How to Apply

Application Deadline

  • Application closes September 1, 2025
  • Classes start May 2026
All application requirements must be met by the application deadline.
Get Started

Eligibility Criteria

  • A baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing or an appropriate major, from an accredited university.
  • A current unencumbered, unrestricted license as a registered professional nurse and/or an APRN/ARNP in the United States or its territories or protectorates and be able to obtain a Washington and Idaho State RN license.
  • 2 years of RN experience with a minimum of one year full-time work experience, or its part-time equivalent, as a registered nurse in a critical care setting at the time of application deadline. The best critical care experience is obtained in a busy ICU, CICU, MICU, or SICU.  Critical care experience* must be within the past 2 years.
  • Competencies desired include:
    • Routine management of adult patients on ventilators
    • Interpreting of advanced monitoring techniques
    • Titration of vasoactive medications
  • 3.0 minimum (3.4 preferred) overall grade point average with strong science grades. 

 *The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs defines critical care experience as: "Critical care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories or a US military hospital outside of the United States. During this experience, the registered professional nurse has developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills, competency in patient assessment, and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a routine basis, the registered professional nurse manages one or more of the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), cardiac assist devices, mechanical ventilation, and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: surgical intensive care, cardiothoracic intensive care, coronary intensive care, medical intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and neonatal intensive care."

Application Requirements:

Official Transcripts

  • One official transcript from every college or university attended

Official transcripts cam be mailed or emailed to:

Gonzaga University
Graduate Admissions Operations
AD Box 102
502 E Boone Avenue
Spokane, WA 99258-0068

Email: gradtranscripts@gonzaga.edu

Three Letters of Recommendation:

Your three references will be contacted directly by us via email with directions for submitting their letters of recommendation and an evaluation checklist on your behalf.

  • One recommendation must be from your immediate supervisor, who is the individual who completes your yearly performance evaluations and is able to evaluate professional practice, leadership, interpersonal skills, communication, critical thinking, and judgment.
  • The other two recommendations should be from professional colleagues who can evaluate your professional practice, leadership, interpersonal skills, communication, critical thinking, and judgment.
  • Recommendations from family members or friends are not accepted. 

Submission of Current Registered Nurse License

  • Provide proof of registered nurse license from a program accredited by CCNE, NLNAC, ACEN, CNEA. Screenshot is acceptable. 

Current Professional Curriculum Vitae or Resume

  • Include leadership, volunteer and work experience.

Written Essay

  • Identify and describe a selected issue related to patient care and safety
  • Synthesize the research evidence related to the contemporary issue related to patient care and safety
  • Based on the research evidence, describe practice change(s) that should be considered
  • Summarize the impact the proposed practice change(s) would have on key stakeholders concerned with the selected contemporary issue related to patient care and safety
  • Maximum 2 pages, double spaced. A third page can be included for references.

Evidence of CCRN Certification

Personal Interview

  • First round online interviews scheduled in September.
  • Second round in-person interviews will be conducted in October.
  • Not all qualified applicants will receive in invitation for an interview.

Military-Connected Students and Veterans

  • Currently, all active duty military member must have permission/approval from an Education Services Officer (ESO), Military Counselor, or the Military Service prior to applying.
  • For more information on how to begin your graduate school application process, please visit the Military and Veteran How to Get Started page. 

Application Questions:

Trevor Heilman
Admissions Specialist
Call or Text: (509) 313-6227
Email: heilman@gonzaga.edu