College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Effective Date
These policies become effective immediately upon final approval and shall remain in effect until revoked.

Purpose

Applicant policies are provided to inform prospective applicants regarding admission requirements. The most current policies are posted on the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia and Metro State University webpage. Policies are subject to change.

Responsibility

Each applicant is responsible for knowing and adhering to the current applicant policies for their program. The responsibility for the implementation of these policies is assigned to the Directors of the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia.

Application Requirements

• 1. The following are requirements for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia at Minneapolis School of Anesthesia in partnership with Metropolitan State University. All application items must be uploaded by the published application deadline and verified by NursingCAS in order to be considered.
• 1.1. A completed application for the Doctor of Nursing Practice- Nurse Anesthesia program via NursingCAS, official transcripts, CV/Resume, references, evidence of current RN licensure, and evidence of required practice hours in an approved critical care environment.
• 1.2. An official transcript indicating a Baccalaureate/Bachelors or Master’s in Nursing, Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Nursing, or Entry Level Master of Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution. Degrees must be completed and final transcripts submitted through NursingCAS prior to application.
• 1.3. A Natural Science Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater is required for admission.
• 1.3.1. Individuals who completed a BS/BA or Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing that did not assign grades or confer an official grade point average may still apply to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Such applicants will be evaluated on the basis of the remaining admission criteria;
• 1.4. Evidence of current unencumbered registered nurse license in at least one state with eligibility for licensure in Minnesota.
• 1.5. Four professional references; at least one from a current/former supervisor and one from someone that can directly evaluate the applicant’s nursing practice.
• 1.6. A chemistry course must be completed from an accredited college or university within 5 years of starting the DNP-NA program. It can be an online course and no lab is required. A passing grade of B or higher is required; pass/fail courses will not be accepted. Official transcripts can be sent to either NursingCAS during the application cycle, or directly to Minneapolis School of Anesthesia if completed between after the application deadline and the first day of class.
• 1.7. Prior to the application deadline, complete a minimum of one year (1 FTE), two years preferred, of nursing experience in a critical care setting within the last three years.
• 1.7.1. Employment in a critical care setting must be maintained until at least 90 days prior to matriculation into the program. Operating room, emergency room, and post-anesthesia recovery do not fulfill this requirement. Ground/flight transport nursing experience may be considered on an individual basis.
• 1.8. An interview with the Directors of the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia will be required.
• 1.8.1. Interviews will be conducted utilizing emotional intelligent questioning.

Petition for Exceptions to Policies

A student seeking an exception from a policy or requirement may do so through the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Petition process. Exception requests are considered on an individual basis considering the strength of the submitted evidence or rationale. Students should contact a program advisor in CNHS for information on the petition process.

Review of Application Materials

All submitted materials are reviewed and evaluated by the Directors of the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia. Final admission offers are made by the Directors of the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia. The Metro State DNP Program Director will participate in the review process. The admission process is extremely competitive.

Admission Offer

Successful applicants will receive a letter offering admission. An applicant who wishes to enroll in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia program must respond affirmatively by the date indicated in the letter. If an applicant accepts admission into the program, a $1,000.00 nonrefundable matriculation fee (a seat fee) is required to secure the applicant’s position in the program. This matriculation fee is applied to miscellaneous program fees, and equipment. It is not applied towards tuition. Failure to respond to the offer of admission by the date indicated in the letter is considered a decline.

Pre-practicum Requirements

• 1.1. Possess and maintain American Heart Association basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certifications throughout the duration of the program.
• 1.2. Students must meet all pre-practicum requirements prior to indicated deadlines and maintain these requirements throughout the program. Failure to meet the requirements prior to the indicated deadlines may result in students’ inability to enroll in or attend courses. It is each students’ responsibility to maintain and provide the required medical records. The requirements are determined by contracts and clinical agencies and, in general, there are no exceptions.

Deferral

An applicant who accepts a position within a cohort and then does not enroll in courses forfeits a position in that cohort. Such applicants may reapply for admission to a subsequent cohort.