Admissions
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) at FIU is a limited-enrollment program with a highly rigorous admissions process where the number of applicants generally well exceeds the positions available.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) programs tend to be highly competitive. Applicant profiles across the nation exhibit similar characteristics, including:
- Being highly motivated
- Having several years of critical care experience (must meet at least one (1) year of ICU experience)
- Having a strong GPA
- Taking additional courses in advanced sciences such as physiology, organic chemistry or biochemistry
- CCRN Certification
Traditionally, most nurse anesthetists come from intensive care units (ICU), particularly surgical intensive care. Acute care nursing skills and experience gained in ICU nursing are not re-taught as part of our curriculum.
Only applicants who are licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) qualify as candidates for the FIU Nurse Anesthetist program. Nurse anesthetists are educated and licensed based on their initial preparation as an RN.