Please note: Quinnipiac University is no longer accepting applications for its DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.
Program Contact: Karita Kack 203-582-7969
The curriculum of the Nurse Anesthesia program offers entry-level post-bachelor’s to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The curricula and policies were developed in accordance with The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN) and the Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Core DNP courses taught by experienced nursing faculty and members of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Health Sciences will be shared collaboratively with the other advanced practice DNP candidates. Nurse anesthesia students receive a strong science foundation as well as course content including patient safety and human factors as outlined in the standards.
The program’s goal—to develop knowledgeable, caring and compassionate nurse anesthetists who are committed to excellence in healthcare, preserving the dignity and rights of patients and advancing the profession—is congruent with the Quinnipiac University mission statement. The nurse anesthesia specialty is organized within the context of the DNP program in the School of Nursing. The DNP program builds on the generalist preparation of the bachelor’s-prepared nurse in the entrance-level DNP. The DNP prepares leaders in advanced practice roles who can synthesize knowledge from nursing and relevant fields of study as a basis for practice. The graduate curriculum provides both didactic and clinical experiences that facilitate critical thinking skills so that graduates are able to provide quality, cost-effective health services to individual clients, families and communities.
Post-Bachelor’s to DNP: Nurse Anesthesia Program
Please note: Quinnipiac University is no longer accepting applications for its DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Course Listing | ||
| NUR 514 | Epidemiology and Population Health | 2 |
| NUR 516 | Health Policy and Organizational Systems | 2 |
| NUR 517 | Anatomy for the Nurse Anesthetist | 2 |
| NUR 517L | Anatomy for the Nurse Anesthetist Lab | 1 |
| NUR 518 | Pathophysiology for the Nurse Anesthetist | 3 |
| NUR 520 | Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NUR 520L | Advanced Health Assessment Lab | 2 |
| NUR 600 | Evaluation and Synthesis of Scientific Evidence for Practice | 2 |
| NUR 602 | Principles of Ethical Theory in Nursing | 1 |
| NUR 610 | Clinical Scholarship and Inquiry in Nursing | 2 |
| NUR 610PBL | DNP Project I | 2 |
| NUR 612 | Leadership and Collaboration for Change in Health Care | 2 |
| NUR 612PBL | DNP Project II | 2 |
| NUR 670 | Basic Principles of Anesthesia II | 3 |
| NUR 670L | Basic Principles of Anesthesia II Lab | 2 |
| NUR 671 | Clinical Practicum I | 2 |
| NUR 672 | Advanced Pharmacology II | 3 |
| NUR 673 | Clinical Practicum II | 2 |
| NUR 674 | Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice I | 1 |
| NUR 675 | Clinical Practicum III | 2 |
| NUR 676 | Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice II | 1 |
| NUR 677 | Clinical Practicum IV | 2 |
| NUR 678 | Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice III | 1 |
| NUR 679 | Clinical Practicum V | 2 |
| NUR 680 | Physics, Chemistry, Equipment and Technology for Nurse Anesthetists | 4 |
| NUR 681 | Clinical Practicum VI | 2 |
| NUR 682 | Advanced Principles of Anesthesia I | 3 |
| NUR 684 | Advanced Principles of Anesthesia II | 3 |
| NUR 686 | Advanced Principles of Anesthesia III | 3 |
| NUR 688 | Human Factors and Patient Safety | 3 |
| NUR 690 | Advanced Principles of Anesthesia IV | 2 |
| NUR 695 | Anesthesia Seminar I | 2 |
| NUR 696 | Advanced Pharmacology and Basic Principles of Anesthesia I | 4 |
| NUR 697 | Anesthesia Seminar II | 2 |
| NUR 698 | Human Physiology Seminar | 1 |
| Total Credits | 76 | |
Prerequisites for entrance: undergraduate anatomy and physiology with labs (8 credits); chemistry: inorganic and organic (8 credits); microbiology (3–4 credits); pharmacology (3–4 credits); and statistics (3 credits).
Clinical practicum—6 semesters—approximate hours: 2,500.
Curriculum Note:
NUR 614PBL (DNP Project II) is repeated for 1 credit each semester until the DNP project is complete.
The semester-by-semester Learning Pathway for this program is available in the School of Nursing.
The curriculum for this program is subject to modification as deemed necessary by the nursing faculty to provide students with the most meaningful educational experience and to remain current with professional standards and guidelines.
