

Nurse Anesthesia (BSN-DNP)
In partnership with Geisinger, our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse anesthesia program will prepare you as a nurse leader to apply advanced practice skills at the highest level of clinical practice to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
- Degrees & Offerings
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- DNP
- Format Option(s)
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- Hybrid (Online + In Person)
- Department
- College
- Program Contact
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Program Director of Geisinger/Bloomsburg Nurse Anesthesia Program, Associate Professor of Nursing
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Dean of the School of Nursing, Breiner Family Endowed Professorship of Nursing; Associate Professor
The focus of this collaborative program is nurse anesthesia practice-oriented investigation in the clinical setting emphasizing health education, leadership, research application, and analysis of health care outcomes. We'll prepare you as a clinical scholar skilled in patient centered care, intra-professional collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, policy advocacy, and improved use of informatics and technology. You'll be prepared to assume a higher level of responsibility and leadership in nursing and health care, with the ultimate goal of improving the health care delivery system of the nation.
Primary Goals
- Provide a higher level of scientific background and practical experience
- Learn to function as an integral part of the health care team
- Preparation for instructional and leadership roles
- Successful completion of the Certified Exam for Nurse Anesthetists
Our nurse anesthesia program emphasizes the acquisition of essential knowledge and skills, including the ability to:
- Apply theory and research knowledge gained from nursing the sciences and humanities to provide optimum care to the patient
- Evaluate the patient preoperatively, anticipating requirements necessary in the perioperative and post-anesthesia phases
- Administer a safe and physiologically investigator and in collaboration with colleagues
- Develop leadership skills necessary in the role as clinician, teacher, researcher, advocate, manager and consultant
- Acquire an appreciation for involvement in the professional activities of the local, regional and national organization
- Relate to and interact with the total health care community of which anesthesiology is one component.
Courses and Curriculum
Completed applications are due in the graduate office by Feb. 1.
- Online graduate school application
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally-accredited school program
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
- GPA requirement of at least 3.2
- Copy of current, unencumbered Pennsylvania professional nursing license
- Resume which includes description of professional nursing and clinical experience
- Documentation of BLS, ACLS and PALS certification — PALS is required for application but a PA license can be obtained upon acceptance into the program (acceptance contingent upon getting a PA license).
- Narrative describing personal and professional goals for graduate education and Nurse Anesthesia option
- Three Nurse Anesthesia Recommendation forms
- Documentation of at least eight hours of shadowing a CRNA with verification by that individual
- At least one year of current full-time critical care experience such as AICU, CCU, PICU, and NICU by application date Feb. 1. (ER, Life Flight, or Recovery Room do not qualify towards critical care experience requirement.)
- Documentation of Certification in Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) is mandatory. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Get Certified
- Nurse Anesthesia Pre-requisite Course Form
- Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Experience Form
- Shadow Experience Form
Interviews with the Joint Admissions Committee will be conducted during April.
- 2024 Class Attrition (number of students) — TBD
- 2024 Certification examination pass rate for first-time takers — TBD
- 2024 Employment of graduates within six months — TBD
- 2024 overall pass rate — TBD
To review previous outcomes, see Nurse Anesthesia MSN program attrition and pass rates.
Practical Learning
Professional Engagement
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
As advanced practice nurses, CRNAs administer more than 34 million anesthetics in the United States each year. CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is available and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America. They administer every type of anesthetic, and provide care for every type of surgery or procedure, from open heart to cataract to pain management.
Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists
It's the purpose of this Association to promote, through continuing education, the science and art of anesthesiology as provided by CRNAs in all practice settings. In collaboration with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, PANA offers its members the resources necessary to advance patient safety and practice excellence.
The Husky Difference
The doctoral degree program in nursing at Bloomsburg University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K St. NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

$189K
The standard annual salary for nurse anesthetists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Our nurse anesthesia DNP program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational (COA) Programs., 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603, 224-275-9130.

Our nursing program is ranked 6th of 76 schools in Pennsylvania according to RNCareers.org. In addition, we’re ranked 67th in the Mid-Atlantic region by NursingSchoolAlmanac.com.
Careers
Whether you’re looking for a hands-on clinical role or a role that leads or creates policy, there are many career paths for nurses with a DNP.
Potential Job Opportunities
- Administers general, regional, and local anesthesia
- Works as part of healthcare teams in surgery, diagnostic tests, newborn deliveries, pain management, and trauma stabilization
- Offices of health practitioners other than physicians (podiatrists, dentists, etc.)
- Specialty hospitals
Top Skills Employers are Looking For
- Analyzing and Interpreting Clinical Outcomes
- Creating and Fostering a Clear Health Care Vision
- Building and Managing Strong Health Care Teams
- Managing Conflict
- Leading Discussions and Improving Patient Outcomes

NAP Achieves Perfection
Members of NAP's Class of 2022 achieved perfection in its national certification exam (NCE), measuring the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for entry-level nurse anesthesia practitioners. The 13 graduate students had a 100% first-time pass rate for the NCE, 0% attrition, 100% employment rate, and 100% overall pass rate. The national first-time pass rate is 85.2%.

Nurse Anesthesia Students Win Competition
The Geisinger/Bloomsburg University Nurse Anesthesia Program's Class of 2022 students won the annual College Bowl at the Pennsylvania Association Of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA) Spring Symposium in Hershey, Pa.

Program Costs
At Bloomsburg, you can spend more time making your way up the ladder and less time paying down the loans. We were founded on the idea of giving hardworking people an affordable, world-class education. And we’re still committed to that vision today, in every single way.
Applying to this Program (Graduate)
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Nurse Anesthesia Contact

Program Director of Geisinger/Bloomsburg Nurse Anesthesia Program, Associate Professor of Nursing