FAQs

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) with a Master’s or Doctoral degree who has graduated from an accredited program and passed the National Qualifying Examination.

CRNAs administer 60% of the anesthetics given in the USA and practice in a variety of settings including small and large hospitals, general and specialty outpatient surgery centers, offices, obstetric units, and military settings.

In rural America, CRNAs provide nearly all anesthesia services.

CRNAs may work with anesthesiologists (physicians with a residency in anesthesia) in a team practice or may be the solo providers of anesthesia services in a facility or community.

Yes, these must be obtained prior to starting the program but are not required prior to applying to the program.

The Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Programs requires all students in a program be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) before beginning clinical activity.

We adhere to the guidance from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) regarding critical care experience.

*The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs defines critical care experience as: 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. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and neonatal intensive care. ER, Life Flight or Recovery Room do not qualify towards critical care experience requirement.

Candidates for this program must demonstrate proficiency in managing unstable patients, utilizing invasive monitoring, operating ventilators, and applying critical care pharmacology. These competencies should be highlighted in your practice survey as part of your admission documentation.

The DNAP program requires applicants to have been a nurse for two years, of which, at least one year must be in critical care.

This experience must be completed by the application deadline of September 1st each year.

The COA instructs programs that “a minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in a critical care setting is required. The applicant must have developed as an independent decision maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles.”

Due to specific degree requirements and an integrated curriculum, the DNAP Program does not accept transfer students or external credits to count toward the DNAP degree.

Any student who has previously attended another anesthesia training program must undergo the same admission procedures as any other applicant for admission to the program.

Additionally, a letter explaining the reason for separation from the previous program, along with a letter addressed to both the student’s previous program director and Gonzaga program director, allowing them to discuss your performance, behaviors, and any concerns unrestrictedly, is required.

These documents can be uploaded through the application portal.

This process may also necessitate any FERPA documents from the other program/university be filed with that entity to facilitate discussions between programs, please check with your previous program.

The candidate will engage in scholarly inquiry to analyze, evaluate or transform a relevant aspect of clinical practice.

The project may take on many forms but will be specific to the candidate’s area of professional interest.

Some possibilities include: implementation of evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice, an in-house education and training program that emerges as the best way to implement new knowledge, or a scholarly article submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Proof of shadow experiences is not required.

Yes, the fees are outlined below.

• Application fee: $50.
• Tuition Deposit: $1,000 payable at the time of acceptance to the program to secure the student’s enrollment in the program. This tuition deposit will be credited to the first semester’s tuition. If the student does not enroll, he/she forfeits the tuition deposit.
• Students bear the cost of the mandatory drug screen upon enrollment; the current cost is $75.
• $2,000 program fee per semester to aid in clinical housing, simulation cost, electronic record keeping, malpractice insurance, AANA registration Fee, SEE and NCE examinations offered by the NBCRNA.

We have a number of resources to help you fund your education.

As a graduate student you qualify for Federal Student Aid. This funding is not need based, follow the link to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Gonzaga also offers payment plan options and other financial resources.

Visit the Financial Aid page for information on funding options or to speak with a staff member.