Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Nurse Anesthesiology Specialty (BSN-DNP)


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The NMSU School of Nursing has launched a new DNP degree concentration in  Nurse Anesthesiology with a focus on  rural health and health disparities. Graduates will be qualified to take the national certification exam administered by the National Boards of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). CRNAs complete a three-year doctoral program with rigorous didactic courses and a minimum of 2400 hours of supervised clinical training. New Mexico’s hospitals have a critical need for anesthesia providers throughout the state due to nation-wide shortages and difficulty recruiting providers, especially to rural healthcare centers.

This specialty track in the DNP program is designed for BSN-prepared RNs with at least one year of full-time critical care/ICU experience.  RNs with a master’s degree in nursing are also eligible for admission if they have the required critical care/ICU experience.

The NMSU Nurse Anesthesiology program is pleased to announce that the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) has granted initial accreditation status to our program effective November 9, 2023 with the effective starting date of the program January 2024.   NMSU Nurse Anesthesiology Initial Accreditation Letter.  Contact information for the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) is 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL  60018-5603; (847) 655-1160,   https://www.coacrna.org/.  

 

 


Applications for the Fall 2025 Cohort will be open from May 1, 2024 - September 1, 2024

Please note: the shadow form has changed. Please be sure to use the new one (under application process)

Recruitment Events

NMSU will periodically host several in person recruitment events. Potential students will have an opportunity to learn more about NMSU’s Nurse Anesthesiology Program, meet with the Program Director and have time for questions. Potential students may want to consider CRNA preparatory programs such as CRNA Prep Academy. NMSU does not endorse or specifically recommend a specific program.

2025 Fall applications are closed. Be sure to check this website for more information.

Recruitment Events:

TBA

RSVP is required for all events. Please email Cindy Beaulieu at  cbeau@nmsu.edu to RSVP.


Degree Plan

A complete list of DNP courses can be found in  NMSU’s Academic Catalog.


General Program Information

The Nurse Anesthesiology DNP program Curriculum:

  • First year DNP Nurse Anesthesiology (DNP-NA) students will attend a 3 -4 day on-campus program orientation during the first week of classes in Fall semester.
  • Second- and third-year DNP-NA students will attend advanced skills and simulation-based training held at the NMSU Las Cruces campus every semester.
  • Prior to starting clinical rotations, students will submit a criminal background check and toxicology screen (medicinal marijuana is prohibited) and other clinical clearance requirements outlined in the   DNP and Post Graduate APRN Certificate Student Handbook. Failure to provide these items will result in a failure to progress or program dismissal. Positive toxicology results and/or criminal background checks that do not meet NMSU School of Nursing clinical clearance requirements can result in program dismissal. Individuals with potential criminal background issues should consult the New Mexico Board of Nursing for advisement prior to applying to the program.

 

The NMSU Nurse Anesthesiology program requires a minimum of 2000 hours clinical hours. Clinical hours are defined by COA as follows: “Clinical hours include time spent in the actual administration of anesthesia (i.e., anesthesia time) and other time spent in the clinical area. Examples of other clinical time would include in-house call, pre-anesthesia assessment, postanesthetic assessment, patient preparation, operating room preparation, and time spent participating in clinical rounds.”  Hours spent in simulation training or in DNP project do not count as clinical hours.

General policies for clinical experiences:

  • Nurse Anesthesiology program faculty will assign students to clinical training sites and identify preceptors for clinical rotation.
  • If a student wishes to conduct their DNP program at an alternate site, they must first get written permission from the Nurse Anesthesiology program director and ensure that an affiliation agreement with the NMSU School of Nursing is in place with COA-approved nurse anesthesia education program language.