Student Learning Outcomes
The objectives of the DNP program are designed to prepare graduates for advanced nursing practice who are capable of providing holistic health care for diverse individuals, families or populations in a variety of settings. Specifically, the program seeks to produce graduates who:
- Demonstrate clinical reasoning through an understanding of science and evidence-based practice.
- Design, implement and evaluate quality improvement initiatives across the systems in which health care is delivered.
- Analyze and critique the available evidence for best practices in healthcare.
- Apply technology and information fluency to conduct practice inquiry.
- Advocate for rational health policies to improve patient care and enhance effective use of resources.
- Demonstrate leadership through interprofessional collaboration to improve patient and population health outcomes.
- Direct health promotion and disease prevention efforts to improve patient and population health outcomes.
- Provide competent, culturally sensitive, and ethically based care to individuals and/or populations in a defined specialty of advanced nursing practice.
Please note: Quinnipiac University is no longer accepting applications for its DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.
Admission Requirements
An applicant to the DNP program must be a registered nurse or NCLEX eligible nurse and have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or another field. Applicants to the Nurse Anesthesia program must be registered nurses with two years of recent (within the past five years) critical care experience.
An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.20 or better is required. Applicants should submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
- A completed admissions application including a resume and a personal statement addressing the following:
- professional goals and motivations
- a nursing experience that has influenced or shaped your practice
- a healthcare problem that interests you for potential doctoral study
- Official transcripts from all schools previously attended.
- Official recent results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or (IELTS) International English Language Testing System for international applicants.
- Two letters of recommendation from persons with authority to evaluate your professional ability. Nurse Anesthesia candidates can see the requirements on the website.
- Proof of current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Connecticut.
- Core sciences courses required: Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry (two semesters total, of which one should be a general/inorganic chemistry), Statistics, Microbiology and Pharmacology. Core science courses must have been completed within the past 10 years. Refresher courses in Anatomy and Physiology (one semester) and Chemistry (one semester) must be taken for coursework greater than 10 years old in these subjects.
Candidates applying for full-time admission must submit a completed application by September 1 for the Post-Bachelor's Nurse Anesthesia program. Candidates may be placed on a wait list in the event a space becomes available. However, acceptances are not deferred and wait-listed candidates need to reapply for the following year. Exceptions may be made in rare circumstances by the chair of the graduate nursing program.
All accepted students are required to complete a background check and urine drug screen following acceptance and before the start of classes. Acceptances are conditional until satisfactory completion of both.
Nurse Anesthesia Progression Requirements
Please note: Quinnipiac University is no longer accepting applications for its DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.
In all of the nurse anesthesia courses (NUR 518, NUR 517/NUR 517L, NUR 670, NUR 672, NUR 674, NUR 676, NUR 678, NUR 680, NUR 682, NUR 684, NUR 686, NUR 688, NUR 690, NUR 696, NUR 698) a minimum grade of B (83) in each nurse anesthesia course independent of cumulative GPA is required to progress in the program. If a student earns a grade below a B (83) in one nurse anesthesia course, but has a semester GPA of at least 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation and will be required to retake the course when it is offered again at Quinnipiac University. Any grade below a C (73-76) in a nurse anesthesia course will result in dismissal from the nurse anesthesia program without probation and without the opportunity to repeat the deficient course.
Since nurse anesthesia courses are in sequence and no course may be taken ahead of any of its prerequisites, a student with a grade below a B (83) in an anesthesia course will not be allowed to 1) take any nurse anesthesia courses for which the deficient course is a prerequisite and 2) participate in the clinical practicum until the deficient course is successfully completed with a minimum grade of B (83). Any clinical practicum course not fully completed due to dismissal from any other course will need to be repeated when the student again reenters the program. Thus the student will be placed in another student cohort and the student’s program completion date will be delayed.
Only one period of probation is permitted. The student must achieve a minimum grade of B (83) in all subsequent courses, health assessments, and practicums. Failure to meet this requirement will result in dismissal from the program without option to repeat or continue.
A student who earns unsatisfactory grades (grade of less than B) in two or more nursing courses in any semester is not eligible for probation and will be dismissed from the program. Any student who does not earn the required minimum 3.0 semester GPA will be dismissed from the program.
