Overview
Advance your nursing career with our new Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia (DNP–NA) program. This full-time, in-person program spans 36 months and is based at the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Hershey Campus. With a rigorous curriculum totaling 94 credits and 2,700 clinical hours, you’ll gain the depth of experience and hands-on learning necessary to deliver exceptional patient care.
Join our community committed to excellence in nursing education and prepare to make a lasting impact on healthcare.
If you are interested in Penn State’s DNP–NA Program, sign up for our program’s interest list to receive notifications and additional information.
Sign up for the DNP–NA interest list »
Program Accreditation
Accreditation is pending final approval from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Please note, no students can be enrolled until initial accreditation has been awarded.
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906 Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
Phone: 224-275-9130
Email: accreditation@coacrna.org
Website: https://www.coacrna.org
| Graduation Year | Attrition Rate | NCE Pass Rate (First Attempt) | Overall NCE Pass Rate | Employment within 6 Months of Graduation |
| 2032 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2031 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2030 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the requirements for the DNP Program as listed in the bulletin, applicants will need:
- Current, unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN in the United States or its territories or protectorates.
- Minimum Scholastic grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Minimum Science GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Undergraduate statistics course with a grade of B or better (within the last five years).
- Undergraduate or graduate-level chemistry course with a grade of B or better (within the last five years, lab portion not required).
- A minimum of two years of full-time critical care experience as a Registered Nurse. Emergency Room, Operating Room, Obstetrics, and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit do not meet the critical care requirement.
- Three letters of recommendation from a direct supervisor (required), an academic educator/professor, and a healthcare professional who can speak to the applicant’s potential for success as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
- A written 500-word personal statement describing the applicant’s understanding of the DNP degree, the role of a CRNA, personal goals as an advanced practice provider, and reasoning for interest in Penn State.
- A minimum of 8 hours of shadowing experience with a CRNA. A completed shadowing log must be submitted with the application. Download the shadow log
- Admissions Committee interview: selected applicants will be invited to participate in an on-campus interview.
- Admissions Cycle: The DNP–NA admissions cycle will open in Summer of 2026. Please sign up for the DNP–NA Interest List to receive the most up-to-date admissions information.
Holistic Admissions Statement: The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia program employs a holistic admissions process that comprehensively evaluates the full range of each applicant’s clinical experiences, personal attributes, academic metrics, professional accomplishments, leadership qualities, and service to determine readiness to succeed in an intensive anesthesia education program. Consistent with the program’s mission and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) values, the program promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to foster a supportive learning environment that enhances the nurse anesthesia profession and patient care. Furthermore, the program does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or socioeconomic background.
Matriculation Requirements
- A current, unencumbered RN or APRN license in the State of Pennsylvania or a multistate compact RN or APRN license valid in the State of Pennsylvania (Refer to Pennsylvania Board of Nursing for Compact State Status).
- Current BLS, ACLS, and PALS Certification.
- Completion of American Data Bank onboarding procedures as required by the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing.
Documents to Submit
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended
- Resume or CV
- Current RN license and other national certifications as applicable
- Documentation of 8 hours of CRNA shadowing
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Vision/Purpose Statement
- TOEFL (If Applicable)
Plan of Study
A detailed sample plan of study is available for the DNP–NA program. To review it, please visit the Sample Plan of Study page.
View the Sample Plan of Study »
Clinical Experiences
Our DNP–NA program will offer structured clinical rotations primarily within the Penn State Health Network. All clinical sites are located within the state of Pennsylvania. In total, students will complete a minimum of 2,000 clinical hours working with a variety of specialties. Each clinical site has been selected carefully to promote the development of competent, well-rounded nurse anesthetists.
SRNAs can expect to rotate to a maximum of seven clinical sites during their clinical practicum courses. Rotations vary in length from one to four months, depending on the level of the learner, clinical site experiential offering, and specialty rotations.
Tuition and Fees
In addition to tuition, students are responsible for required fees and other educational expenses. You can estimate tuition using Penn State’s Tuition Calculator and review a detailed breakdown on the Fees and Additional Student Expenses page.
View Fees and Additional Student Expenses »
DNP–NA Faculty and Personnel
Sarah Rollison, DNP, CRNA, CNE, CHSE
Program Director
Megan McAuliffe, DNP, CRNA
Assistant Program Director
David Kyvik, MS
Educational Program Coordinator
Cody Hoffman
Assistant Director of Nursing Student Recruitment
Frequently Asked Questions
The DNP–NA Frequently Asked Questions section addresses common topics related to program format, admissions requirements, coursework, clinical expectations, and student responsibilities. Review this section to find quick, clear answers to many of the questions prospective applicants often have as they consider the DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.
