, clinical courses and DNP practice inquire project courses. It is designed to move students from foundational content through concepts and principles necessary for practice to a clinical practicum sequence for learning and refining of professional clinical practice.
The program is fully accredited by the COA as a Distance Education Program and has been designed to take advantage of available distance education technologies to enhance curriculum effectiveness and flexibility. Courses are delivered via both traditional classroom and hybrid distance education formats. As a result, the first 2 quarters of the program are entirely hybrid in design with the exception of the quarterly Seminar Week. The remainder of the program follows a more traditional format, utilizing distance education technologies to enhance course effectiveness.
The CRNA program commences in the Fall Quarter of each year and students are admitted annually. Students are strongly advised not to work throughout this rigorous program.
Program Length
3 yearsPossible Careers
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in settings where anesthesia services are neededApplication Deadlines
| Quarter | Application Open | Priority Deadline | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn of 2024 | Jun 1, 2023 | — | Aug 1, 2023 |
Admissions Requirements
Academics- BS in nursing or equivalent from an accredited school in the U.S.
- Cumulative GPA – 3.0 or higher
- Science GPA – 3.0 or higher (recommended)
- RN licensure; RN in California before clinical courses
- Current Certifications: BLS, ACLS and PALS are required; CCRN (preferred)
Experience
- Minimum 1 year, full-time adult critical care RN experience (in the U.S.) at time of matriculation (excluding orientation). Experience is evaluated on an individual basis.
- Clinical observation with CRNA – 8 hours (must be completed before admission interview)
Recommendations
- Spiritual advisor or pastor
- Immediate Supervisor in the critical care area in which the applicant is currently working
- Critical care/ICU co-worker
Expected Cost of Attendance
Academic Year 2023-2024
| Year of Program: | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $43,005 | $52,805 | $27,040 | $18,420 |
| Fees | $3,125 | $4,400 | $4,400 | $3,425 |
| Books & Supplies | $4,460 | $1,150 | $140 | $50 |
| Instruments | — | — | — | — |
| Misc (e.g., Boards, Licensing exam, Uniforms) | $1,834 | $2,344 | $1,682 | $698 |
| Total | $52,424 | $60,699 | $33,262 | $22,593 |
Notes
Expected costs for the 2023-2024 academic year are based on full time attendance. From year to year, increases are anticipated consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.
Estimated Living Expenses
Academic Year 2023-2024, off campus, with a roommate
| Year of Program: | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months enrolled | 9 | 12 | 11 | 6 |
| Food and Housing | $17,280 | $23,040 | $21,120 | $11,520 |
| Transportation | $3,150 | $4,200 | $3,850 | $2,100 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Costs | $2,700 | $3,600 | $3,300 | $4,320 |
Notes
- Amounts are what a student can apply to borrow for the number of months shown in each academic year based on living off campus with a roommate and not with a relative.
- International students need to calculate 12 months of living expenses based on the numbers listed here.
- In general, to qualify for financial aid a student must be enrolled at least half time taking degree requirements. Half time is 6 units in a quarter for undergraduate programs and 4 units in a quarter for graduate programs.