Mount Marty University Introduces Direct Entry for Undergraduate Nurses to Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program

Starting in February 2024, certain Mount Marty University Nursing graduates will be able to apply for direct entry into the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program, located on our Sioux Falls campus. “We are excited to open this door to Mount Marty graduates who have proven that they are academically and professionally prepared for our demanding Nurse Anesthesia program,” said Dr. Andrea Roberts, DNAP program director.

The University has the following requirements in place for students interested in direct entry:

• Graduates must have earned a 3.6 overall GPA from Mount Marty and a 3.6 GPA in sciences coursework.
• Completed two years as a nurse in an Intensive Care Unit (adult or pediatric) by the time the DNAP program begins. For example, if a student graduates from Mount Marty in May 2025 and begins as a nurse in an intensive care unit shortly after graduating and earning their nursing license, they could apply in summer 2026 to start the DNAP program in summer 2027.
• Interested students still need to submit the application for admission through NursingCAS.

“These requirements will ensure that students are ready to go, and they match the highly selective process we already have in place to admit students,” said Roberts. The program admits less than a quarter of the total number of applicants into the program, which includes 40 students per year. 

“This new pathway will allow prospective students to clearly envision a future in a world-class Nurse Anesthesia program if they choose to attend Mount Marty University,” said Greg Franz, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management. “We are seeing increased demand for our nurses at every level of care, and look forward to adding an attractive incentive for students and families who are looking for a quality undergraduate program that instills our Catholic, Benedictine values.” Nursing is already one of the most sought after majors at the University’s main campus in Yankton, enrolling about 35 students per year. 

This pathway will be active in the next application cycle for the DNAP program, which will open in February 2024 for summer 2025 entry. The above information can be found on both the undergraduate nursing and graduate nurse anesthesia pages on the university website.

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.