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Ready to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)? Welcome to our guide to all things anesthetic. If you’ve already done your DNP homework, feel free to skip ahead to our program listings. But if you’d like some practical advice on national certification, degree requirements, and DNP capstone projects, as well as real-world tips from a DNAP graduate, read on!
Becoming a Nurse Anesthetist
The Modern Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse anesthetists are on the front line of clinical care. Each year, licensed CRNAs administer 50 million anesthetics to patients in every situation imaginable. From childbirth and dentistry procedures, to military trauma and delicate surgeries, nurse anesthetists are an integral part of a high-octane medical team. Working under the supervision of surgeons and anesthesiologists, they safely put people to sleep and – even more importantly – wake them up. In some rural hospitals, they may even be the sole provider of anesthesia services.
But their job doesn’t end in the operating room. In their work with patients, CRNAs are responsible for pre-anesthetic evaluations, anesthesia preparation and maintenance, post-anesthesia care, and a variety of clinical support functions. This critical support may include areas such as pain management, respiratory care, and emergency services (e.g. airway management). With great power, comes great responsibility, and nobody knows that better than a DNP-trained CRNA.
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
- American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC)
- American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)
- American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists (ASDA)
- American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA)
- American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses (ASPAN)
- Association of PeriOperative Room Nurses (AORN)
- Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
- International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS)
- National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
- Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA)
- Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA)
- Society for Obstetrical Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP)
- Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA)
CRNA Licensure & Certification Requirements
Nurses earn a DNP or DNAP in order to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Like other specialty titles, this is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) qualification. Working in hospitals, physician offices, dental offices, VA facilities, private practices, and the military, CRNAs represent more than 50% of the anesthesia workforce in the United States.
In order to be certified as a CRNA and licensed in your state, you may be required to:
- Earn an accredited bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- Pass the NCLEX exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state in which you intend to practice.
- Complete at least one year of clinical experience in a critical care setting (e.g. ICU, ER, etc.)
- Earn a doctorate (e.g. the DNP or DNAP) from a nurse anesthesia program that has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).
- Pass the National Certification Examination (NCE) for Nurse Anesthetists offered by the NBCRNA.
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
DNP programs should clearly state that they are COA-accredited and able to prepare you for the national certification exam. If you can’t find the information on the website, ask the school to provide you with NCE pass rates and statistics on employment offers for graduates. Please check with your school and your State Board of Nursing for specific details on licensure.
The Nurse Anesthetist DNP
DNP vs. DNAP
As you’re evaluating schools, you’ll run into two options for your doctoral degree – the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia or the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). Around 1/2 of schools in the U.S. award a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia and the other half award the DNAP. Apart from the title, there isn’t a lot of difference between the two. However, since the DNAP often has a variety of options for experienced nurses, you may find more MSN graduates in the DNAP and more BSN graduates in DNP programs.
Typical Nurse Anesthesia DNP Curriculum
The DNP in Nurse Anesthesia is a combination of anesthesia fundamentals, advanced clinical work, leadership training, and the application of research. Since this is an area of medicine where any error can cost a life, programs should give you plenty of opportunities to practice anesthesia techniques through interactive training simulations and real-world clinical residencies (e.g. trauma centers, military facilities, hospitals, etc.). You need to be prepared to administer anesthesia to all kinds of patient populations in a wide variety of clinical sites.
In terms of coursework, you can expect a mixture of essential sciences, research, and clinical anesthesia classes. In addition to familiar subjects such as biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, you could also be studying new anesthesia technologies, advanced physical assessment for nurse anesthetists, and anesthetic pharmacology. To prepare you to become a leader in your field, the curriculum may include courses like healthcare policy, medical law, economics, and population health. Your final years will be wrapped up in advanced anesthesia practicums and an evidence-based DNP capstone project.
DNP Experience & Certification Requirements
In order to be eligible for a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia, you must complete a minimum of one year’s work experience in a critical care setting as a RN (two or more years is often preferred). Schools are looking for nurses who know how to handle procedures such as mechanical ventilation, aggressive fluid management, vasoactive IV infusions, and invasive hemodynamic monitoring. You can gain this experience in ERs or ICUs.
