Doctor of Nursing PracticeNurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA)

The 36-month program of study consists of academic and clinical coursework that is divided into nine semesters. Formal class begins each year in August. The first two semesters consist of full-time study ONLINE, followed by seven semesters of full-time study ON-SITE.

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 

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 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 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 $1,000 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. 

The application cycle for the Fall 2024 cohort of the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia Program will open on August 10, 2023, and remain open until October 15, 2023. Applicants will be notified via email if selected for an interview with the Nurse Anesthesia Admission Committee in November 2023. Interviews will be held in December 2023.

Tuition and Fees

Graduate Financial Aid and Tuition website

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

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).