The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) credential came into existence in 1956. As one of four advanced practice registered nurse roles recognized in the U.S., CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. They carry a heavy load of responsibility and are compensated accordingly. The Old Dominion University DNP program with specialization in nurse anesthesia is a 100 credit, 36 month, full-time program that begins in May each year. Our program is a hybrid of on-campus and on-line classes. The curriculum is an assimilation of nurse anesthesia specialty and DNP courses. Each student is required to complete a scholarly project that addresses patient care, quality improvement, process improvement, or practice improvement.
Program Highlights
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90% National Certification Exam average pass rate over past six years
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100% Graduate Employment Rate in 2022
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13% Program Attrition Rate average over past six years
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Students have clinical experiences in hospitals throughout Hampton Roads, as well as in secondary sites within and outside the region
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Our long-standing partnerships with local primary clinical sites assure that students work with highly experienced anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists to develop their skills and competence in the professional role
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Some of our primary clinical sites include: Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital, Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, Sentara Careplex Hospital, Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
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Accredited by The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
Careers
Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Nurse Anesthetists
Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
Alumni Careers
Requirements
The application deadline is September 1st.
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Baccalaureate Degree in a related science. Nursing Preferred.
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Current Licensure: Current Multistate Licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse. All prospective students must have an unencumbered current licensure as a registered professional nurse or APRN from the United States or its territories.
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GPA Requirements: Cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale and grades in each required science and nursing course in the undergraduate nursing program of 3.0 or higher.
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Undergraduate courses: You must have completed the following courses with a “B” or better:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Organic chemistry (preferred) OR biochemistry courses
- Chemistry and Statistics, successfully completed within 10 years of applying to the program.
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Personal Interview: A personal interview with the interview committee (by invitation).
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Experience: A minimum of one year (2080 hours) of full-time nursing experience in a critical care unit within the 2 years prior to application. 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. Clinical experience must be direct patient care. Emergency room, recovery room, operating room, labor and delivery, and step-down units do not satisfy the critical care experience.
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Certifications:
- Current American Heart Association Certification in BLS, ACLS, and PALS.
- CCRN certification is mandatory.
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References: Three professional references. One must be from immediate supervisor with contact number included.
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English Competency: Score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for a student whose native language is not English; a minimum score of 100 (iBT test) is required.
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Cost of Attendance
We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance.
Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
HRSA Traineeship Funds
Each year the program applies for traineeship funds from HRSA to support student education. Funding from scholarships is limited, and restricted to those students who meet need requirements.
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