Most schools will want evidence of critical care certifications, including Basic Life Support (BCLS), Advanced Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Some may ask for proof of your Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification and GRE test scores.
Examples of Nurse Anesthesia DNP Capstone Projects
- Rapid Development of Ultrasound-Guided IV Insertion Skills in CRNA Professionals at a Tertiary Care Academic Hospital (University of Pittsburgh)
- Assessment of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressures and Their Management at UPMC Hospitals (University of Pittsburgh)
- Evaluating and Improving Endotracheal Tube Cuff Inflation Techniques (University of Pennsylvania)
- Use of Fiberoptic Intubation Simulation to Enhance Skill and Confidence Among Anesthesia Providers (NorthShore School of Nurse Anesthesia & DePaul University School of Nursing)
- Accuracy of Pulse Oximetry in Dark-skinned Patients (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science)
Real-World DNP Advice
Dr. Amanda C. Faircloth, PhD, DNAP, CRNA
Dr. Amanda Faircloth is a long-serving Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as a clinical preceptor and lecturer in VCU’s Department of Nurse Anesthesia. Dr. Faircloth regularly speaks at national and international anesthesia conferences, and has published a series of papers in the AANA Journal. She graduated with a DNAP from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2011 and earned her PhD in Health Related Sciences from VCU in 2014.
Q&A with Dr. Faircloth
Q. Why did you choose the DNAP? How did you decide which school to go to?
A. I pursued my DNAP degree because I wanted to obtain the terminal degree for my field. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for two reasons: 1. It is one of the top nurse anesthesia programs in the country; 2. I currently work at VCU and was able to have my tuition reimbursed. I worked full-time during school to keep that benefit and it was worth it!
Q. Did you have any worries going into the program?
A. My biggest concern was time management. I worked full-time as a CRNA during both degrees (DNAP & PhD) and was apprehensive, at first, about budgeting my hours. It was a struggle staying on top of my work and not getting behind. When you are not “in school” everyday, it is easy to lose track of your academic responsibilities. To mitigate this issue, I spent time every day doing something course-related. Even if it was just writing a few sentences down, I was keeping my brain engaged and focused on my courses. I got into the habit of a work/life/study balance.
Q. Was it an online/hybrid DNAP or a traditional one? Would you recommend that format?
A. My program was an online/hybrid program – a great combination for the working professional! The on-campus sessions allowed me to have face-time with my professors and being “in class” with my cohort motivated me for the semester. On the other hand, the online portion allowed for academic flexibility. It afforded me the opportunity to get my assignments done around my work schedule – a huge benefit when trying to manage time.
Q. You pursued a PhD after a DNAP. We talk a little about choosing between the DNP vs. PhD, but we’re fascinated – why did you earn both?
A. While working on my DNAP, I realized that some of my research ideas were more comprehensive than what was required for the capstone. Also, I wanted to diversify my professional portfolio and have the opportunity to apply for jobs outside of the clinical sector. Some academic institutions require faculty to have a PhD instead of a DNP or DNAP, and I did not want to have any limitations on my career.
Q. What were the major differences between the DNAP and the PhD?
A. From my perspective, the biggest differences were in the academic course load and the focus of the programs. Clinical doctorates (DNAP or DNP) are directed toward improving clinical practice. My DNAP degree changed the way I view the healthcare system as a whole. It had a direct impact on improving patient care, but it also encouraged me to look at my profession in a new light. A PhD program is research-focused and includes coursework that provides new skill-sets (i.e. grant-writing, multivariate statistics, etc.). The PhD took my problem-solving to a new level. It was an academically rigorous program that challenged me to think critically in new ways. Not only did the PhD program make me a better writer, I am more diversified with my skills, and I have an even greater appreciation and respect for research.
Q. What did your DNAP capstone project focus on?
A. I created a system of standardization for the trauma room at a Level 1 trauma center. This system change allowed for better utilization of resources, provided an economic benefit for the hospital, and improved patient care. My dissertation (PhD) took a different turn as I pursued the perception of acupuncture and acupressure by anesthesia providers across the U.S. Both my capstone and dissertation topics stemmed from personal experiences. I entered both programs thinking I “knew” what I wanted to study and then life happened. By being receptive to new ideas, I found two research topics that have opened many doors – I have lectured nationally, internationally, and have been published in both areas.
