Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Elevate your career with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Nurse Anesthesia.
Overview
The St. Luke’s University Health Network/DeSales University Nurse Anesthesia program is for experienced critical care RNs who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and wish to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall (August) start. The deadline to apply for the CRNA track is December 1 of the year prior. Interviews will begin January 1 and continue until all invited/qualified candidates are interviewed. Decisions will be released shortly after.
As advanced practice nurses, CRNAs contribute to healthcare in numerous ways:
- Delivering Exceptional Care: Providing safe, high-quality, and patient-centered anesthesia care.
- Patient Comfort and Reassurance: Offering comfort and support to patients before, during, and after procedures.
- Expanding Access to Care: Increasing access to anesthesia services in underserved areas.
- Enhancing Healthcare Efficiency: Contributing to cost-effective healthcare delivery.
Join a dynamic and respected profession. Become a CRNA and shape the future of anesthesia care.
St. Luke's University Health Network and DeSales University Doctor of Nursing Practice Program received accreditation in 2025 from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The next scheduled review will be in 2030.
Graduates of accredited programs are eligible to take the National Certification Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) to be certified in every state as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
Main Number: 224-275-9130
Fax: 847-728-8128
Email: accreditation@coacrna.org
Admissions Requirements
- Completed application to DeSales University.
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN, CCNE, or NLN-CNEA accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- A minimum of 2-years full-time ICU/critical care experience completed post-orientation.
Applicants must currently be working in an ICU setting at time of applying. NICU or ED will not be considered as an acceptable/comparable form of ICU experience. - ACLS/BLS/PALS certification by start of program.
Application Requirements
One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall (August) start. The deadline to apply for the CRNA track of the year prior. Interviews will begin January 1 and continue until all invited/qualified candidates are interviewed. Decisions will be released shortly after.
Admissions Requirements
- Completed application to DeSales University.
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN, CCNE, or NLN-CNEA accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- A minimum of 2-years full-time ICU/critical care experience completed post-orientation.
Applicants must currently be working in an ICU setting at time of applying. NICU or ED will not be considered as an acceptable/comparable form of ICU experience. - ACLS/BLS/PALS certification by start of program.
To apply to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia program, you must have:
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (when applicable).
- Electronic official transcripts can be sent to: gradadmissions@desales.edu
- Paper official transcripts can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
ATTN: Graduate Programs
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA 18034 - All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Inc., with the resulting report submitted directly to the Division of Nursing. Visit www.naces.org for more information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 002021.
- Unencumbered RN licensure in the state in which they practice
PA RN single state licensure or multi state license is needed by the start of program. - Résumé or curriculum vitae
- CCRN certification and submission of Score Report
- Documentation of 15 hours of shadowing and submission of CRNA Shadow Form provided by DeSales University after application submittal.
- Letters of recommendation (Three total)
- Nurse Manager, Nursing Supervisor, or Unit Charge Nurse
- Physician
- Secondary Supervisor
- DNP Vision Statement
The DNP Vision Statement is a 250 – 500 word description of the applicant’s future intentions and goals upon completion of a particular BSN-DNP track as a DNP graduate. The Statement should clearly express the applicant’s reasons for applying to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia Track and future professional and leadership goals as a doctorally-prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
All required documents must be in by 5:00pm EST December 1. Applications that are not marked as complete at that time may defer to the following cohort consideration or withdraw.
*International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)
All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.
A $2000.00 non-refundable deposit is due 2-weeks from date of acceptance to maintain the student’s offer of admission to that cohort. Students who have not deposited within that timeframe will be considered to have withdrawn their application, and a student from the waiting list will be offered their seat. All waitlisted students will receive communication 1-month from decision and leading up until start of program as to whether or not a seat is available.
