The DNP program's Nurse Anesthesia concentration at LMU can only be completed as a full-time option and consists of nine semesters. Each student in the DNP program's Nurse Anesthesia concentration will be assigned a nurse anesthesia faculty as their academic advisor to oversee his or her program of study.
The DNP will prepare graduates as visionary leaders in the practice of nursing and delivery of healthcare locally, regionally, and nationally in all settings. The program prepares graduates to demonstrate advanced competencies in areas including advanced practice skills, prevention and population health, organizational and systems leadership, practice scholarship and analytical methods, information systems/technology for transformation of healthcare, leadership in healthcare policy, and inter-professional collaboration and population outcomes. The DNP program will prepare graduates to fully implement emerging science and practice innovation in healthcare.
Goal
The DNP program provides the opportunity for nurses to earn a practice doctorate as practice scholars and expert clinicians in innovative healthcare that translates research into evidence in practice, measures patient outcomes, advances nursing roles in practice and nursing leadership, and transforms policy at all levels in healthcare systems to ensure quality and safety.
DNP End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes
The outcomes of the DNP program are to prepare students as practice scholars in practice-oriented, community-based roles that reflect translation of research into practice by incorporation of health policy, principles of epidemiology, information technology, evidence-based practice, business principles, collaboration, and health systems.
Upon completion of the DNP program students will be able to:
- Synthesize knowledge from nursing science and related disciplines and apply principles of evidenced-based practice to improve health outcomes.
- Apply knowledge of systems and organizational theories to lead the development of initiatives to improve quality, manage risks, and provide cost-effective patient care.
- Demonstrate advanced analytic techniques in the appraisal of the quality of existing evidence to determine best clinical practices, design and implement plans to evaluate clinical outcomes, analyze data from practice in order to identify gaps in nursing science, and contribute to the generation and dissemination of nursing knowledge.
- Evaluate data management systems, healthcare information systems, consumer health information sources and patient care technology to improve the ethical and effective use of information to improve health outcomes.
- Advocate for ethical health care policies that ensure equity, stewardship of resources, and improvement of health outcomes at local, regional, federal and or international levels.
- Demonstrate interprofessional collaboration, employing consultative and leadership skills to effectively improve health outcomes.
- Analyze and apply scientific data to develop and implement interventions to promote health, address disparities, reduce risk, and manage disease trajectory to improve health outcomes of individuals, communities, populations, and systems.
- Apply advanced nursing practice knowledge and competencies to assess health and illness parameters, design, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve health outcomes and serve as a leader, life-long learner, and mentor in the promotion of practice excellence.
Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nurse Anesthesia Concentration Post Bachelor’s Admission Criteria/Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate nursing program.
- An overall academic record with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of “B” (3.0) or better.
- All applicants must have understanding of basic computer skills and completion of an undergraduate statistics course. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores for applicants with cumulative grade point average less than 3.4. If the GRE is required, competitive GRE scores on Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing are required.
- Minimum of three recommendations including one from faculty of the candidate’s baccalaureate nursing program or immediate supervisor in a critical care setting and one from another professional in a related healthcare field (examples may include: Clinical Nurse Specialist, RN, CRNA, Anesthesiologist, Surgeon, or Intensivist).
- The application must complete undergraduate basic chemistry course and an organic chemistry course, at least one of which has a laboratory component.
- A statement of professional goals.
- An unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Tennessee is required for enrollment; clinical practicum will require licensure in additional states including Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, and any other states where students might obtain clinical experience.
- A minimum of one-year experience as a Registered Nurse in critical care (Level I or Level II trauma center preferred); adult critical care experience preferred.
- The Nurse Anesthesia concentration is a full- time program. Students may only request full- time status.
- Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Life Support must be current through December of the year in which the application is submitted.
- Medical profile including immunizations record and urine drug screen completed no more than 60 days prior to enrollment in the Nurse Anesthesia concentration.
- A criminal background check and drug screen will be completed prior to enrollment no more than 60 days prior to enrollment in the Nurse Anesthesia concentration.
- Proof of health insurance at all times when enrolled in the program.
- An in-person or Zoom interview as part of the admission process.
- Students from outside the United States must demonstrate sufficient ability to read, write and speak English with a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL.
- Students from outside the United States must submit official transcripts for evaluation to one of the following services: World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Josef Silny & Associates (www.jsilny.com).
- Critical care registered nurse certification (CCRN) preferred.
Students dismissed from a nurse anesthesia or other advanced practice nurse program for academic, clinical, or behavioral reasons will not be admitted to the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program. Students who have been enrolled in another program and withdrew in good standing or are still enrolled in good standing must have a letter from the program director stating that they are or withdrew when they were in good standing. Students who are in good standing or who left a program in good standing will be considered for admission.
Additional Information for the Post-Bachelor's DNP:
DNP Program: Nurse Anesthesia Concentration – No nursing credit may be transferred into the DNP Program: Nurse Anesthesia Concentration.
Applicants are reviewed for the graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. If a student chooses to interrupt the NURS course sequence for any reason an admission application must Graduate Nursing Office. Readmission to the DNP program is not guaranteed.
Immunization Information/Requirements
Immunizations must be completed prior to matriculation into the DNP program. The exception is a documented contraindication or precaution to the vaccine. The student will need a written statement from the health care provider that identifies the immunization and the reason for exclusion. The student will not be allowed to attend class or practice experience if immunizations are not current, or proof of immunizations are not provided. The appropriate information must be provided and maintained during the nursing program by the students’ primary care provider (physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant). The following information/guidelines may be changed to reflect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most current guidelines. These guidelines are found on www.cdc.gov.
Accepted students must submit a completed medical profile form, immunization record, background check and urine screen prior to matriculation. Students must have and maintain for the duration of the program: unencumbered RN license, current infant, children, and adult CPR certification, health insurance, and current immunization according to the CDC guidelines. See DNP student handbook for details.
Graduate Course Numbers
Graduate courses are 500-level and above.