Q. Any other advice or tips you have for future DNAP students?
A. Trust the process. Some of the courses may not make sense right away, but they will be building blocks for the future. Also, try to do something “school related” everyday to keep your mind focused. At work, I would always have an article nearby in case I had downtime in between cases, or I would take 15 minutes during my lunch break to work on an assignment. Taking advantage of small opportunities throughout the day will free you up for the things you enjoy later on. Finally, my best advice is to have fun! Pursuing doctoral education was the best decision I have ever made. I am a better clinician, a better researcher, and overall a better person.
DNP Programs with a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Focus (DNAP)
88 schoolsDNAP Programs in Alabama
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
Samford University offers a BSN to DNP in Nurse Anesthesia that provides clinical opportunities in both rural and metro sites. Students receive extensive hands-on experience, including cases involving intrathoracic, vascular, and regional anesthesia, which are generally difficult for students to find. The program uses a full-time, three-year format, with students entering in May. They start with a three-day on-campus orientation, then take the first two semesters of classes online so they can continue to work. For the three semesters after that, classes meet in person in Birmingham, Alabama. During the final phase of the program, students complete a DNP project and work four semesters of clinical rounds. Samford provides a nurse faculty loan program for students who plan to serve as nurse anesthetists preceptors in the future.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
The Post-BSN to DNP Pathway for Nurse Anesthesia at the University of Alabama in Birmingham uses a mix of in-person and online classes. The online courses cover theory and systems-level thinking topics such as informatics, data management, and health policy. The classes that meet on campus focus on the nurse anesthesia specialty, including anatomy, biochemistry, and anesthesia principles. Students begin their clinical practices and immersions in the fourth semester and continue to work clinical rotations through the end of the program. Some semesters students may not have any classes that meet on campus, but from the fifth through final semester of the program, they must come to school each month for assessments, simulation exercises, and meetings with advisors and team members.
DNAP Programs in Arizona
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Accreditation: CCNE
Critical care nurses who snagged a 3.0 science GPA on their way to a BSN can apply to the DNP program at UA's College of Nursing. (Nurse anesthetists with APRN licensure who got a 3.5 in their MSN program can try for the MS-to-DNP pathway.) The program is online with the exception of practicums and three Resident Intensive Summer Experience (RISE) sessions, which bring enrollees to Tucson. To graduate, students must complete a final project and at least 1,000 hours in practicums, the bulk of that coming in the final term of the 85-credit program. Nurses from certain underrepresented backgrounds - such as first-generation students, Hispanics, and American Indians - can apply to the Arizona Nursing Inclusive Excellence program to receive stipends and one-on-one faculty mentoring.
DNAP Programs in Arkansas
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP in Nurse AnesthesiaMSN required
The Nurse Anesthesia DNP program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is open to critical care nurses with a BSN or MSN. The program runs full-time for three years beginning in the fall and includes five semesters of anesthesia practicum. In the early semesters, students take classes that provide theoretical and scientific foundations for nursing and gain skills in translating evidence to practice. Before entering supervised clinical practice, future CRNAs take anesthesia-specific courses such as advanced physiology, clinical pharmacology, and advanced human anatomy for nurse anesthetists. Some of the DNP core courses use an online format, but students must be on campus several times a week for the anesthesia classes early in the program. As students enter clinical practice, in-person courses may meet only once a week.
DNAP Programs in California
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California
Accreditation: CCNE
Loma Linda University has a BSN to DNP program in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist that prepares nurses to provide anesthesia across the lifespan. The 39-month program uses a hybrid format to reduce the amount of time students must spend on campus. The first six months of the program are online, then students take some traditional in-person classes. The curriculum begins with mostly core courses in the first two quarters, then transitions to the required courses in the nurse anesthesia concentration, which fill most of the next four quarters. Students begin clinical practice in the sixth quarter and complete nine quarters of clinical experiences before graduation. Many students complete their clinical rotations at Loma Linda University Medical Center facilities. Loma Linda graduates have a record of 100% first-attempt pass rates on the CRNA exam.