If a student believes her/his final grade was determined in an arbitrary, capricious or prejudicial manner, the student may appeal the sanction of probation or dismissal by following the procedure to appeal a final grade that is stated in the Quinnipiac University Catalog. Only final grades can be appealed. If the grade appeal process results in a recalculated grade of B (83) or higher and the student does not have any other academic deficiencies, then the sanction of probation or dismissal is removed and the student may continue to progress in the program in the semester following the conclusion of the grade appeal process.
If a dismissed student believes there are errors in the facts considered by the nurse anesthesia program or extenuating circumstances, the student may appeal the progression decision according to policies in the School of Nursing Graduate Student Manual.
Appeal Process
- A student wishing to appeal a progression decision must write a letter via email to the chair of the graduate nursing program within one week of receiving notice of their inability to progress.
- Appeals will be considered by a Progression Appeals Committee and chaired by the Associate Dean. Results will be communicated in writing to the student via email.
- A student wishing to appeal a course grade should follow the grade appeal process.
Please note: Quinnipiac University is no longer accepting applications for its DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.
NUR 514. Epidemiology and Population Health.2 Credits.
This course introduces epidemiologic principles, methods and data used in advanced nursing practice. Data and evidence from research are used to: assess acute and chronic population health problems/topics, provide effective possible interventions; and address and examine outcomes.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, All Online
NUR 516. Health Policy and Organizational Systems.2 Credits.
This course provides an introduction to various social and political policy environments impacting advanced nursing practice and health care systems. Students examine issues that inform health care policy, organization and financing. Nursing's advocacy role in shaping policy in organizational, social and political venues is emphasized.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, Fall and Summer Online
NUR 517. Anatomy for the Nurse Anesthetist.2 Credits.
This course emphasizes the fundamentals of anatomy for the cardiac, respiratory and nervous system. Anatomy as it pertains to regional and neuraxial administration is emphasized. Throughout this course, students utilize dissections of specific organs and the use of computer and anatomic models. Airway anatomy is covered extensively through multiple modalities. Renal and hepatic anatomy are reviewed. This course must be taken together with NUR 517L.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 517L.
Offered: Every year, Summer
NUR 517L. Anatomy for the Nurse Anesthetist Lab.1 Credit.
Lab to accompany NUR 517.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, Summer
NUR 518. Pathophysiology for the Nurse Anesthetist.3 Credits.
Essential concepts of pathophysiology are emphasized. Normal function of major systems and selected disorders are studied especially as they relate to care of the patient undergoing anesthesia. The course focuses on disease processes related to major organ systems; neurologic, cardiac, respiratory, renal, hepatic and endocrine. Where appropriate the course includes clinical correlations of disease states with symptoms and physical findings.
Prerequisites: Take PY 501, NUR 517, NUR 517L, NUR 698.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 520. Advanced Health Assessment.3 Credits.
This course presents the principles of performing a comprehensive health assessment and reporting the findings in a professional format. Attention is given to assessment and physical examination across the lifespan within diverse communities. The processes underlying diagnostic decision making are introduced. A laboratory component enables the student to master the techniques of performing a holistic health assessment.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 522 and NUR 530.
Corequisites: Take NUR 520L.
Offered: Every year, Spring Online
NUR 520L. Advanced Health Assessment Lab.2 Credits.
This lab must be taken with NUR 520. (2 lab hrs.) An on-ground clinical residency is required.
Corequisites: Take NUR 520.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 600. Evaluation and Synthesis of Scientific Evidence for Practice.2 Credits.
Students review selected processes to identify current best scientific evidence including formulation of asking an answerable question. Students also conduct a review of the literature, critically appraise individual studies, and synthesize the evidence collected. Various methods to evaluate statistical analyses and scientific rigor are emphasized. Discussions focus on strengths and limitations of existing evidence, and application to direct and indirect practice. Iterative writing is a major component of this course.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, Fall Online
NUR 602. Principles of Ethical Theory in Nursing.1 Credit.
This course facilitates the student's formulation of a theoretical basis for ethical judgment at an advanced level of practice. Students analyze ethical theory and debate responses to ethical problems in advanced nursing practice.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year
NUR 610. Clinical Scholarship and Inquiry in Nursing.2 Credits.
This course focuses on improvement methods used to identify organizational systems' process problems affecting practice (direct and indirect care). Building on prior knowledge of evidence-based practice, students learn how to critically appraise scientific evidence, evaluate additional relevant information, and consider cost implications to create sustainable innovations intended to improve systems.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 600.
