Doctor of Nursing PracticeNurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA)

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Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

The Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program

Named for Dr. Mushtaque Juneja, a Louisville anesthesiologist, entrepreneur and Bellarmine University alumnus, the Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program is designed for post-BSN students seeking doctoral preparation for advanced practice as a Nurse Anesthetist. The curriculum provides students with the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to care for diverse patient populations across the lifespan.

Graduates of the program are prepared to assume clinical leadership roles in health-related organizations to improve systems of care, patient outcomes, and quality of care. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam (NCE) offered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).

Earn Your CRNA at Bellarmine.

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) credential came into existence in 1956. CRNAs are anesthesia professionals who safely administer more than 50 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. CRNAs are qualified to make independent judgments regarding all aspects of anesthesia care based on their education, licensure, and certification. 

CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pain management specialists; and U.S. military, Public Health Services, and Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities. 

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Program Highlights

  • Degree Awarded: Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a specialization in Nurse Anesthesia
  • Modality: The first two semesters are online, the final seven semesters are on campus
  • Program Start Date: Each cohort begins in August, at the beginning of the fall semester
  • Program Duration: 9 semesters over 36 months, requiring 101 credit hours
  • Cohort size: 20 students
  • GRE Requirements: None
  • Financial Aid: Financial assistance is available. Visit our Financial Aid website for more information.

Application Process

The application cycle for the Fall 2025 cohort of the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia Program will open on August 8, 2024, and remain open until October 15, 2024. Applicants will be notified via email if selected for an interview with the Nurse Anesthesia Admission Committee in November 2024. Interviews will be held in December 2024.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the DNP-NA program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to: 

Patient Safety:

  • Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care.
  • Refrain from engaging in extraneous activities that abandon or minimize vigilance while providing direct patient care (e.g., texting, reading, e-mailing, etc.).
  • Conduct a comprehensive equipment check
  • Protect patients from iatrogenic complications.

Perianesthesia:

  • Provide individualized care throughout the perianesthesia continuum.
  • Deliver culturally competent perianesthesia care
  • Provide anesthesia services to all patients across the lifespan
  • Perform a comprehensive history and physical assessment
  • Administer general anesthesia to patients with a variety of physical conditions.
  • Administer general anesthesia for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
  • Administer and manage a variety of regional anesthetics.
  • Maintain current certification in ACLS and PALS.

Critical Thinking:

  • Apply knowledge to practice in decision-making and problem solving.
  • Provide nurse anesthesia services based on evidence-based principles.
  • Perform a preanesthetic assessment prior to providing anesthesia services.
  • Assume responsibility and accountability for diagnosis.
  • Formulate an anesthesia plan of care prior to providing anesthesia services.
  • Identify and take appropriate action when confronted with anesthetic equipment-related malfunctions.
  • Interpret and utilize data obtained from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities.
  • Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy.
  • Recognize, evaluate, and manage the physiological responses coincident to the provision of anesthesia services.
  • Recognize and appropriately manage complications that occur during the provision of anesthesia services.
  • Use science-based theories and concepts to analyze new practice approaches.
  • Pass the national certification examination (NCE) administered by NBCRNA.

Communication:

  • Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients and their families.
  • Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective interprofessional exchange of information and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
  • Respect the dignity and privacy of patients while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of interprofessional care.
  • Maintain comprehensive, timely, accurate, and legible healthcare records.
  • Transfer the responsibility for care of the patient to other qualified providers in a manner that assures continuity of care and patient safety.
  • Teach others.

Leadership:

  • Integrate critical and reflective thinking in his or her leadership approach.
  • Provide leadership that facilitates intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration.

Professional Role:

  • Adhere to the Code of Ethics for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
  • Interact on a professional level with integrity.
  • Apply ethically sound decision-making processes.
  • Function within legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Accept responsibility and accountability for his or her practice.
  • Provide anesthesia services to patients in a cost-effective manner.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of wellness and chemical dependency in the anesthesia profession through completion of content in wellness and chemical dependency  
  • Inform the public of the role and practice of the CRNA.
  • Evaluate how public policy making strategies impact the financing and delivery of health     care.
  • Advocate for health policy change to improve patient care.
  • Advocate for health policy change to advance the specialty of nurse anesthesia.
  • Analyze strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of care.
  • Analyze health outcomes in a variety of populations.
  • Analyze health outcomes in a variety of clinical settings.
  • Analyze health outcomes in a variety of systems.
  • Disseminate research evidence.
  • Use information systems/technology to support and improve patient care.
  • Use information systems/technology to support and improve healthcare systems.
  • Analyze business practices encountered in nurse anesthesia delivery settings

Admission Requirements

Admission to the BSN-DNP track requires approval by the Graduate Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. Admission of applicants is based upon the following criteria:

  • Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing degree or higher from a CCNE or ACEN-accredited nursing program. 
  • Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework. (Transcripts must be mailed directly from the previous institution(s) to Nursing CAS or CAS will not process and verify your application.) 
  • Minimum required GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate work and 3.5 for any graduate work. 
  • Proof of active, unrestricted license to practice nursing in Kentucky and/or compact states. 
  • A minimum of one year of recent (within 2 years) full-time employment, or its part-time equivalent, as a registered nurse in a critical care* setting. Employment Verification Form. Preference is given to applicants who are employed in a high acuity critical care setting at the time of application AND interview.
  • • Critical Care Registered Nurse certification (you will be asked to upload a copy of your CCRN Official Score Report from the AACN) REQUIRED  
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), & Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification required for application.  
  • Three professional letters of reference (at least one must be from current employer/direct supervisor). 
  • Personal statement describing career goals and interests in graduate study. Goals Statement
  • Proof of shadowing experience (on form provided) with either a CRNA or an anesthesiologist. Anesthesia Shadow Verification Form
  • Successful interview with members of the Nurse Anesthesia Admission Committee for selected applicants. 
  • Non-refundable matriculation fee of $1,500 if accepted into the program. If the applicant chooses not to enroll in the program, the matriculation fee will be forfeited.   
  • After acceptance, documentation of clinical requirements including immunizations, physical examination, background check, drug test, health insurance, and other documentation as needed. 
  • All candidates who are accepted to the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia track will be expected to sign the Technical Standards Acknowledgement prior to beginning course work and to reaffirm upon reentry after any leave of absence from Bellarmine University. Technical Standards Policy
  • Additional information is required from international applicants; see the DNP admission application form for more information. 
    • Language Proficiency: 
      • Language proficiency is required to ensure that students within the department of nursing are able to communicate with a diverse population.  The department of nursing accepts one of the following as evidence of required language proficiency: 
        • TOEFL-iBT (internet-based test) and receive a total score of 83 or higher AND a score of 26 or higher on the speaking test OR 
        • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and receive a total band score of 7 or higher AND a speaking band score of 8 or higher OR 
      • Language training at an approved center.  Bellarmine University recognized the following standards and centers: English Language Services level 112 (http://www.els.edu/en); Interlink Level 5 (http://interlink.edu/); Intensive Language Program at Indiana University Level 6 (http://iep.indiana.edu/); and other centers may be approved at the discretion of the Admission, Progression and Graduation committee of the Department of Nursing. 
    • International students who are exempt from language proficiency requirements are the following: 
      • Students who are citizens of or have completed a degree from a TOEFL exempt country. 
      • Students who have a secondary or high school diploma earned in TOEFL exempt countries. 
      • International students who have completed at least one year of full-time university study or its equivalent (i.e., a minimum of 24 earned credit hours or its equivalent and earned a 2.0 GPA) in a TOEFL exempt country. 
      • Only official score reports will be accepted. 

Clinical Experience

The clinical practicum component begins in semester four, and continues throughout the remainder of the program, focusing on the practical application of didactic material from the nurse anesthesia curriculum. Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetists (RRNAs) will be assigned to various anesthetizing locations within some of the region's leading hospitals, affording RRNAs the opportunity to engage in supervised administration of anesthesia care to individuals across the lifespan.

Clinical Affiliations

  • Norton Hospital
  • Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital
  • Norton Audubon Hospital
  • Norton Brownsboro Hospital
  • Norton Children’s Hospital
  • Baptist Health Hardin
  • Owensboro Health Regional Hospital 

Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees

Graduate Financial Aid and Tuition website

The DNP-NA Program is not eligible for tuition discounts.

Accreditation

COA Accreditation logo

The Bellarmine University Nurse Anesthesia Program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 10275 W. Higgins Rd. Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603; Phone: 224-275-9130. The program's next review by the COA is scheduled for Fall, 2028. https://www.coacrna.org/  

The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Bellarmine University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Bellarmine University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Bellarmine University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org). 

Faculty & Staff

Dr. Carly Mitchell, DNP, APRN, CRNA

Carly Mitchell, DNP, APRN, CRNA headshotDNP-NA Program Administrator
502-272-8265
cmitchell6@bellarmine.edu

Dr. Boone Simmons, DNP, APRN, CRNA

Booth-SimmonsDNP-NA Assistant Program Administrator,
Clinical Education Coordinator
502-272-7408
jsimmons3@bellarmine.edu

Dr. Matthew Harmon, DNP, APRN, CRNA, MBA

Matthew HarmonDNP-NA Didactic & Simulation Faculty

Julie Anderson

Julie Andeson headshotDNP-NA Enrollment and Compliance Specialist
502-272-8995
janderson@bellarmine.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Is part-time study available?

No, the program is designed for full-time study only.

Will I Be Required To Travel Outside The Louisville Area For My Clinical Education Experiences?

All primary and specialty clinical rotations will take place at Norton Hospital; Norton Women's and Children's Hospital; Norton Audubon Hospital; Norton Brownsboro Hospital; and Norton Children's Hospital located in Louisville, Kentucky.

However, students may elect to complete an enrichment rotation at Baptist Health Hardin in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and/or Owensboro Health Regional Hospital in Owensboro, Kentucky, during the third year of the program.

How much time should I expect to commit to the program each week?

Students can expect to spend on average 64 hours each week in classes and/or at clinical sites.

Will I be able to work during the program?

The Program recognizes that refraining from employment may not be feasible in every situation; therefore, the Program does not deny the student nurse anesthetist the right to work and earn a wage outside the Program. However, student employment is strongly discouraged due to the academic rigors of the Program. Students will gain more from their academic and clinical experiences without the additional burdens of work commitments.

What is considered critical care experience?

Critical care is defined by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) as: “Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a US military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care….” (Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs – Practice Doctorate, revised January 2023).

Areas not typically considered as critical care include, but not limited to PACU; Emergency Department; Cardiac Cath Lab; Operating Room.

Does your program accept transfer credits from other nurse anesthesia programs?

Requests to transfer from other anesthesia programs will be considered by the Program Administrator on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for transfer, applicants must meet all admission criteria AND submit a letter of support from the previous Program Administrator.

Due to the nature of the curriculum, anesthesia-focused courses outside of Bellarmine University are not transferrable nor to be used "in lieu of" courses in the DNP-NA Program of Study. In terms of non-anesthesia related courses, the transfer of credit will follow the "Transfer of Credit" policy as outlined in the Bellarmine University Course Catalog.

Learn more about Bellarmine University.

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Contact Information

 

For more information, call 502.272.7100 or email your questions to admissions@bellarmine.edu.

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