National University
La Jolla, California
Accreditation: COA
At National University, future nurse anesthetists spend lots of time in the high-fidelity simulation lab practicing skills before they ever enter an operating room. The curriculum includes four courses with simulation labs before students start the clinical phase of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program. National University presents the degree as a hybrid program, with eight classes delivered online, 19 courses that meet at the Fresno, California, campus, and seven clinical courses. Students spend the first week in an intensive orientation program and the next 15 months in academic classes where they learn about anesthesia and take DNAP courses that enhance their skills in quality assessment, leadership, systems analysis, and evidence-based practice. During their clinical rounds, students get hands-on experience in administering general and regional anesthesia.
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
The University of Southern California's Nurse Anesthesia DNP aims to provide students nurse anesthetists with experience in various clinical areas while equipping them with leadership skills to advance the profession. The program emphasizes scholarly practice as well as hands-on learning. To that end, students work on their doctoral capstone proposal during their first semester, when they also study analytical methods for evidence-based practice. By the start of the second year, students begin clinical residencies in nurse anesthesia three days a week, then advance to four days a week later in the program. USC's student anesthetists work their clinical hours in a variety of well-regarded facilities, including USC Medical Center, Keck Hospital of USC, UCLA Medical Center, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
DNAP Programs in Connecticut
Fairfield University
Fairfield, Connecticut
Doctor of Nursing Practice AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies' Nurse Anesthesia concentration consists of 12 courses nestled within a larger 36-month on-campus program that also includes core foundational, advanced practice, and DNP work. Twenty-one of those 36 months are spent in clinical practicums alongside advanced practitioners in Bridgeport-area hospitals, with students gradually gaining more autonomy. The 75-credit program aims to give CRNAs the necessary skills to lead clinical programs or build their own anesthesia groups, and therefore emphasizes clinical work over research. However, graduates should still have career pathways into education or research. The program kicks off in May with core coursework; one year in, students take the first of five practicums. Applicants must have a BSN with a 3.2 GPA overall GPA and a 3.2 science-specific GPA. They must also have a Connecticut RN license and a year of critical care nursing under their belt.
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, Connecticut
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Bachelor's DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Quinnipiac's School of Nursing runs a full-time nurse anesthesia program from its Connecticut campus. The post-bachelor's program asks students to give three years, starting with a summer term, to transform them from RNs or APRNs into nurse anesthetists. Applicants must have served as critical care nurses for at least two of the previous five years, be licensed in Connecticut, and have completed a slew of standard science courses. Along with a nursing project, the 81-credit program mandates six semesters' worth of practicums totaling 2,000 hours, with responsibilities slowly ratcheted up to full-time hours by the end of the third year. The school partners with five main area hospitals and health centers, as well as dozens of affiliates throughout New England. The curriculum is front-loaded with advanced coursework in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacology.
DNAP Programs in District of Columbia
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia
Accreditation: CCNE
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at Georgetown University is a full-time, three-year program requiring applicants to have at least two years of ICU experience as an RN. Georgetown frontloads the didactic curriculum in the first year, with students taking four or five courses each semester. Students also gain experience in clinical simulations and spend time in the cadaver lab learning anatomy in the first year. Clinical experiences start in the fourth semester, and students may work at sites around the Washington metro area, including in Virginia and Maryland. Students rotate locations regularly to get experience in a variety of settings administering various types of anesthesia. The program also requires a capstone clinical research project. Recent grads recorded a 100% pass rate on the CRNA exam.
DNAP Programs in Florida
Barry University
Miami, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Master's DNP - AnesthesiologyMSN required
Nurses with a master's degree and CRNA designation can earn a post-master's DNP with a specialization in anesthesiology through Barry University. The program prepares CRNAs with the organizational, leadership, and financial skills necessary to create care delivery programs that improve health care outcomes. To put those newly learned skills in practice, DNP candidates complete a scholarly project using research skills and policy knowledge to develop a proposed change in practice that will improve outcomes, quality, or leadership. Classes are delivered online and use both synchronous and asynchronous formats. Barry custom-designs the clinical practicum to the needs of the individual student, and students can work their clinical hours in their home state.