Curriculum
The BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA) program is a 36-month, 94-credit curriculum. It includes 2,000 clinical hours and 525 residency hours. Core courses focus on:
- Principles of Anesthesia Practice
- Physics, Chemistry, and Anesthesia Equipment
- Regional Anesthetic Management
- Obstetric and Pediatric Anesthesia
- Advanced Anesthesia for Special Procedures
- Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents
*CRNA curriculum to be added to DSU Catalog in 2025
Faculty
Dr. Daniel Graves, DNP, MSN, CRNA Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing & Program Administrator St. Luke’s University Health Network / DeSales University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Dr. Daniel Graves serves as the Program Administrator for the St. Luke’s/DeSales Nurse Anesthesia Program and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing. He has been a practicing CRNA with Anesthesia Specialists of Bethlehem since 2006, primarily providing anesthesia services at St. Luke’s University Hospital. Dr. Graves brings a diverse clinical background to the field, having previously practiced as a Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner.
His healthcare career began in Southeast Missouri, where he served as an EMT for a community hospital-based emergency medical service. Dr. Graves holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Southeast Missouri State University. He earned his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Vanderbilt University in 1999, becoming certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. In 2006 he completed a post-graduate program at the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and then completed his Doctorate of Nursing Practice at Chatham University in 2023.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Graves has practiced at several prominent institutions, including Lehigh Valley Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Vanderbilt University Health Network, and Southeast Missouri Hospital. A dedicated educator, he has been on staff at the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia since 2008 and has served as guest simulation faculty with the Nurse Anesthesia Programs at Jefferson University and Cedar Crest College, specializing in peripheral nerve blocks and vascular access.
Dr. Graves maintains active clinical interests in Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), pediatrics, trauma, cardiac anesthesia, and neurosurgery. He is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA), and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
Dr. Kati Foster DNAP, CRNA Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing & Assistant Program Administrator St. Luke’s University Health Network / DeSales University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Dr. Kati Foster is one of two CRNAs that make up the Assistant Program Administrator role of the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia Program. Dr. Foster completed her anesthesia training in New England in 2015. She has lived in the Lehigh Valley and worked for St. Luke's since 2016. Her teaching experience includes education of anesthesia providers and SRNAs in various settings.
Dr. Herman Abuchowski DNAP, CRNA Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing & Assistant Program Administrator St. Luke’s University Health Network / DeSales University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Dr. Herman Abuchowski serves as an Assistant Program Administrator for the St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN)/DeSales University Nurse Anesthesia Program. A second-career nurse, he brings a unique academic background and a strong commitment to education, mentorship, and student development.
Before entering nursing, Dr. Abuchowski earned dual master’s degrees in Public Health and Applied Medical Anthropology and worked in program development for at-risk youth. He transitioned into nursing after completing the Rutgers Second Degree BSN program and began his clinical career at Monmouth Medical Center, later working in the MICU/CCU at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he cared for critically ill patients and participated in quality improvement and shared governance initiatives.
Dr. Abuchowski earned his Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) from the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia in 2022 and has practiced as a CRNA with Anesthesia Specialists of Bethlehem since 2023. He has remained actively involved in nurse anesthesia education, serving as a guest instructor, lecturer, and mentor for SRNAs.
Having followed the development of the SLUHN/DeSales CRNA Program from its earliest stages, Dr. Abuchowski is enthusiastic about helping shape the next generation of compassionate, highly skilled nurse anesthetists and looks forward to meeting prospective students during the interview process.
Facilities
The program offers a flexible learning format, blending online and in-person instruction. Anesthesia-specific courses are delivered in traditional classroom settings. St. Luke’s University Health Network serves as the exclusive clinical training site, providing a wide range of surgical and subspecialty experiences. Students benefit from a cutting-edge simulation center, equipped with high-fidelity simulators and expert faculty.
Tuition & Fees
Program Costs:
- Tuition: $14,610 per term
- Program Fees: $3,375 (total fees for all 12 terms)
- Graduation Fee: $120
- Returned Check Service: $30
At this time there is no tuition deferment or tuition reimbursement.
Refund Policy:
The refund policy is based upon the number of classes held up to the date of withdrawal.
- Withdrawal after 1st class: 80% of tuition refunded
- Withdrawal after 2nd class: 65% of tuition refunded
- Withdrawal after 3rd class: 50% of tuition refunded
- Withdrawal after 4th class: 25% of tuition refunded
- Withdrawal after 5th class: No refund
