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DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program
The School of Nursing offers a BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program in Nurse Anesthesia.
The 36-month program requires a minimum of 86 course credits, including core courses and anesthesia specialty courses.
The program integrates research, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and anesthesia principles and prepares students for the national certification examination.
The application deadline for the May 2022 class is September 15, 2021. Interviews will be held the week of October 25th. In-person interviews are preferred, but applicants may interview via Zoom upon request.
Virtual Open House
Thursday December 9, 2021: 5-6pm
Join us at one of our upcoming virtual Graduate School Open House events on Zoom! You'll have the opportunity to learn more about Western Carolina University, understand the Graduate School application process, and meet key program representatives.
Program Overview
Location: Biltmore Park
Program Length: 36-Months
Small Classes, Low Student-Faculty Ratio
App. Deadline: September 15
100% Pass Rate for Certification
Please visit our Admissions page for complete details on admissions requirements.
The Nurse Anesthesia Program's mission is to create an academic center of teaching and learning excellence for the advancement of nurse anesthesia practice. The program seeks to promote clinical scholarship and life-long learning and aims to support skilled and ethical service to our communities. Through nurse anesthesia research, education, and practice, students and faculty will seek to enhance the quality of life for people of all cultures, economic levels and geographic locations.
The BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program in Nurse Anesthesia is a 36-month program.
Graduate students may transfer up to nine credit hours (with a grade of B or better) with approval of the Program Director. Transfer credit requested for doctoral level courses at Western Carolina University must be designated as doctoral level as noted on the official institutional transcript where the transfer credit was earned.
Reasons to Choose WCU’s Nurse Anesthesia Program
- Open door policy with faculty
- Extensive regional anesthesia experience
- Total anesthetic cases average in excess of 900
- Experience with ultrasound guidance in placement of nerve blocks
- State of the art high fidelity simulation lab with METI Human Patient Simulators
- Small co-hort, 14 to 16 students per class
- Diverse clinical experience with no competition from other anesthesia learners
- Program faculty with extensive scholarship
- 100% pass rate for national certification exam
- Unique learning experiences at three clinical sites where CRNAs are sole anesthesia providers;
Clinical Anesthesia Experience: Asheville Surgery Center, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, Frye Regional Medical Center, Harris Regional Hospital, Haywood Regional Medical Center, McDowell Hospital, Mission Hospital, Norton Children's Hospital, Pardee Hospital, Advent Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital, Transylvania Regional Hospital
Program Director and Core Faculty
2021 Student Data
Female: 73.3%
Male: 26.7%
Average pre-admission overall GPA: 3.74
Attrition rate (2021): 6%
Overall attrition (2009-2021): 9.5%
First-time test takers (2021): 100%
National average (2020): 85.2%
Overall pass rate (2009 - 2021): First-time test takers: 92.9%
Overall pass rate (2009 - 2021): 100%
Employed within six months of graduation: 100%
Overall employment rate within six months of graduation (2009 - 2021): 100%
Contact Us
Dr. Ian Hewer
Program Director
828.654.6508
Shannon Miller
Administrative Associate
WCU Programs at Biltmore Park
School of Nursing
28 Schenck Parkway, Suite 309
Asheville, NC 28803
828.654.6499 Office
Program Resources
Accreditation
The DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA).
The Council on Accreditation is a specialized accrediting body recognized by both the United States Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
In May 2017, the DNP Program received initial accreditation through 2022 (222 S. Prospect
Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068, 847-655-1160).
COA website