Admission to the DNAP Program

Admission to Baccalaureate to DNAP Program, eDNAP 

Admission Criteria 

Applicants must demonstrate that they possess the intellectual and professional knowledge and skills for successful completion of the program requirements. GPNA Admission Committee will NOT consider applicants who have been unsuccessful in other nurse anesthesia programs.  

Nursing Experience and Licensure  

• Current unrestricted Registered Nursing license that is valid within one of the fifty states or U.S. territories; 

• Minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience within three years of the cohort start date in a U.S., U.S. territory or U.S. military hospital. 

• RN License must be free from probation, suspension or stipulations;  

• An appropriate state RN license is required for Phase II residency training; 

• Clinical enrichment rotations may require multiple state nursing licensure  

• CCRN Certification (from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses);  

• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification;   

• Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification;  

* Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a U.S. military hospital.  The RN must develop critical decision-making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. RN’s in critical care areas manage invasive hemodynamic monitors, cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drips and critical care pharmacology on a routine basis. 

Education and Test Scores  

• Hold an earned baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by an accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education;  

• Competitive standing is based in part on prior academic achievement. Your nursing degree must have included clinical’s and degrees must come from institutions that have traditional grading systems.  

• GRE scores complete with writing score, a minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 300 strongly preferred (Texas Wesleyan University reporting code 6828);  

• GPA of 3.0 (Overall or last 60 hours)  

• Science GPA of 3.0 or higher is strongly preferred   

• A college level chemistry course (no lab required) with a grade of “B” or higher within three years of cohort program start date:   

• Transcript should be received by June 15 of cohort start year 

• Complete a college-level algebra course with a grade of “B” or higher   

• Transcript should be received by June 15 of cohort start year  

• A statistics course and math courses (lower than college algebra) are NOT a substitute for college algebra. 

Other Requirements 

• Three letters of reference - one each from a physician, supervisor, and academic instructor  

• Personal essay in which the applicant demonstrates their professional development as a registered nurse in critical care and how they have prepared for an advanced practice role as a nurse anesthetist. 

• Professional interview in which the applicant demonstrates their critical care knowledge and professional development. 

Selection Criteria 

Admission to the Baccalaureate to DNAP program and assignment to a residency site are competitive.  Competitive candidates, as determined by Texas Wesleyan University GPNA Admissions committee, may be offered an interview. With each application year, competition for admission changes and some minimally qualified candidates may not be offered an interview.  GPNA reserves the right to deny an interview or admission to any applicant as determined by the Admissions Committee. All decisions by the Admissions Committee are final and not subject to appeal.  

Application Process 

The application for admission can be found online.  In addition, the following documents are required: 

• Completed online application for Texas Wesleyan University, Baccalaureate to DNAP program; 

• Application fee, non-refundable; 

• Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended (including college chemistry and algebra courses); 

• GRE exam results officially submitted; 

• Three references (physician, supervisor, and academic instructor) 

• Current CCRN, ACLS, and PALS certifications; 

• Personal Essay. 

The Baccalaureate to DNAP Program begins each August. One cohort per year is admitted.   

Interview Process 

Invitations to interview and appointments will be made by e-mail in the fall prior to January interviews. Verification of interview appointment is expected within seven (7) days of notice. Interviews are conducted on campus.  

Provisional Acceptance 

Applicants lacking prerequisite admission course requirements (i.e., College-level Algebra and Chemistry), may be accepted provisionally. Provisional status will require submitting the deposit and completing the credentialing process. However, provisional status will not be extended past June 15 prior to the cohort start date. If ALL admission requirements are not met, students will forfeit their deposit and their seat in the program. 

Accepted Candidates Complete Credentialing 

General admission decisions will be communicated to all students with current applications by e-mail. 

Accepted candidates must confirm their intention to enroll and accept their assigned clinical site by submitting a non-refundable $1500 deposit within 14 days of notification. 

Upon receiving the deposit, accepted candidates will receive communications from the Admissions office with instructions related to the credentialing requirement process.  Candidates will be able to monitor their progress on the Self Service Center as requirements are received and processed. 

• Background Check* 

• Medical Questionnaire 

• Malpractice Insurance Form 

• Prerequisite completion 

*Candidates with unresolved or unacceptable background checks will be subject to having their acceptance withdrawn. 

Reapplication 

Applicants who are not selected or do not accept enrollment into the Baccalaureate to DNAP Program, for any reason, must reapply to be considered for another admission cycle.  If the reapplication is within three years of the original application the following information must be submitted: 

• Letter of intent and summary of your experience 

• Reference from a supervisor (on our reference form) 

• Official transcripts from colleges/universities that you may have attended since applying to the eDNAP program. 

It is unlikely for an applicant to be granted a third interview.  Applicants who do not attend their interview or orientation, or who do not matriculate without sufficient notice will not be considered for reapplication.  Texas Wesleyan does not maintain application materials after a potential student informs the program that they have accepted enrollment in another program.