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Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Admission Information

Admission to the DNAP program is grounded in a commitment to academic excellence, collaborative learning and teaching and intensive preparation of students through the intersection of multiple disciplines and approaches. Our ultimate goal is to recruit, retain and graduate Nurse Anesthetists who are adept at combining their humanistic, scientific and technical skills to become competent practitioners and outstanding professionals.

Prospective students are expected to be flexible, highly motivated, autonomous learners who can remain disciplined and focused during this graduate program. Students can expect to spend 50-60 hours per week meeting the didactic and clinical demands of the program.

Requirements to be Considered

Prospective nurse anesthesia students must submit the following materials in order to be considered for admission:
  • Hold an active, unencumbered license as a professional Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Nebraska with multi-state privileges (or be eligible for an active, unencumbered licensure in Nebraska with multi-state privileges)
  • Bachelor degree in nursing or in an appropriate related discipline
  • The applicant must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) for all collegiate work in order to be considered for admission into the program. An overall grade point of 3.2 is preferred for the basic science courses
  • Hold current provider status in the American heart Association approved Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Required upon Enrollment into the program
  • Have a minimum of one year of experience as a Registered Professional Nurse in which the applicant has had the opportunity to develop as an independent decision maker, demonstrate psychomotor skills and develop the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiologic and pharmacologic principles. The School of Nurse Anesthesia prefers that applicants have two years of experience as a Registered Nurse upon entrance into the program
  • Clinical skills should include hemodynamic monitoring, arrhythmia identification, blood gas interpretation, initiation of peripheral lines, universal precautions and use of vasoactive drugs, alpha/beta blockers and anti-arrhythmia medications
  • 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 is to have 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 daily basis, the registered professional nurse manages invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter, CVP, arterial); cardiac assist devices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive drips (such as norepinephrine, epinephrine, dobutamin, nicardipine, nitroglycerine)

The critical care areas include the following:
    • Surgical intensive care
    • Cardiothoracic intensive care
    • Coronary intensive care
    • Medical intensive care
    • Pediatric or neonatal intensive care
    • Those who have experience in other areas may be considered provided they can demonstrate competence with invasive monitoring, ventilators and critical care pharmacology
    Please contact the School if you have questions about your clinical experience.

              Required Prerequisite Courses

              • Statistics
              • Chemistry
              • Microbiology
              • Anatomy: human or mammalian anatomy (equivalent of three semester hours)
              • Physiology: Minimum grade of 3.0 or “B” is required for this course. (equivalent of three semester hours)
              • Anatomy/Physiology (in lieu of separate courses). The combined course is acceptable if offered over two semesters and taken sequentially. Minimum grade of 3.0 or "B" is required in both semesters (equivalent of six semester hours).

              All of the above listed courses or their equivalent, completed at an accredited college or university, are required and must be transferable to Bryan College of Health Sciences. Completion of these courses must be documented by official transcripts sent by the college/university directly to the School of Nurse Anesthesia prior to admission to the program.

              Applications for the DNAP program are accepted prior to August 31 for the class enrolling in May of the following year. All applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Admission is restricted to 28 students. Every applicant is considered, regardless of race, religion, sex, age, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation.

              All applicants must be able to perform the following technical competencies:
                  • Utilize perceptual and psychomotor skills in implementing the anesthesia care plan when caring for patients in all types of settings
                  • Safely use essential equipment when providing patient care in all required settings
                  • Move about independently when caring for patients. Technical standards and requirements of the Bryan Medical Center/Bryan College of Health Sciences School of Nurse Anesthesia must be met by all students. A copy of the standards is available on request

              Application Process and Timeline

              Applications are accepted April 1 and prior to August 31 for the class enrolling in May of the following year. All applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Classes begin in May each year. Admission is restricted to 28 students per cohort. Every applicant is considered, regardless of race, religion, sex, age, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation.

              1. Complete the online application - free to file!
              2. Provide official transcript(s) from all colleges attended. Transcripts can be submitted electronically via a Parchment service to: registrar@bryanhealthcollege.edu. If you have submitted official transcripts prior to completing an online application, please email grad@bryanhealthcollege.edu so that your official transcripts can be added to your admissions file.
              3. Submit GRE scores to Bryan College of Health Sciences code: 1244.
              4. You will need three professional references completed. Your recommenders will be notified to submit our form and they will submit it back to us. The reference should reflect an accurate appraisal of clinical skills, experience, and the applicant’s ability to pursue graduate study. Your three letters of recommendation need to come from the following:
                1. Department Head/Supervisor
                2. Head Nurse/Team Leader
                3. Professional/Personal
              5. One Clinical Skills Assessment form be completed by one of your references.
              6. A response to three short essay questions. The responses should be between 100 to 200 words each, and are required for all 3 questions:
                1. Why do you wish to join the Bryan DNAP program?
                2. What is your proudest professional moment?
                3. What do you anticipate will be your biggest challenge as a nurse anesthesia student?
              7. A copy of your current resume or vitae that includes all professional experiences.
              8. A copy of your current nursing license.

              Submit all materials to:

              Bryan College of Health Sciences

              1535 S. 52nd Street

              Lincoln, NE 68506

              grad@bryanhealthcollege.edu

              Electronic transcripts should be sent to: registrar@bryanhealthcollege.edu

              Cost

              Financial Aid

              Student financial aid is applied for and administered through the Bryan College of Health Sciences Financial Aid Office.

