Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia

1. Submit a completed graduate application and official transcripts.

2. Must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a U.S. Accredited Nursing Program recognized by the Department of Education.

3. International students must follow the Graduate Admission guidelines for UT Tyler.

4. Must have a current unencumbered RN license in the State of Texas or have a compact license with multi-state privileges that includes Texas. Submit printout from the Texas Board of Nursing or Nursys® showing license number and expiration date.

5. Must have:

• • A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 credit hours of BSN and higher-level coursework.
  • A grade of B or better in a Basic Statistics course.

6. Must have a minimum of a GPA of 3.0 for all science courses across all coursework is required. Transcripts must show: 

• • Chemistry
  • Organic Chem and/or Biochem
  • Physics

7. A Professional Writing Course with a B or better is strongly recommended. Candidate should be familiarized with American Psychological Association (APA) style writing.

8. Minimum of 1-year of current full-time Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience not including precepting time. Candidates should have a strong professional background as a Registered Nurse (RN) in any current ICU setting demonstrated by their American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (CCRN) certification. All adult, pediatric and Level III and Level IV neonatal ICU experiences will be considered. Please note that Operating Room, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Emergency Room, and Flight Nursing experience will not be considered as ICU experience. CCRN certification should be complete before application.

9. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required.

10. Must have successfully completed and possess current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training from the American Heart Association and submit current proof of each.

11. Three Letters of Recommendation:

• One letter of recommendation must be from a practicing CRNA
• Current supervisor or manager
• One other professional or academic reference

Professional recommendations from a peer nursing colleague will not be accepted. Recommendation forms in the application portal should be used for submission.

12. Personal essay in APA style explaining why candidate desires to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and the implications in their academic journey of becoming a CRNA. Essay prompts can be found in the application portal. Recommend 2-4 pages.

13. Shadowing experience with a CRNA. Must have documented experience of a minimum of 40 hours of shadowing a CRNA. Shadowing experiences must be 8–12-hour shifts with more than 1 CRNA. Submit one form per shift completed. (CRNA Shadowing Experience Form)

14. Current, updated Resume or CV

15. An assessment report on Emotional Intelligence utilizing the recommended questionnaire and submitted with all admissions paperwork. Purchase is required by applicant. 

16. Upload all forms and statements to the application portal.

17. All forms must be completed prior to being considered for an interview. Submission of all required forms does not guarantee an interview due to the competitive nature of the program.

18. The program does not accept transfer credits from other nurse anesthesia programs. The UT Tyler transfer policy will be followed for non-anesthesia courses. Please visit University of Texas at Tyler - Transfer of Graduate Credit for more information.

STEP 1: Apply to the University

Complete the application.

Current or previous UT Tyler students must complete a new application if applying for a higher level of degree (i.e., BSN to MSN, MSN to PhD, MSN to DNP, MSN to post-master’s certificate).

How Much Does It Cost to Apply?

The application cost is $50 for domestic students; $75 for international students. The fee is nonrefundable and required before your application is processed. Make credit card payments at the time of application by Visa or MasterCard only. The university waives fees for all UT Tyler alumni. Please select the “Pay by Check” option. The fee is waived once your application is processed. Please do NOT send a check, as no refunds are given.

STEP 2: Submit Official Transcripts

Previous institutions should send official copies directly to UT Tyler through gradadmissions@uttyler.edu. UT Tyler transcripts are available from the Registrar's Office; applicants need not forward them. 

If your BSN transcript does not contain at least 60 credit hours of coursework, you are required to submit community or junior college transcripts directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions: gradadmissions@uttyler.edu. 

Office of Graduate Admissions HPR 248
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd.
Tyler, TX 75799

The program does not accept transfer credits from other nurse anesthesia programs. The UT Tyler transfer policy will be followed for non-anesthesia courses. Please visit University of Texas at Tyler - Transfer of Graduate Credit for more information.

STEP 3: Submit Nursing Documents

Please submit the required documents through the Application Portal.