Offered: Every year, Spring Online
NUR 610PBL. DNP Project I.2 Credits.
This seminar provides an opportunity for students to identify a health organization or system's opportunity for process improvement based on available aggregate data. Students develop a substantial and meaningful scholarly DNP Project Proposal that is innovative and evidence-based, reflects the application of credible research findings, financially sound, feasible, sustainable and demonstrates value to the organization and population(s) served. There is a minimum of 120 fieldwork hours associated with this course. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis.
Corequisites: Take NUR 610.
Offered: Every year, Summer Online
NUR 612. Leadership and Collaboration for Change in Health Care.2 Credits.
This course focuses on developing advanced practice nursing leaders who are able to generate pragmatic responses to health care policy, systems and practice inquiry problems through a collaborative approach.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 610.
Offered: Every year, Fall Online
NUR 612PBL. DNP Project II.2 Credits.
Students continue experiential learning to create and sustain change through implementation of the approved, scholarly DNP Project Proposal using appropriate leadership concepts, interdisciplinary team collaboration, and change theory. Post-implementation and evaluation of Project outcomes are disseminated to applicable fieldwork site stakeholders, peers in a professional forum, and in a digital repository. There are 120 fieldwork hours associated with this course. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 610, NUR 610PBL.
Offered: Every year, Fall Online
NUR 670. Basic Principles of Anesthesia II.3 Credits.
This course continues the basic principles of anesthesia and covers a variety of basic concepts including pre-operative assessment, basic airway management, the function and operation of the anesthesia ventilator and introduction to intra-operative anesthetic care. Concepts related to pain management including opioid sparing techniques are introduced. Simulation lab practices are included.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 696.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 670L. Basic Principles of Anesthesia II Lab.2 Credits.
This course introduces the student to the administration of neuraxial regional anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks using ultrasound, simulation and cadaver models. Simulation lab practice related to anesthesia set up and simple inductions of anesthesia are included.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 696.
Corequisites: Take NUR 670.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 671. Clinical Practicum I.2 Credits.
Individual clinical practice arranged with approved clinical sites. All-day clinical practice, 3 days per week. The student follows the hours of CRNA practice at each clinical site. A clinical conference is held once per week.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 696, NUR 670, NUR 670L, NUR 672.
Offered: Every year, Summer
NUR 672. Advanced Pharmacology II.3 Credits.
This course is a continuation of Advanced Pharmacology and Basic Principles of Anesthesia I (NUR 696) and expands on the administration of drugs used in the practice of anesthesia. Drugs used in the treatment of comorbid conditions and their effects on anesthesia are covered.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 696.
Corequisites: Take NUR 670, NUR 670L.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 673. Clinical Practicum II.2 Credits.
Individual clinical practice is arranged with approved clinical sites. All-day clinical practice continues four days per week. The student follows the hours of CRNA practice at each clinical site. A clinical conference is held once per week.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 671.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 674. Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice I.1 Credit.
This course discusses the history of the profession and practice issues that pertain to the nurse anesthesia practice. Topics include legal aspects, scope of practice, the national association and the structure, quality assurance and the business of anesthesia. Students explore their role in the political arena through attendance at the AANA Midyear Assembly in Washington, D.C.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 675. Clinical Practicum III.2 Credits.
Individual clinical practice is arranged with approved clinical sites four days per week. Students participate in full-day clinical practice, and follow the hours of CRNA practice at each clinical site. A call component may be included in the semester. A clinical conference is held once per week.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 673.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 676. Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice II.1 Credit.
The class covers the importance of personal wellness and stress management for the nurse anesthesia student and the practicing CRNA. Students become familiar with integrated therapies and behaviors used to create wellness and balance. Multiple factors related to chemical dependence and substance abuse are studied. Participants also discuss the importance of cultural sensitivity and diversity in health care.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 677. Clinical Practicum IV.2 Credits.
Individual clinical practice is arranged with the approved clinical sites. All-day clinical practice continues four days per week. The student follows the hours of CRNA practice at each clinical site. A call component may be included in the semester. A clinical conference is held once a week.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 675.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 678. Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice III.1 Credit.
This course discusses educational leadership as it pertains to clinical preceptors and educators. Topics include the writing of objectives, evaluations and rubrics and the role of the clinical educator. Additionally, students teach assigned topics to underclass students.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 674, NUR 676.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 679. Clinical Practicum V.2 Credits.
