Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia
The Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia is clinically focused to prepare students for the full scope of Nurse Anesthesia practice.
Graduates are prepared to promote evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality in health care, and demonstrate leadership skills in today's health care setting.
Graduates can apply to take the certification examination administered by the NBCRNA. Satisfactory performance on this examination is necessary in order to practice as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
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Next Open House: Tuesday, September 26th, 2023
From 3 to 4 PM Central Time
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Program Information
The Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) with full continued accreditation through May 2031.
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
Phone: 224-275-9130The Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia also received IFNA Accreditation in August 2021 having completed all requirements of the Anesthesia Program Approval Process established by the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (Date of next review: July 2026).
We are dedicated to advancing and diversifying the nursing workforce, and as part of this mission, the UAB School of Nursing has partnered with five other leading colleges and universities in the Leadership Excel and Achievement Program (LEAP) -a pilot program designed to optimize the diversity of the nurse anesthesia workforce.
Class of 2022:
- Attrition: 2%
- 86% UAB First Time NCE Pass rate
- 83% National First Time NCE Pass rate
- 98% Employment after 6 months
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Admission Requirements
Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent (e.g., entry level masters in nursing degree such as the UABSON Accelerated Master's in Nursing Pathway for individuals with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field) must be completed by the application deadline.
- Active, unencumbered/unrestricted registered nurse license in the state where you will be completing your coursework (didactic and clinical) is required to apply. If admitted, a multi-state compact license will be required before matriculation into the Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia.
- Both UAB and the School of Nursing must have current authorization to operate in the state.
- An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on their science prerequisite courses and a grade of ‘C’ or higher in all other pre-requisite courses.
Prerequisite Courses Credit BY 115 Human Anatomy1 3-4 BY 261 Microbiology 3 or 4 MA 180 Descriptive Statistics 3 BY 116 Human Physiology1 3-4 CH 105/106 Chemistry1
OR
CH 115/116 Chemistry13-4 MA 110 Finite Math2
OR
MA 105 Pre-Calculus23 1Anatomy, Physiology, and Chemistry must be completed with a lab course.
2Math prerequisite added for the summer 2022 application cycle.- At least 11 months experience as an RN in a critical care setting by the July application interview, and continued employment in the critical care setting until pathway matriculation the following May. It is recommended that critical care experience fall within the past 4 years.
- Critical care experience - 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, and neonatal intensive care. Those who have experiences in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with managing unstable patients, invasive monitoring, ventilators, and critical care pharmacology. (COA Standards for Accreditation 2020)
- Three (3) letters of professional reference attesting to the applicant’s potential for graduate study.
- Standardized test score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)*.
- There is no minimum score, however all sections of the GRE must be completed prior to application (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing).
- Scores completed within the previous 5 years will be accepted and must be submitted to UAB (code 1856).
- There is no Waiver Process for the Nurse Anesthesia DNP pathway, a GRE exam is required.
- A personal interview with the selection committee.
- If admitted, a non-refundable $2000 deposit will be required to reserve a seat in the pathway.
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State Regulations Governing Distance Programs
Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state’s regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state. Only those students who reside in Alabama or those states where the UAB School of Nursing programs are available will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.
More information is available at the State Approval Website for Online Degree Programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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Application for Admission/Application Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Deadline for Submission of Application: May 1stScheduling and Notification of Applicant Interview: JuneInterview Completed: JulyAdmission Decision Notification: Two weeks post-interviewAdmitted Students Matriculate: Summer Semester of following yearTo Start the Application Process
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Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia, students will be able to:
- Synthesize scientific evidence for the development of clinical interventions for practice.
- Evaluate policy, healthcare delivery, and organizational systems for current and future health care needs.
- Translate scientific, theoretical, and ethical principles into healthcare for individuals, families, and populations.
- Incorporate knowledge of current and emerging health technologies to improve healthcare delivery and organizational systems.
- Advocate for social justice, equity, and ethical policies in healthcare.
- Demonstrate intra- and inter-professional collaboration to address health disparities and to improve the quality of healthcare across diverse populations and cultures.