Required Documents: see the Nurse Anesthesia Admission Requirements

Semester 1 
(Fall I - 15 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7300 - Advanced Anatomy, Physiology, & Pathophysiology I (3 credit hours)
• CRNA 7321 - Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostics (3 credit hours)
• CRNA 7423 - Basic Principles & Techniques in Nurse Anesthesia (4 credit hours)
• CRNA 7261 - Professional Aspects & Ethics in Nurse Anesthesia (2 credit hours)
• NURS 5354 - Advanced Nursing Pharmacology (3 credit hours) 

Semester 2 
(Spring I - 16 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7301 - Advanced Anatomy, Physiology, & Pathophysiology II (3 credit hours)
• CRNA 7427 - Advanced Principles & Techniques in Nurse Anesthesia (4 credit hours)
• CRNA 7305 - Advanced Pharmacology for Anesthesia Practice (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7351 - Principles of Acute Care 1 - SON 1 (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7352 - Principles of Acute Care 2 - SON 2 (3 credit hours)

Semester 3 
(Summer I - 15 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7302 - Advanced Anatomy, Physiology, & Pathophysiology III (3 credit hours)
• CRNA 7330 - Nurse Anesthesia Practice for Special Populations: OB, PEDS & Geriatrics (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7301 - Introduction to DNP Role and Culture (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7353 - Principles of Acute Care 3 - SON 1 (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7354 - Principles of Acute Care 4 - SON 2 (3 credit hours)

Semester 4 
(Fall II - 14 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7201 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency I (4 credit hours)
• CRNA 7340 - Nurse Anesthesia Practice for Cardiac, Neuro, and Musculoskeletal Disorders (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7183 Practicum I (Clinical Hrs. 125) (1 credit hour)
• NURS 7302 - Foundations of Evidence Based Practice (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7303 - Healthcare Informatics (3 credit hours)

Semester 5
(Spring II - 11 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7403 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency II (4 credit hours)
• CRNA 7308 - Biostatistics & Epidemiology for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7184 Practicum II (Clinical Hrs. 125) (1 credit hour)
• NURS 7315 - Evidence Based Practice I (3 credit hours)

Semester 6 
(Summer II - 13 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7405 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency III (4 credit hours)
• NURS 7185 Practicum III (Clinical Hrs. 125) (1 credit hour)
• CRNA 7200 - Nurse Anesthesia Crisis Management I (2 credit hours)
• NURS 7375 - Healthcare Quality & Safety for DNP Leaders (SON 1) (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7317 - Evidence Based Practice II (3 credit hours)

Semester 7 
(Fall III - 11 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7507 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency IV (5 credit hours)
• CRNA 7205 - Nurse Anesthesia Crisis Management II (2 credit hours)
• NURS 7186 Practicum IV (Clinical Hrs. 125) (1 credit hour)
• NURS 7358 - Population Health for DNP Leaders (SON 1) (3 credit hours)

Semester 8
(Spring III - 12 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7509 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency V (5 credit hours)
• NURS 7187 Practicum V (Clinical Hrs. 125) (1 credit hour)
• NURS 7331 - Healthcare Policy & Advocacy for DNP Leaders (SON 1) (3 credit hours)
• NURS 7373 - Financial & Business Management for DNP Leaders (SON 2) (3 credit hours)

Semester 9 
(Summer III - 10 Credit Hours)

• CRNA 7611 - Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency VI (4 credit hours)
• CRNA 7250 - Nurse Anesthesia Senior Synthesis (2 credit hours)
• NURS 7188 Practicum VI (Clinical Hrs. 125) (1 credit hour)
• NURS 7377 - DNP Scholarly Project Synthesis (3 credit hours)
  
  

The program is a 36-month program that includes both clinical and didactic (classroom) instruction.

This is a full-time, in-person program with a front-loaded curriculum. During the first year, Nurse Anesthesia Residents (NARs) spend between three and five days per week on campus in Tyler, TX. During the second and third years, NARs are engaged in full-time clinical training and spend approximately one day per week on campus.

This program is only offered full-time due to the intensive nature of the curriculum and clinical requirements. Upon completion, students will be awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Due to the rigorous nature of the program, employment is not recommended. Maintaining academic performance is crucial to completing the program.

Yes. You may have fewer classes, but you are welcome to apply if you have all the other requirements.

All applicants are required to have current full-time experience working at the bedside in the critical care setting. Everyone must have at least one year's current experience in the critical care setting, regardless of certifications or degrees.

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