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 Website  |  Catalog

Program Length

3 years

Possible Careers

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in settings where anesthesia services are needed

Application 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) 
Licenses/Certificates
  • 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
Clinical observation with a CRNA is recommended but not required at this time. Due to COVID-19, observation opportunities are not available at Loma Linda University Health. You may do your clinical observation at another facility.
Integrating faith and health
Loma Linda University educates and encourages a balanced life by living our values of humility, compassion, justice, integrity, excellence, freedom and self- control. You will be surrounded by faculty who are committed to healthcare innovation and research while engaging your spirituality.

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.