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse AnesthesiaMSN required
Florida International University admits 45 students to the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program annually. The program requires nine semesters and 107 credits. Additionally, students perform more than 3,000 hours of clinical practice, beginning with lessons in the school's simulation center with four simulated operating rooms. Students enter the program in the spring semester and take two semesters of online courses in DNP core courses. By the third semester, however, they're taking specialized classes in anesthesia, which require them to come to the campus in Miami. That same semester, students start the first of seven clinical residencies, which they complete at major medical centers around Miami. Over the following semesters, students take classes in topics such as regional anesthesia and pain management, advanced anesthesia life support, obstetrics, and pediatrics.
Keiser University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
The Naples, Florida, campus of Keiser University is home to two Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice programs. The entry-to-practice program is for RNs who want to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and is a 90-credit, 36-month program. The curriculum breakdown includes 63 credits in academic classes, 15 credits in clinical practice, and 12 credits devoted to the capstone project. Courses use a 16-week format, and the program of study may include up to five courses in some semesters. Keiser partners with hospitals and medical centers along Florida's west coast to provide clinical sites. Keiser also has a post-master's DNAP program for nurses who already have the CRNA certification. These students can complete the 36-credit degree in 24 months, including a capstone project that requires them to create a scholarly work and submit it for publication.
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The University of Miami uses a traditional classroom format for the classes in its BSN to DNP in Nurses Anesthesia. The School of Nursing and Health Sciences has an advanced simulation lab where students perform simulations weekly to sharpen their skills and decision-making in a realistic environment with no patient lives on the line. The program is full-time for nine semesters, and students begin clinical rounds in the third semester. The university has partnerships with more than a dozen clinical sites around Miami, and students get experience at major hospitals and in specialized settings, including a children's hospital, cancer center, eye clinic, and pain management clinics. Under the supervision of a CRNA or physician anesthesiologist, students work specialty rotations in trauma, cardiac, neuro, obstetric, transplantation, and pediatric.
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse AnesthetistBSN to DNP option
The School of Nursing welcomes RNs to its full-time DNP Nurse Anesthetist track each spring. Enrollees are presented with a 111-credit program that includes five practicums, a residency, and a final project. Clinical sites extend from Jacksonville to Tampa and include the world-famous Mayo Clinic. A medical center in suburban Atlanta provides coverage to students north of the Florida-Georgia line, though all applicants require Florida RN licensure before admission. They also need a BSN, a 3.0 GPA, two years in a critical care setting, and GRE scores of 153, 144, and 3.5 on the verbal, quantitative, and essay portions, respectively. Enrollees with financial need and an above-average GPA should apply for the Key Bradbury Nursing Fellowship, worth $6,000 a year to the winning DNP student; DNP students are eligible for a handful of other scholarships from the Brooks College of Health.
University of South Florida-Main Campus
Tampa, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The University of South Florida's DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program admits about 50 students each year, and students move through the three-year program in lockstep. Students enter the program in the summer semester and take the first three classes online. After that, courses primarily meet face to face, but a few are delivered online. Students take three semesters of simulation lab work, allowing them to practice skills and clinical decision-making in a safe environment. They get plenty of hands-on experience with real patients, too, starting in the fourth semester when they work their first clinical residency. By the end of the program, students have completed about 3,600 clinical hours - which may require working nights, weekends, and 24-hour rotations. The university reports 100% of recent NA graduates had a job by graduation.
DNAP Programs in Georgia
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Accreditation: COA
DNAP Programs in Illinois
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
DNP Completion - Nurse AnesthetistMSN required
Nurse AnesthetistBSN to DNP option
DePaul's School of Nursing partners with Chicago's NorthShore Health Systems to run its on-campus Nurse Anesthetist track. NorthShore requires candidates to have a BSN, a 3.5 GPA from their last 40 credits, a combined verbal-quantitative GRE score of 300 and a 4.0 on the written analytical section, two years' experience as a critical care nurse, and an Illinois nursing license. Graduates should be qualified to work as providers, administrators, or researchers. The track spans 64 quarter credits, covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology; practicums comprise 28 credits. That's in addition to the core doctoral requirements: 38 credits, with an emphasis on research, alongside coursework in economics, leadership, and informatics. The program culminates in a research project to improve a target population's health. Certified nurse anesthetists may enroll in a separate DNP completion program that's just 46 credits - the core doctoral requirements plus two advanced practicums for nurse practitioners.