- Assume complex leadership roles to advance clinical practice and healthcare delivery at the organizational and systems level and to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
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Program of Study
Students are expected to follow the program of study.1,2,3
Course Format Color Legend: Didactic / Face-to-Face Course Distance Accessible / Online Clinical Practicum / Immersion Nurse Anesthesia Program Curriculum Year One - First Term: Summer Hours NA 720Q Anesthesia Pharmacology I 3 NUR 700Q Clinical Data Management and Analysis 3 NUR 740Q Health Policy and Politics: Implications for Health Care 3 NA 733Q Theories, Concepts & Writing for Nurse Anesthetists 3 Total Hours 12 Year One – Second Term: Fall Hours NA 702 Anatomy and Physiology for Nurse Anesthetists 6 NA 731 Biochemistry and Physics for Nurse Anesthetists 4 NQI 702Q Clinical Data Management and Application for Improvement 3 NUR 735Q Population Health in Advanced Nursing Practice 3 Total Hours 16 Year One – Third Term: Spring Hours NA 721 Anesthesia Pharmacology II 3 NA 770 Anesthesia Pathophysiology I 3 NA 740 Anesthesia Principles I 4 NUR 614Q Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for Advanced Nursing Practice 3 NA 718L Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization 4 Total Hours 17 Year Two – First Term: Summer Hours NA 741 Anesthesia Principles II 3 NA 750 Regional anesthesia 3 NA 771 Anesthesia Pathophysiology II 3 NUR 729Q Evidence-Based Practice Design and Translation 3 NA 708L Anesthesia Practicum I 2 Total Hours 14 Year Two – Second Term: Fall Hours NA 742Q Anesthesia Principles III 3 NA 745Q Professional Aspects 4 NUR 743Q Evidence-Based Practice Strategies 3 NA 709L Anesthesia Practicum II 3 Total Hours 13 Year Two – Third Term: Spring Hours NUR 738QL DNP Project Planning 3 NUR 742Q Program Evaluation Methods 3 NA 710L Anesthesia Practicum III 5 Total Hours 11 Year Three – First Term: Summer Hours NA 795Q Critical Concepts I 3 NUR 739QL DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation 3 NA 711L Anesthesia Specialty Immersion I 5 Total Hours 11 Year Three – Second Term: Fall Hours NA 796Q Critical Concepts II 3 NUR 739QL DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation 3 NA 712L Anesthesia Specialty Immersion II 5 Total Hours 11 Year Three – Third Term: Spring Hours NA 797Q Critical Concepts III 3 NA 713L Anesthesia Specialty Immersion III 5 NUR 739QL DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation 1 Total Hours 9 Overall Total: 114 hours 1Students will be expected to come on-campus for monthly program assessments, advisement, high fidelity simulation, and team meetings during semesters 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
2All students are required to attend an annual On-Campus Intensive.
3Program of Study is subject to change. -
Tuition and Fees
The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and fees and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE annually based on approval from the University of Alabama Board of Trustees and/or University.
The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis website.
Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.
Tuition and Fees
UAB School of Nursing 2022-2023Resident
Charge ($)Non-resident
Charge ($)DNP coursework (in classroom per semester hour) 595 1,496 DNP coursework (distance-accessible format per semester hour) 682 682 Fees - UAB School of Nursing Cost ($) Educational Support and Technology Fee (per course) 235 Other Related Expenses (Estimated) Cost ($) Travel/Lodging for Attending Annual On-Campus DNP Intensive (annual estimate) 800 Books and supplies (estimate per term) 600 Uniforms 350 Student Hospitalization Insurance Fee1 (estimate per month) 200 Background Check (annual estimate) 92 1May be waived with documented proof of equal or greater coverage -
Funding Your Education
UAB Financial Aid and Scholarships
Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships and other funding opportunities is available at:
UAB School of Nursing Scholarships
- The School of Nursing at UAB has an excellent scholarship program that provides financial support to Alabama’s best and brightest nursing students.
- Currently, the School’s scholarship portfolio consists of 76 endowed scholarships and 3 active sponsored scholarships.
- The school currently has an $10.1 million endowed fund that supports nursing scholarships annually.
- Scholarships are awarded twice a year – spring and fall semesters. The scholarship application process is simple. One application is needed to be considered for all undergraduate or graduate scholarships.
- Application and additional information can be found at https://www.uab.edu/nursing/home/scholarships-financial-aid
For Information about School of Nursing Scholarships, Contact:
Stephanie Hamberger, MPADirector of Student Engagement, Recruitment and Scholarshipsssallen@uab.edu 205.934.5483Fellowship, Traineeship, and Other Funding for Graduate Programs
There are a limited number of Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships that are awarded through the UAB School of Nursing that require students to meet specific requirements, and are only awarded when funds are available. When such funds are available in a particular program, students enrolled in the program will be notified and provided information on how to apply. Contact Katrina Staffney (email: KatrinaStaffney@uab.edu), for more information.
Nurse Faculty Loan
Federal Nurse Faculty Loan Funds are available to all DNP students who intend to assume a faculty position in a school of nursing upon completion of the degree. These funds are limited to payment of tuition and fees and other reasonable educational expenses. Contact JoeAnn Kennedy (email: joeann@uab.edu), for more information.
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Information for International Students
NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.
The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the DNP Program.
BSN-DNP NA F1 or J1 Visa Acceptable Not Eligible College Degree X - BSN Equivalent Foreign Transcripts Evaluated** X English Proficiency X GRE X U.S. RN License X X = Requirement must be completed or condition met Application Requirements
- Prospective students must have a master’s degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
- For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
- International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course by course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials. Students may use one of the following firms for transcript evaluation; a report of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UAB School of Nursing prior to admission decisions.
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
Website: www.ece.org - World Education Services
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087 USA
Website: www.wes.org - Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
- Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process. If the GRE was completed prior to application, only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
- Completion of a formal admission interview.
- Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores:
- TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
- IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.