Individual clinical practice is arranged with approved clinical sites. All-day clinical practice continues four days per week. The student follows the hours of CRNA practice at each clinical site. A call component may be included in the semester. A clinical conference is held once a week.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 677.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 680. Physics, Chemistry, Equipment and Technology for Nurse Anesthetists.4 Credits.
This course includes an extensive study of key concepts pertaining to organic, biochemistry and physics as they relate to anesthesia. Topics include medical mathematics and conversion factors, the gas laws, biochemistry of fluids and electrolytes, acid-base and buffers systems, electrical circuits, reviews of organic chemistry including the functional groups and physical principles that are relevant. Equipment and technology used in anesthetic practice also are studied in this course.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 696, NUR 670, NUR 672.
Offered: Every year, Summer
NUR 681. Clinical Practicum VI.2 Credits.
Individual clinical practice is arranged with approved clinical sites. All-day clinical practice continues four days per week. The student follows the hours of CRNA practice at each clinical site. A call component may be included in the semester. A clinical conference is held once a week.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 679.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 682. Advanced Principles of Anesthesia I.3 Credits.
This course covers the administration and management of anesthesia to patients undergoing procedures in a variety of specialties such as ENT, orthopedics, neurosurgery and trauma. Advanced anesthetic management of common/uncommon conditions are included.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 696, NUR 670, NUR 670L, NUR 672.
Offered: Every year, Summer
NUR 684. Advanced Principles of Anesthesia II.3 Credits.
This course covers the fundamental concepts essential to clinical anesthesia practice pertaining to obstetrics and pediatrics.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 682.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 686. Advanced Principles of Anesthesia III.3 Credits.
The anesthetic assessment and management of patients with vascular and cardiac disease are covered in this course. Open and closed thoracic and cardiac surgery is studied along with the anesthetic implications and considerations. Students explore the perfusionist role during cardiac procedures. Cardiac implants and internal defibrillators are discussed.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 682, NUR 684.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 688. Human Factors and Patient Safety.3 Credits.
This course examines issues related to human error and patient safety with an emphasis on crisis management. Students explore the theoretical basis of human error, patient safety and quality assurance in health care. This course introduces a systems approach to error investigation and analysis, and integrates concepts of teamwork, crisis management, simulation and monitoring systems in medical practice.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year
NUR 690. Advanced Principles of Anesthesia IV.2 Credits.
This course contains an extensive study of the anesthetic management for patients with respiratory, renal, hepatic and endocrine disease.
Prerequisites: Take NUR 686.
Offered: Every year, Summer
NUR 695. Anesthesia Seminar I.2 Credits.
This course prepares the student to take the Self-Evaluation Exam (SEE) in preparation for the National Certification Exam (NCE). The Seminar course contain an extensive review of Basic Principles, Equipment and Technology, Basic and Advanced Principles, Pharmacology and Physiology. Practice exams are administered periodically and clinical scenarios are used to assess and challenge student knowledge and critical thinking. Students take the SEE (Self Evaluation Examination) exam at the end of this semester.
Prerequisites: Completion of all anesthesia core courses.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 696. Advanced Pharmacology and Basic Principles of Anesthesia I.4 Credits.
This course contains essential pharmacology for the anesthesia provider along with a variety of basic concepts such as surgical positioning, monitoring of patients undergoing anesthesia, the anesthesia machine and basic airway management. Lectures are held in the classroom and in the Skills and Simulation lab.
Prerequisites: Completion of NUR 517 PY 501.
Offered: Every year, Fall
NUR 697. Anesthesia Seminar II.2 Credits.
This course is the second Anesthesia Seminar which prepares the student to take the National Certification Exam (NCE). Students continue to take the SEE (Self Evaluation Examination) until a benchmark score is obtained. Organized and systematic review of materials from key anesthesia courses is continued. Students formulate a written plan of study for use during this semester. Each student reviews and implements the individualized plan with input from the adviser.
Prerequisites: Completion of all anesthesia core courses and NUR 695.
Offered: Every year, Spring
NUR 698. Human Physiology Seminar.1 Credit.
Students are provided with a topic in human physiology for presentation to the group. The topic is selected from one of the systems studied in the Human Physiology course. This provides the student with an opportunity to work in a small group, improve their public speaking skills and gather valuable material from other presenters.
Corequisites: Take PY 501.
Offered: Every year, Summer