              Certification

              Graduates of this school are eligible to take the national certification examination for nurse anesthetists administered by the National Board on Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. Individuals who pass this examination may use “CRNA” (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) after their name. The College does not grant licensure or ensure an individual's eligibility to obtain licensure after graduation. It is each student's responsibility to know and understand the requirements for licensure.

              Essential and Supplemental Skills

              Communication Skills

              • Ability to communicate in English in both written and verbal modes
              • Computer skills to include basic keyboarding, basic word processing, Internet navigation, e-mail communication and familiarity in a "Windows" environment

              Supplemental Communication Skills

              • Computer skills to include intermediate word processing, basic spreadsheet and basic presentation software skills (Word, Excel and PowerPoint preferred)
              • Written and verbal communication skills including previous publications and experience providing lectures, peer teaching, in-service education and similar activities

              Essential General Cognitive Skills

              • Ability to problem-solve and think critically in making decisions about patient care
              • Skill in receiving information from multiple sources at the same time and simultaneously processing the information
              • Ability to make good decisions in very short time frames

              Supplemental General Cognitive Skills

                • Ability to manage multiple data streams and make rapid judgments, e.g., triage care of multiple patients

              Essential Clinical Nursing Skills

              • Understanding of and experience in all areas of basic pharmacology, including classification of drugs, dosages, actions and side effects. Knowledge of vasoactive drugs, anti-arrhythmics, beta blockers and alpha blockers is essential
              • Current card indicating completion of the American Heart Association approved Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) upon entrance into the program
              • Understanding of and ability to function using good aseptic/sterile technique
              • Excellent skills in obtaining nursing history and performing physical assessment
              • Experience with intravenous therapy including insertion of peripheral lines, administration of drugs, fluids and blood
              • Interpretation of basic electrocardiogram tracings, including identification of rate and rhythm changes
              • Interpretation of blood/gas values, application of acid-base theory to interpretation and clinical evaluation
              • Understanding and interpretation of basic laboratory values, including electrolytes, renal and liver function tests and cardiac enzymes
              • Understanding and application of universal precautions/body substance isolation in the care of all patients
              • Knowledge of invasive monitoring techniques--for example, waveform and data interpretation. The applicant must provide evidence of this competency in the form of workshop CEU certification, positive indication on a Clinical Skills Assessment form or documentation of observation or shadowing experience

              Supplemental Clinical Nursing Skills

              • Advanced pharmacology experience, including use of vasoactive drugs, anti-arrhythmics, beta blockers and alpha blockers
              • Advanced intravenous skills, including insertion and care of peripherally inserted central lines (PICC lines)
              • Care of the patient with central lines, including pulmonary artery catheters and interpretation of the waveforms and data obtained from this type of monitoring
              • Care of the patient with arterial lines and interpretation of the waveforms and data obtained from this type of monitoring
              • Interpretation of 12-lead electrocardiograms and application to the clinical care of patient
              • Experience in the care of patients on ventilator support, including evaluation and monitoring of patients with artificial airways, endotracheal tubes, tracheostomy tubes, etc
              • Experience in care of neonatal patients, obstetrical patients and patients in the operating room

              Preparing For The Program

              Housing

              Students are responsible for their own room, board and living expenses, as well as transportation and miscellaneous expenses incurred at affiliate hospitals. Housing at distant affiliate clinical sites is provided.

              Health Services

              Basic health services are available through Employee Health Services. All students must have appropriate vaccinations prior to clinical experience. Contact school for further information. The College of Health Sciences does not provide health insurance. It is strongly recommended that students acquire health insurance.

              Employment

              Employment is not recommended. Student employment is allowed only if it does not interfere with the academic and/or clinical responsibilities of the student. The clinical schedule during Phase II cannot be altered to accommodate employment. At NO time will a student be employed as an anesthesia provider.


              Time Commitment

              The student will be expected to spend 50-60 hours per week on didactic, clinical or on-call responsibilities. In addition, students should allow for travel time to affiliate clinical sites, most within a 150 mile radius of Lincoln, Nebraska.


              Graduation & Board Pass Rates

              Sixteen of 17 students who entered the class of 2021 graduated from the program in 36 months. The first attempt pass rate for the National Certification Exams was 100% for the 2021 graduates. All 2021 graduates obtained employment in the field within 4 months of graduation. View more program completion data

              Discretionary Leave Time

              During Phase I, students have leave time as specified by the academic calendar for the Bryan College of Health Sciences.

              During Phase II, students have 20 days of personal discretionary leave for vacation, sick and personal time. This personal leave may be taken at the discretion of the student and with the approval of the Program Director. However, no vacation time will be granted during the first eight weeks of Phase II. In addition, students will receive all Bryan Medical Center observed holidays. When at affiliate sites, students receive all holidays observed by that particular institution. Students are given 15 research days during Phase II for time spent researching, writing and presenting their capstone.

              Class attendance is mandatory. If a student is ill, they will notify the instructor in advance of class and missed work must be made up.

              Compliance

              Bryan College of Health Sciences School of Nurse Anesthesia complies with the regulations of the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, 1990, and abides by the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. All records are maintained under the supervision of the Bryan College of Health Sciences Registrar.

              Bryan College of Health Sciences School of Nurse Anesthesia defines and uses policies and procedures that are fair and equitable and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any factor protected by law.

              Our 2025 DNAP Virtual Q&A sessions will be held on the following dates: 

              • January 8, 9–9:30 a.m
              • February 6, 8:30–9 a.m.
              • March 21, 1:30–2 p.m.
              • April 7, 10–10:30 a.m.
              • May 21, 12–12:30 p.m.

              Please contact Lauren at lauren.erickson@bryanhealth.org to register for a session. 

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