Do I have to hold a BSN to apply to South College’s DNP NAP?
Yes. Because our academic housing is within a school of nursing, it is necessary to hold a BSN.
What nursing licensure am I required to hold?
It is necessary to hold an unencumbered RN license in the United States, it’s territories or protectorates. You must be eligible for RN licensure in all states where your clinical rotations will be located and possess that licensure upon matriculation.
How many times each year does South College admit a new class, or cohort, of residents?
Once a year: each year, classes start in early January.
Is there an application deadline?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until each yearly cohort is filled; there is no solid application deadline. Once applications are open, it is best to apply as soon as the requirements for admission are met.
What happens if my application is moved forward, and I become a candidate for admission into the program?
A live interview will be scheduled and conducted via Zoom with the Nurse Anesthesia Program Admissions Committee.
Are there any prerequisites for South College’s DNP NAP?
No specific coursework is required. If it has been greater than 5 years since taking a chemistry course, enrolling in a refresher course (lab not required) is highly recommended. Physics is another good option.
Is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required?
No
Are all undergraduate course grades used to calculate the overall undergraduate and science GPAs?
Yes, but if your overall or science GPA(s) is/are below the minimum standard of 3.0, a letter of explanation and appeal may be addressed to the program administrators. Any such issue will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Do I need to be certified in BLS, ACLS and PALS prior to application?
No, but you must have all three certifications prior to starting the program if you are accepted.
What does the term “rolling admissions” mean?
Applications open annually in mid-December via NursingCAS. Applications remain open until the cohort and waitlist are filled.
Do I get to pick my clinical satellite location?
Applicants provide clinical satellite location preferences within their application. The Nurse Anesthesia Program Admissions Committee considers numerous factors when assigning candidates to a clinical satellite, including applicant preferences and available satellite locations at the time of interview. Offers of admission are tied to an assigned clinical satellite.
Is there a part-time option for the program?
There is no part-time option available for the nurse anesthesia program.
Is relocation mandatory?
Travel to Knoxville, TN for intermittent on-campus intensive sessions is mandatory throughout the program. Relocation during program year 1 is not required. Relocation to the assigned clinical satellite location is required at the beginning of program year 2, if not already residing in the assigned location.
Are residents permitted to work while enrolled in the program?
Work of any kind while enrolled in the program is highly discouraged. Each resident must meet progression standards and all scheduled and ad hoc program obligations. There is a “no outside employment” policy once clinical rotations start, beginning in quarter 6.
Is financial aid available for the program?
Yes, the usual graduate resident federal financial aid is available for residents in our nurse anesthesia program. The program website has links to dedicated graduate education financial aid specialists at South College.
Are transfer credits accepted?
No
Is there an option for current DNP degree holders in a role specialty other than nurse anesthesia?
Yes, we offer a Post-Doctoral Certificate Program with a Concentration in Nurse Anesthesia.
Is this an accredited nurse anesthesia program?
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with Concentration in Nurse Anesthesia program was granted initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) in October 2021. The DNP degree program has been approved at South College by SACSCOC, the regional accreditor for the institution. The DNP with Concentration in Nurse Anesthesia program is approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.