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DNP

Anesthesia

Format & Location

On-Campus (Fairfield, CT), On-Campus (Austin, TX)

School/College

Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies
A student performs a medical exam on the nose of a manikin.

Start Dates

Summer (May)

Application Deadline

August 1

Completion

3 years

Schedule

Full-Time

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Attend a Virtual Information Session Check for Upcoming Dates

A full-time, 36-month program that prepares students as expert clinicians for every stage and setting in which anesthesia is delivered to patients.

By the Numbers

Top 100

Best Grad Program in Nation
U.S. News & World Report

Top 5%

Best Nursing Schools in the Nation
College Factual

#1

Best Nursing Practice Doctor’s Degree Schools in the New England Region
College Factual

What You'll Learn and Do

Be prepared to take on anything

From routine surgical cases to trauma and major burn situations, you'll work on a variety of scenarios that will expertly prepare you for the challenges that lie ahead.

New location, same nationally-ranked program

The nationally ranked program has locations in Austin, Texas and Fairfield, Connecticut. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

Use intersectionality to your advantage

Graduates will apply knowledge about organizations, business management, information technology, and policy-making to improve systems of healthcare delivery. They will also be prepared to assume a variety of leadership roles, including executive positions in healthcare organizations, directors of clinical programs, and university-based faculty positions with a clinical focus.

Let your education lead you

In addition to becoming skilled clinicians, graduates are prepared to be healthcare leaders who can care for a variety of patients within their specialty, while using a cross-population perspective to assess, manage, and evaluate common problems.

Find Out More

Course Requirements

Course Requirements

100 credits

Contact Us

Graduate Admission
gradadmis@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4184

Video Poster

See what your future has in store.

Fairfield University's Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies programs use the latest in medical equipment and small classroom settings to provide a practical and engaging education for its students.

Learn from Industry Experts 

Fairfield University’s Egan School boasts experienced faculty who inspire students to become leaders across social and healthcare environments. These students actively engage with faculty in practice, policy, scholarship, and service.

View All Faculty

Christine Aloi
Simulation Coordinator & DNP Advisor | Nurse Anesthesia
Steven Belmont
Steven Belmont
Program Director of Nurse Anesthesia Program, Associate Professor of the Practice

Admission Information

From your first admission conversation to graduation and beyond, you’ll find support at every turn. The Fairfield University student support network is dedicated to meeting your needs. You’ll receive personal, academic, and financial guidance as you complete your Doctorate in Nursing Practice - Nurse Anesthesia.

Admission Requirements

Tuition + Costs

Financial Aid

Meeting the faculty assured me of not only gaining invaluable mentors but also becoming part of a supportive community that fosters success. Fairfield's program boasts affiliations with various clinical sites across multiple states, and the faculty's dedication ensures a smooth journey through the rigorous three-year program.

Sabrina Novak, DNP ’26, RN, BSN, SRNA

Sabrina Novak smiles in front of a gray background.

Accreditation

The Fairfield University Nurse Anesthesia Program in both campuses is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) through May 2031.

Fairfield University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education in the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.) The Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education through 2027. These accreditations include both the North Benson Fairfield, CT and Austin, TX campuses.

Our 36-month, full-time program offers a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a concentration in nurse anesthesia through Fairfield University. Upon graduation, the student will be eligible to take the National Certifying Examination (NCE) to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

Our DNP Nurse Anesthesia program based in Austin, TX has been fully approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.

Council On Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

10275 W. Higgins Road, Suite 906,
Rosemont, IL 60018-5602
Phone: (847) 655-1160

https://www.coacrna.org/

NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education logo.

NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education

The Egan School is accredited by The National League for Nursing.

Clinical Affiliations

Nurse anesthesia students spend 21 months in clinical learning alongside CRNAs and anesthesiologists. Clinical hour requirements average 32–40 hours of operating room time per week and by graduation, graduates exceed the minimum clinical requirements set forth by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The COA requires a minimum of 2,000 clinical hours and 650 cases for graduation. Students move throughout their clinical experiences utilizing graduated clinical privilege levels allowing for more autonomy and independence as they progress.

Students obtain their clinical experience at the following approved clinical sites. Students gain hands on experience with general, regional, and peripheral nerve block techniques under the close supervision of a supportive team of CRNA and MD clinical faculty. In addition to routine cases, our nurse anesthesia students gain experience in trauma, major burn, and high-risk obstetrical cases. Enrichment rotations are provided to further enhance clinical experiences and cases. Students will rotate to a minimum of two clinical sites during their clinical rotations.

