The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program at Fisher equips nurses with the in-demand and specialized skills of administering and monitoring anesthesia.
Careers in anesthesiology are evolving, and CRNAs are highly sought after in the medical field. Advance your nursing skills with a doctoral-level degree at Fisher. Through our AGACNP program, our nurse anesthetists are uniquely equipped to deliver exceptional care in anesthesia and acute adult patient management.
CRNA Program Overview
The dual-degree AGACNP and CRNA program includes a rigorous curriculum of clinical experience that integrates advanced anesthesia techniques with comprehensive acute care skills. Experiential learning is a fundamental part of our curriculum, and students will participate in low and high-fidelity simulation in our state-of-the-art Glover-Crask Simulation Center and skills labs. Students will complete a minimum of 2600 clinical hours, with 600 of those clinical hours allocated to the role of the AGACNP.
Coursework includes:
Study in advanced airway, spinal, and epidural assessment and management techniques utilized by nurse anesthesia providers.
Exploration of the phases of anesthesia care and care plans associated with each phase.
Review of radiographic and laboratory testing and interpretation as they apply to anesthesia care and management.
Integrated study of how medications treating chronic illnesses affect patients receiving anesthesia. Clinical application of pharmacology will focus on evidence-based practice related to pharmacological principles inherent to the administration of anesthesia.
Our program emphasizes a holistic approach to patient care, preparing graduates to manage complex clinical scenarios across diverse settings confidently. By blending anesthesia expertise with acute care proficiency, our graduates emerge as versatile healthcare leaders capable of optimizing patient outcomes and meeting evolving healthcare demands.
Join Us for an Information Session
Join us for an Information Session to learn about Fisher’s CRNA program and to have your questions answered. See success at Fisher!
Sit for National Certification Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
Sit for the NCEs for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
Provide high quality anesthesia care in any clinical and practice setting.
Demonstrate professional behavior, compassionate care, effective communication, critical thinking, and leadership qualities in anesthesia and the community.
Uphold the highest standards of patient safety and care as a compassionate and skilled nurse anesthetist.
Program Admission
The dual-degree AGACNP and CRNA program welcomes a cohort of 12 students each Spring semester.
Admission Timeline and Interviews
Applications will be accepted each year from February 1 until April 1.
Applicants will be notified by email by April 15 if they are granted an interview. The email will include available interview dates and times.
Interviews will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays in June.
Interviews will start at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., or 1 p.m. and last approximately an hour and a half.
We cannot guarantee specific dates and times for applicants, they are first come, first served.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the dual-degree AGACNP and CRNA post-baccalaureate program is limited to qualified students who:
Have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0. GPA of 3.3 preferred.
Have earned grades of B or higher in the following undergraduate courses: health assessment, research, and statistics.
Have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited college or university.
Have aNYS licenseas a registered nurse. If you have an active RN license in another state, you must provide confirmation that your application for licensure in NYS is pending approval at the time of application. Acceptance will be conditional until you obtain a NYS license.
Have a minimum of one year of critical care experience and currently employed part-time or full-time in a Fisher-accepted ICU setting with current certification in ACLS, BLS, and PALS at the time of application.
Fisher accepts critical care experience from Adult ICUs including CCU/CVICU, MICU, Neuro ICU, SICU, and Trauma ICU. PICU is the only pediatric experience accepted. NICU, ER, OR, and PACU experiences will not be accepted. Additionally, adult ICU experience outside of the United States or its territories will only be considered if gained within a US military hospital.
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
Requirements
The CRNA program includes all requirements of the Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post-Baccalaureate Entry Program with the AGACNP functional core, plus the following requirements.
GNUR 760 - Role Transition and Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia I (2)
GNUR 761 - Role Transition and Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia II (2)
GNUR 762 - CRNA Comprehensive Exam (1)
GNUR 765 - Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics of Anesthesia Practice (3)
