Can I change from the AGACNP track to the CRNA track within the DNP program?
Yes. Students may petition to transfer; however, transfers are not guaranteed and are reviewed competitively.

When am I eligible to apply for a transfer?
You may apply during the first year of the DNP-AGACNP program (see published admission cycle dates for Nurse Anesthesia) and will be expected to successfully complete all defined courses within the 32-month AGACNP degree program (35 QH) with a minimum of a passing grade a B or better.

What GPA do I need to be considered?
You must meet the minimum cumulative graduate GPA requirement of 3.0.

Do I need a letter of recommendation?
Yes. One letter of recommendation from an Â鶹ӰÒô CRNA faculty member is required.

If I meet all requirements, will I be approved automatically?
No. Approval depends on academic performance, faculty recommendation, professional conduct, and program capacity.

How competitive is the transfer process?
The CRNA track is highly selective, and transfer requests are reviewed competitively. A limited number of transfer petitions may be approved each year.

Will my AGACNP courses count toward the CRNA track?
Yes. Most of the first-year curriculum is shared between the AGACNP and CRNA tracks, and the shared courses taken will count toward completion of those CRNA curricular requirements for students whose transfer petition is approved. When would the transfer take effect if approved?

If approved, the transfer takes effect at the start of the next academic year. Retroactive transfers are not permitted. Following transfer to the DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program, students will be expected to complete their degree requirements in 36-months (with the first three quarters of study at a part-time course load).

Will transferring affect my time to degree or cost?
Yes. Transferring may affect time to degree, program sequencing, financial aid eligibility, and total cost. The DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program is 36 months in length.

Who should I talk to before submitting a petition?
Students should meet with their AGACNP faculty advisor and the CRNA Program Director before applying.

Where do I find the petition form and deadlines?
Forms and deadlines are available through the designated academic office or student portal.

Are there any prerequisite courses needed for admission to the program?
No, there are no prerequisite courses required prior to matriculation. We do recommend that applicants have completed a biostatistics course within 2 years of their admission—however, this is simply to support student success in the program and is not a barrier to applying to the program (not included in application scoring metrics).

Do I need to have Letters of Recommendation submitted with my application?
No, the application requires you to upload a current resume/CV that includes the names, titles, and contact information for three professional references. These individuals should come from one or more of the following categories 1) professor or faculty member from your nursing educational program; 2) current immediate nursing work supervisor; 3) a physician whose patients you routinely provide nursing care for in the critical case setting. You do not need to provide a reference in each category and may have multiple references from the same category. You may also provide the name of an advanced practice provider(s) in lieu of a physician familiar with your practice.

Is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) required for admission?
No, the GRE is not required for application to the program.

What are the in-person learning requirements for this degree program?
During Quarter 2 (Fall) of the program, students will be in-person for 1 week per month for NDNP Clinical Application of Gross Anatomy and NDNP 725 Advanced Health Assessment; learning activities in these courses include cadaver lab, sonoanatomy lab, and physical assessment skills labs.

During Quarter 4 (Spring) of the program, students will be in-person 1 to 2 days per month for NAAC Clinical Correlations; learning activities in this course includes faculty-guided practice for advanced practice skills including intubation and airway management, arterial line insertion, central line insertion, suturing, and point of care ultrasound.

All clinical residency courses within the program involve in-person learning in a preceptor-supervised clinical setting.

Are the distance education courses conducted “live” or asynchronously?
Some courses in the curriculum are delivered asynchronously, with optional virtual office hours conducted by the course faculty. Other important graduate-level science courses delivered by distance education conduct regular synchronous “live” weekly virtual class sessions. These sessions are designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage with the course faculty and other students, learn this important material in the depth needed for the specialty, and obtain answers to their questions about the topics of interest in the course. These “live” sessions are generally recorded, and the recording of the session is posted on the learning management system (Brightspace) for those students who could not attend. However, proctored examination sessions in exam-based courses most commonly require that all students enrolled in the course be present to take the exam at the same time (whether virtual, or in-person for Clinical Anatomy).

Intensive and intentional preparation activities for the national certification examination will occur during the NAAC 714-716 Clinical Seminar & Leadership/Professional Role I-IV courses. Synchronous monthly virtual learning sessions will be conducted to support this important process.

How long does it take to complete the DNP AGACNP degree program?
The standard program of study is completed in 27 months, with courses delivered primarily by distance education. Students may opt for a decelerated program of study, allowing more time for full-time employment, that can be completed in 32 months.

When do interviews begin and what are they like?
The application cycle opens in August, and interviews begin in early September. Please see our “Applications Requirements” web page for the specific cycle dates for this year. Interviews generally conclude in March-April.

Applicants who are selected for an interview will meet with the Program Director who will conduct the interview (generally virtually on Zoom). The interview will involve answering questions that are designed to identify important competencies for graduate-level study, including attributes of emotional intelligence.

Applicants have access to a virtual Â鶹ӰÒô tour and may also make arrangements for an in-person visit to the campus by contacting Graduate Admissions.

What is the maximum period allowed to complete the DNP-Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree?
Students must complete all elements of the curriculum and all programmatic requirements within 5 consecutive calendar years from the date of matriculation. Students must also be in full compliance with all program policies to be recommended for graduation.

What elements constitute a “strong” application for admission into the DNP-Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program?
Key items that help to build a strong application include: 1) a grade point average (GPA) at or above 3.0 (on a 4.0) scale; 2) a natural science GPA at or above 3.0; 3) a minimum of 1 year of critical care experience; and 4) CCRN certification, and/or other certifications in critical care-related nursing. Additional qualities that are assessed via the application include: leadership, life-experience, and professional engagement.

What type(s) of critical care experience will qualify me to apply to the program?
During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision-making and psychomotor skills, competence 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, and neonatal intensive care. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence in managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology.

Can I obtain a course waiver for transfer credit for graduate level courses I have already taken?
The faculty will review any requests for course waiver or transfer credit from other institutions on a case-by-case basis.

Do you host virtual information sessions about the program?
Yes, we display a link on our program homepage to register for upcoming virtual information sessions.

What certification exam is needed after completion of the DNP-AGACNP to become licensed and practice as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner?
Graduates may obtain eligibility and sit for the AGACNP certification examination offered by either the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), or by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

What is the program accreditation status?
The Â鶹ӰÒô College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) to offer the Doctor of Practice in Nursing Degree, including for the specialty track of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Please visit the Â鶹ӰÒô College of Nursing Accreditation Webpage for the current accreditation status of the degree and certificate programs within the Collage.