Bridgeport Hospital
(Bridgeport, CT)

Danbury Hospital
(Danbury, CT)

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
(Lebanon, NH)

Mercy Medical Center
(Springfield, MA)

Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center (NVSC)
(Waterbury, CT)

NewYork-Presbyterian — Queens
(Flushing, NY)

Norwalk Hospital
(Norwalk, CT)

Park Avenue Medical Center
(Trumbull, CT)

Saint Francis Hospital
(Hartford, CT)

Saint Mary's Hospital
(Waterbury, CT)

Stamford Hospital
(Stamford, CT)

Stony Brook University Hospital
(Stony Brook, NY)

Weill Cornell Medical Center — NewYork-Presbyterian
(New York, NY)

Ascension Seton Medical Center
(Austin, TX)

Ascension Seton Medical Center Northwest
(Austin, TX)

Dell Seton Medical Center
(Austin, TX)

Seton Medical Center Williamson
(Round Rock, TX)

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
(Austin, TX)

St. David’s North Austin Medical Center
(Austin, TX)

St. David’s Medical Center
(Austin, TX)

St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center
(Round Rock, TX)

Surgicare of South Austin
(Austin, TX)

Olin E Teague Veteran’s Administration Hospital
(Temple, TX)

Career Outlook

The nationally-ranked programs offered by the Egan School allow graduates to pursue jobs in a range of locations with various employers.

Employers

Recent Placements

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
  • U.S. Navy
  • Yale New Haven Hospital
  • NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Beyond the classroom, my time at Fairfield has allowed me to forge lasting connections with peers, mentors, and alumni, creating a supportive network that continues to enrich my personal and professional life. These relationships have opened doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and friendships that I cherish deeply.

Alexis Marsico ‘24 - Yale New Haven Health

Latest Anesthesia News

Feature

Navy veteran Chris Mangram ’25 prepares for an exam in Fundamentals of Nursing.

Austin Programs Approved by Texas Veterans Commission

With the approval of its undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, Fairfield Austin can better serve military veterans and dependents who are eligible for educational benefits.

Fairfield University Austin Campus

DNP-Nurse Anesthesia Program Accredited in Austin, Texas

View More News

By incorporating a diverse array of professors from various specialties and disciplines to lecture on topics in our curriculum, our learning experience is continuously enriched. This approach ensures that the content remains fresh and the teaching styles are dynamic, allowing for a multifaceted and engaging learning journey.

Muhammed Butt, DNP ’26, RN, BSN, SRNA

Muhammed Butt smiles in front of a blurry background.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 30/year for the Fairfield, CT North Benson Road campus and
  • 15/year for the Austin, TX campus. 

The nurse anesthesia program’s NCE Board pass rates meet the current Council on Accreditation's benchmark.

  • 2021: 100% first-time pass rate.
  • 2022: 92% first-time pass rate, 100% second time.
  • 2023: 100% first-time pass rate.
  • 2024: 100% first-time pass rate.

  • The attrition rate for the 2022 cohort was 4%.
  • The attrition rate for the 2023 cohort was 6%.
  • The attrition rate for the 2024 cohort was 6%. 

All graduates have been employed by the date of graduation.

  • The nurse anesthesia program is a Full-Time program requiring an extensive time commitment to complete the rigorous clinical and academic requirements. It requires personal and social sacrifices for both the student and his/her support systems.
  • Students should expect to spend approximately 60 hours/week engaging in program related activities once nurse anesthesia residency begins. This does not include study time or class preparation.
  • Decisions to continue working must be made by the individual student but the program administration highly discourages full-time employment. 

Students can transfer a maximum of two courses (6 credits total). These courses must be approved by the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies after careful review. The fixed tuition cost will not change if you transfer credits into the program.

A critical care area is defined as one where the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following in an intensive care setting:

  • Invasive hemodynamic monitors
  • Cardiac assist devices
  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Vasoactive infusions

The nurse anesthesia program tuition is set prior to each cohort starting and divided evenly by nine semesters.

  • All students enrolled in the nurse anesthesia program carry a full-time credit load and are therefore eligible for financial aid throughout the program.
  • There is limited federal grant money in the form of HRSA-Nurse Anesthesia Traineeship Grants, depending upon the fiscal year and award received by the university. 

  • $3,000 nonrefundable tuition desposit which is credited toward your Bursar account for the first semester tuition. 
  • Anesthesia texts 
  • Core & APRN course text books 
  • Lap top computer
  • SEE exam registration if unable to meet program benchmark.
  • Nurse licensure fees 
  • BCLS, ACLS, PALS certification & recertification
  • NCE 
  • Living/travel expenses for distant clinical sites

For more information, call the Office of Graduate Admission at (203) 254-4184 or email gradadmis@fairfield.edu.

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  • 1073 North Benson Road
    Fairfield, CT 06824

  • (203) 254-4000

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