Nurse Anesthesiology (M.S.N. to D.N.P.)

Institutional Accreditation

Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at http://www.fgcu.edu/Provost/accreditation.html

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Florida Gulf Coast University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://ccneaccreditation.org)

The Florida Gulf Coast University Nurse Anesthesiology Program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068-4001; http://coacrna.org ; telephone (847) 655-1160.  The program's next accreditation review by the COA is October 2022.

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) requires that all students matriculating into a nurse anesthesia educational program on January 1, 2022 or thereafter be enrolled in a program approved by the COA to award a practice doctoral degree. The COA has approved the FGCU DNP Nurse Anesthesiology program.  The first BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesiology cohort will begin May 2020, and the first MSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesiology cohort will begin May 2021.  Further information regarding this transition may be obtained by contacting the program at (239) 590-7505 or via email to nurseanesthesiology@fgcu.edu.

Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online at apply.fgcu.edu. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

See program website listed above.

Admission Requirements

All applications to the MSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesiology major must be submitted through the FGCU Office of Research and Graduate Studies at http://www.fgcu.edu/graduate/.  A supplemental School of Nursing application must also be submitted through NursingCAS   

The School of Nursing conducts a competitive admissions process. The following are the minimum requirements for admission.  Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program.

Students will be admitted in the Summer semester of each year.  The application deadline for receipt of all application materials is September 15 prior to the year in which entry is sought. Admissions interviews are conducted by invitation during the months of October and November.  Application materials received after September 15 will be considered on a space available basis.

MSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Major Application Requirements:

1. Submit an application through the Office of Research and Graduate Studies and meet University requirements for admission to graduate studies.
2. In NursingCAS, provide unofficial transcript(s) for all colleges and universities attended, including a master’s degree in nursing transcript from a CCNE or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) nursing program and a regionally accredited institution.
3. Provide evidence of successful completion of an entry-level, COA-accredited nurse anesthesia educational program.
4. Provide evidence of National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) certification and current recertification as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
5. Show evidence of a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
6. Provide copy of an unrestricted Florida APRN license and certification as a nurse anesthetist, or eligibility for APRN license and certification as a nurse anesthetist in Florida.
7. Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae.
8. Provide personal statement of professional goals in 350 to 500 words.
9. Show completion of the following prerequisite courses:
   • Graduate level nursing courses with a grade of "B" or better: Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Physical Assessment, and Research
   • Undergraduate level course with a grade of “C” or better: Statistics
10. If applicable, applicants who have attended but not completed another DNP or doctoral nursing program must provide an official transcript from that program and a letter of good standing from the dean of the school of nursing (or designee) that also addresses potential for success in a DNP program.
11. Provide a signed copy of the FGCU School of Nursing Core Performance Standards Receipt and Acknowledgment form.
12. Admissions interview, by invitation, with the Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee.
13. Three professional references that indicate your potential for doctoral study, clinical proficiency, and academic competence: one from the applicant's supervisor, one from the applicant's academic faculty, and one from a registered nurse, CRNA, or physician familiar with the applicant's professional expertise. 

Additional Requirements:

ACLS, BLS, and PALS are not required for application to the program but are required to have been completed before the student begins the program. All students must maintain current APRN licensure, CRNA certification, and ACLS, BLS, and PALS certification while in the program. All students must provide evidence of current immunizations and tuberculosis screening throughout the program.  All students must complete level one and two background checks and drug and alcohol screening prior to formal admission to the program. Additionally, further immunizations, background checks, and drug screening may be required during the program.  Details on these procedures will be given after applicants are interviewed and conditionally accepted.

Criminal Background Check:

All students admitted to the DNP-Nurse Anesthesiology major must complete criminal background and drug screen checks after admission to and during the program of study. A student may encounter potential problems with completing clinical practice placements and/or obtaining licensure and certification if he or she has a criminal record. For specific information, contact the Board of Nursing through its website. If a student has a criminal record, it is the student’s responsibility to inquire with the Board of Nursing and certification/credentialing body as to whether a criminal record may limit the student's ability to obtain licensure and/or certification or to practice in certain settings.

Admissions Decisions Appeals:

Admission decisions may be appealed through the Marieb College of Health & Human Services Student Appeals Committee. Contact the Office of the Dean, Marieb College of Health &Human Services at 239-590-7451 for information. If the applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of this process, he or she may then bring their appeal to the University Ombudsman.

Program Requirements for the 2020-2021 Catalog Year

Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements

Students admitted to the MSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesiology major must meet major-specific progression, clinical practice, DNP Project, and graduation requirements.  See the DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Guidebook, General Graduate Academic Policies, and FGCU Graduation Requirements.

• Successful completion of a minimum of 37 credit hours of doctoral level course work.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater in the DNP program.
• Completion of all courses with a grade of "B" or higher, or"S" (Satisfactory) where applicable.
• Completion of DNP Clinical Practice requirements.
• Completion of DNP Project Requirements.
• Students must follow a Program of Study approved by the Program Director or designee.

Program Requirements

1. Required Courses (37 credits)

NGR 6712 Foundations of Nursing Educ. (3)
NGR 6872 Nursing Information Management (3)
NGR 7473 Regional Anesthesia/Pain Mgmt (3)
NGR 7492 Prof Role-Nurse Anesthetist (3)
NGR 7846 Biostatistics & Epidemiology (3)
NGR 7856 Evidenced-Based Trans Research (3)
NGR 7891 Fin & Mgmt-Anesthesia Practice (3)
NGR 7895 Health Policy (3)
NGR 7899 Organization System & Leadership (3)
NGR 7949L DNP Clinical Practice (4 total)*
NGR 7974 DNP Project (6 total)*

*Credit hours are spread over varying semesters

Total Credits Required: 37 HRS

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

Graduates will: 

1. Collaborate and communicate with other healthcare professionals to provide high quality, ethical patient-centered care that meets current standards of best practice.
2. Lead inter-professional teams to design, implement, and evaluate complex clinical practice strategies based on theoretical, scientific, and ethical knowledge.
3. Integrate advanced critical reasoning and judgment in the management of complex clinical situations and systems in a selected area of advanced practice nursing and organizational systems.
4. Implement health care delivery models and strategies designed for increased safety and quality improvement in health promotion, clinical prevention and population health.
5. Employ an evidence-based framework and information technology to evaluate and develop strategies and interventions to improve health status, access patterns, and identify gaps in care of diverse patients, populations, and organizations. 
6. Advocate for change in health care practice and health care environments through policy development, implementation, and evaluation.

Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site. 

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.

Students admitted to the MSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesiology major must meet major-specific progression, clinical practice, DNP Project, and graduation requirements.  See the DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Guidebook, Graduate Student Handbook, General Graduate Academic Policies, and FGCU Graduation Requirements.

• Successful completion of a minimum of 37 credit hours of doctoral level course work.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater in the DNP program.
• Completion of all courses with a grade of "B" or higher, or "S" (Satisfactory) where applicable.
• Completion of DNP Clinical Practice requirements.
• Completion of DNP Project requirements.
• Students must follow a Program of Study approved by the Program Director or designee.

Lee Health 
Cape Coral Hospital
Gulf Coast Medical Center 
Health Park Medical Center
Lee Memorial Hospital 

NCH
NCH Baker Downtown Hospital
NCH North Naples Hospital 

Physicians Regional Medical Center

Bayfront Health
Bayfront Health Port Charlotte 
Bayfront Health Punta Gorda

DeSoto Memorial Hospital

AdventHealth Heart of Florida