NM Residents

Base tuition and fees 345.46/credit for 102 credits = $35,237

Tuition differential 525/ credit for 102 credits = $53,550

Program fees $1000/semester= $9,000

 

El Paso Residents

Base tuition and fees $380.00/credit for 102 credits=$38,760

Tuition differential 525/ credit for 102 credits = $53,550

Program fees $1000/semester= $9,000

 

Out of state Residents

Base tuition and fees 1058.96/102 credits=$108,013.92

Tuition differential 525/ credit for 102 credits = $53,550

Program fees $1000/semester= $9,000


 

Application Process and Admission Criteria

Apply to the Nurse Anesthesiology DNP program through the NMSU Graduate School ( here):

  1. Create an account.
  2. Select the relevant Graduate Admission Application.
  3. GR Enrollment Information:
    • Campus = NMSU – Las Cruces Campus
    • Enrollment Status = New Graduate from In-State or Out of State
    • Degree = Doctorate
    • Intended Major (Doctorate) = Nursing Practice (Nurse Anesthesiology)
    • Starting Semester = Fall

Enter requested information and be prepared to upload the following documents to the web-based application:

  1. Current CV/resume
  2. Unencumbered RN license or APRN license
  3. Official transcripts from nursing programs/degrees (official transcripts will be requested)
  4. Personal Essay: 1) In a 1-2 page essay describe your motivation to become a CRNA.
  5. One supervisor’s assessment form from current supervisor
  6. Current CCRN (Adult or Pediatric) certification.
  7. NMSU CRNA Shadow Experience Log(s) Three shadow forms completed by three different certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) with whom you shadowed. Each shadow experience is required to be a minimum of 8 hours, and the experience cannot be older than a year at the time of application closure.
  8. Critical Competency Checklist (Needs to be filled out by current supervisor)
  9. GRE scores are accepted but not required
  10. TOEFL or IELTS scores if English is not your first language (see NMSU Information regarding the TOEFL or IELTS for Graduate Students)
     

Request official transcripts from   all  prior college and universities attended to be sent directly to the NMSU School of Nursing and to the Graduate School (you will need to request 2 sets of transcripts).

Graduate School, MSC 3-GS
New Mexico State University
PO Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001

NMSU School of Nursing
SON Advising Office
New Mexico State University
P.O. Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001

The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesiology (DNP-NA) is a  limited-enrollment program with a rigorous admissions process. We anticipate that the number of applicants will greatly exceed the number of positions available.

T he program enrolls only students who by academic and experiential achievement are of the quality appropriate for the profession and who can benefit from their education. Students must demonstrate professionalism, including a commitment to academic and personal integrity.

Please refer to FAQ for more information.

Admission requirements include:

  • A baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or an appropriate major from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The accrediting agency must be recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation AND a nursing program that is accredited by either the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  • A m inimum 3.0 GPA in prior degree coursework. A higher GPA is more competitive.
  • A m inimum calculated “hard science GPA of 3.0. A higher hard science GPA is more competitive. We recommend a grade of B or higher in the following required science classes:
    • Anatomy and physiology I
    • Anatomy and physiology 2
    • General chemistry
    • Statistics
    • Pharmacology
    • Pathophysiology

*Students may consider retaking required course with a C or lower.
*Students can use this instruction sheet in conjunction with this website to calculate their GPA with .

  • Recommended, not required previous course work includes biochemistry.
  • An unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse in the United States or its territories or protectorates
  • A minimum of 1-year full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent, as a registered nurse in a critical care setting by the application deadline (see FAQ about critical care nursing experience)
  • Valid CCRN (adult or pediatric) certification 
  • Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience as an RN in a U.S. hospital at the time of application deadline.
  • ACLS, PALS and BLS certification prior to enrollment and that will remain current through the first semester.

We score each application based on BSN GPA (and if applicable MSN), science course GPA, relevant clinical experience, leadership experience, letter of reference, professional essay, and overall impression.

After an initial review and scoring of applications, applicants with the highest scores will be invited for an interview with Nurse Anesthesiology faculty via videoconferencing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


 

Interested applicants should contact:

  • Cindy Beaulieu, Graduate Student Program Coordinator Sr
  • PH: 575-646-3688
  • Email: cbeau@nmsu.edu