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia at Millikin University is offered in conjunction with Decatur Memorial Hospital. Classes in the DNP core, such as informatics and health care policy, use online delivery. Courses in the nurse anesthesia specialty use an in-person format with classes meeting during the day on weekdays. Students begin their clinical courses in the second year, and clinical rotation schedules may include weekends and on-call shifts, so the university discourages students from trying to hold a job while enrolled. Students enter the program in January and complete it 36 months later in December. The DNP-NA is open to nurses with a BSN or MSN. Millikin also has a 30-month part-time DNP completion program for certified nurse anesthetists.
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: COACRNA
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science has a DNP Nurse Anesthesia program for nurses who want to enter the profession and another for APRNs who wish to complete the doctoral degree. The entry program is for BSN-prepared nurses and requires full-time attendance for three years. The first year is frontloaded with science, advanced nursing, and foundational classes. Students start their clinical experiences in the second year and begin to plan the doctoral project they'll complete in year three. The DNP completion program is for current CRNAs who have a master's degree. The online program allows students to attend part time, so they can continue to work while earning the doctorate. Master-prepared CRNAs can earn a DNP in 24 months.
Rush University
Chicago, Illinois
Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing at Rush runs a clinically focused DNP program in Nurse Anesthesia for RNs. To create well-rounded graduates, the core of the 36-month DNP program covers organization and systems leadership, healthcare economics, and program evaluation. Nurse anesthetists get extra pharmacology along with neuroscience, chemistry, and physics. These feed into 756 hours' worth of speciality practicums and 1512 hours in an immersion residency, split between the school's medical center and sites in Illinois, Indiana, and/or Washington. Students also complete a project fusing their practical skills with systems knowledge. MSN-holders take 77 credits instead of the 89 for BSN applicants, skipping the graduate nursing core courses in organizational leadership, epidemiology, research, and health promotion. All applicants should have 3.0 cumulative, nursing, and science GPAs; be licensed in the US; have been a critical care nurse for a year; and show competitive GRE scores.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville offers a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia that prepares graduates to provide anesthesia for patients undergoing diagnostic, surgical, or therapeutic procedures or receiving pain management treatments. Students gain hands-on experience in various practice settings, ranging from level 1 trauma centers to rural hospitals to pain clinics. During their clinical rotations, students average nearly 1,000 anesthesia cases, well above the 600 cases needed for certification. The most recent grads of the program had a 100% pass rate on the certification exam and 100% employment. The three-year, full-time program begins in the summer, and students spend the first year in classes that focus on the science of anesthesia and advanced nursing topics. Clinical practicums start in the fourth semester.
DNAP Programs in Indiana
Marian University
Indianapolis, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
The Leighton School of Nursing at Marian University has a DNP Nurse Anesthetist program that admits a cohort of about two dozen students once a year. The full-time program requires three years of study, and academic classes use a variety of formats - online, hybrid, and traditional face-to-face. The first year is dedicated to academic work and experiences in the simulation lab. In the second year, students also work part-time in clinical sites and start a scholarly project. During the final year, students complete the scholarly project, participate in clinical immersions, attend anesthesia seminars, and review for their certification exam. At clinical sites around Indiana, students are mentored by an experienced CRNA or anesthesiologist while completing more than 2,000 hours of practice administering anesthesia to a variety of patients.
University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The University of Evansville recently added a Nurse Anesthesia DNP program. Courses for the program meet on campus and at the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, a multi-institutional campus where students participate in interprofessional experiences and collaborative learning. Students enter in January and complete 115 credits for the three-year, full-time degree program. To ensure students understand what the job of a CRNA entails, Evansville requires all applicants to complete two separate shadowing experiences following a CRNA or physician anesthesiologist on duty. The university requires all applicants to have at least one year of nursing experience in an ICU. Before anesthesia students start their clinical practicum, they must get RN licenses in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.
