Admissions

Admission to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (D.N.A.P.) - Entry into Practice program is considered on a competitive basis for prospective students who are registered nurses and hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or an appropriate major with an unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse and/or an advanced practice registered nurse in the United States or its territories. Applicants must also have a minimum of 1 year full-time work experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting (see options below). Applicants will submit the initial application through the NursingCAS system. Applications are then reviewed by the Office of Admissions for completeness and referred to the Nurse Anesthesia Program Admissions Committee Chair to determine applicant eligibility for an interview. The Admissions Committee meets after the interviews and reviews the full application file for applicants who were interviewed.

The Admissions Committee will determine which applicants will be accepted. The Office of Admissions notifies each applicant in writing of the admission action/decision. Decisions on acceptance are made until the maximum enrollment for the Nurse Anesthesia Program is reached.

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (D.N.A.P.) Program uses a rolling admissions process. Completed applications are reviewed and decisions to interview individual candidates are made at regular intervals during the admission cycle. Interviews are conducted and the selection process of each candidate for admission is made until the cohort is filled. Typically, the applicant is notified of selection status within a day after the applicant's interview date, but this is subject to change.                                                                                        

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (D.N.A.P.) Entry-into-Practice Program at Midwestern University, students must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
2. Minimum science GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
   • Courses included in the calculation of the science GPA include anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, chemistry, physics, and microbiology.
3. Completion of a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or an appropriate major, granted by a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
4. Satisfactory completion with a C or better of all prerequisite coursework prior to the application (grades of C- are not acceptable).
5. Licensure to practice as a registered nurse: an unencumbered/unrestricted license to practice in at least one legal jurisdiction in the United States or its territories. The applicant possesses no previous sanctions or restrictions on the RN license.
6. Minimum of one year of full-time critical care registered nursing experience prior to application. Critical care experience includes all types of Adult ICU (Intensive Care Unit), Pediatric ICU, and Emergency Room. Neonatal intensive care unit experience does not meet this requirement. Experience should include management of mechanical ventilation, invasive monitoring, and vasoactive medication infusions.
7. Demonstration of sincere understanding of and interest in nurse anesthesia.
8. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with faculty, patients, and colleagues.

Prerequisite Courses

Application Process and Deadlines

To be considered for admission into the Entry-into-Practice Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program, applicants must complete an application through the NursingCAS portal (see link below). The following are additional documents that will need to be provided.

1. Official transcripts verifying completion of baccalaureate or higher level degrees in Nursing from regionally accredited programs and satisfactory completion of all prerequisite coursework.
2. Official final transcripts from all colleges attended post-high school.

Apply Here

1. NursingCAS Application: Applications are due in NursingCAS by November 1st. Applications received after November 1st will be considered on a rolling basis for seats that may be available or placement on the alternate list. Please refer to the NursingCAS application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. The NursingCAS application should be available for applicants beginning in July. Due to the large number of applications and the limited number of seats available, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their NursingCAS application early in the cycle.

2. Completed Application: The Office of Admissions will send letters verifying receipt of NursingCAS applications with all required materials to all applicants who meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement of 3.0. The letters will also include instructions on checking the status of their application material and ensuring the submission of all required documents. Only applicants who submit completed applications with all required application materials will be considered for potential entrance into the Program.

Please note: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or email address. All application withdrawal requests must be made in writing via email or letter to:

Midwestern University Office of Admissions
19555 North 59th Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85308
888-247-9277 or 623-572-3215
admissaz@midwestern.edu

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis until the maximum enrollment for the program is reached. Students are advised to complete the application file as early as possible to ensure timely consideration.

Transfer Policy

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program may elect to accept transfer students during the didactic phase of the program. Transfer students must apply to the program and, if qualified, must participate in an admission interview. The Admissions Committee must approve all transfer students and will determine the number of graduate transfer credits allowed. In addition, a letter from a student's former program director must accompany the application explaining the reason for the transfer.

Transfer students are not accepted during the clinical phase of the program.