DNAP Programs in Iowa
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
The Department of Anesthesia at Carver College of Medicine teams up with the College of Nursing to run Iowa's DNP in Anesthesia Nursing, a top-10 program according to US News & World Report. Made for ICU RNs with a BSN or MSN, the three-year program emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and professionalism alongside hands-on practice. Nurse anesthetist students should expect multiple online courses, but the program is ideal for students from Iowa or surrounding states, as that is where clinical sites are established. Moreover, while the school's online curriculum is designed to keep nurses working in rural Iowa, the school doesn't advise maintaining full-time employment, especially during the practicum-heavy Year 3. To offset potential loss of income, second- and third-year students are eligible for clinical stipends and traineeships.
DNAP Programs in Kansas
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice at Kansas University aims to be versatile enough to produce clinicians, educators, and administrators for the state. Students in the Department of Nurse Anesthesia Education study Monday to Friday for the first two semesters before getting their clinical assignment within the University of Kansas Hospital in the third term. From then on, they may work 12-hour days as well as holidays and weekends. When they're not in practicums, they take a mix of online and on-campus courses. During the third year, students disperse to other clinical sites, some of which are outside KC and several of which specialize in cardiac, obstetrical, and pediatric care. They'll also spend much of that final year completing a scholarly project. Enrollees can compete with other students from the School of Health Professions for need-based and merit scholarships.
DNAP Programs in Kentucky
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky
Accreditation: COA
Northern Kentucky University has two options for nurses to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia. Master's prepared CRNAs can enter with advanced standing and receive the DNP with 37 credits. The DNP classes are online, and advanced standing students never have to come to campus. Nurses with a BSN enter a 36-month, full-time program to earn the doctorate and qualify for the CRNA exam. They start in the summer semester and spend the first year in advanced nursing and science classes foundational to the anesthesia specialty. They also spend a lot of time in the simulation lab gaining essential skills. Clinical practicums in anesthesia start in the second year, and students also take classes in the DNP core. Students perform most clinical practice in Cincinnati and must have RN licenses for Ohio and Kentucky.
DNAP Programs in Louisiana
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Accreditation: COACRNA
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
BSN to DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The LSUHSC School of Nursing's DNP in Nurse Anesthesia is for aspiring practitioners who want to care for patients in rural and low-income areas. This post-bachelor's program, which emphasizes critical thinking, expects nurses to apply evidence-based research to their clinical practice. Applicants need a 3.0, a 300 combined GRE and writing score of at least 3.0, and licensure eligibility in Louisiana. Learning lasts 36 months, beginning with a summer term. The 138 credits are structured so that nurses take their first of seven anesthesia practicums at the end of the first year. The rest of year 1 covers leadership, theory, assessment, epidemiology, pharmacology, biostatistics, pharmacology, and physiology; students also take a research design course and specialized coursework in anesthesiology. Years 2 and 3 are stacked with clinical practicums. By the end of the second year, students will have a proposal for their year 3 research project.
DNAP Programs in Maryland
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Accreditation: CCNE
Johns Hopkins University recently added a BSN to DNP program with a concentration in Nurse Anesthesiology that's open to nurses with a BSN or MSN and at least a year of ICU or critical care experience. The program uses a hybrid delivery format, with the first year of classes delivered online plus two onsite immersion experiences. However, beginning in the second year, the program requires students to be at the campus in Baltimore. Most clinical sites where future CRNAs train are also in the Baltimore area. The program is for full-time students who attend for nine semesters. In addition to learning to administer anesthesia and related services, students gain skills in leadership, systems-level thinking, and evidence-based practice. They apply all those skills in the DNP final project, where they assess practice problems, evaluate evidence from research, and create an innovative solution.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, Maryland
Nurse Anesthesia (DNP)BSN to DNP option
Commissioned officers in the US Air Force, Army, Navy, or Public Health Service don't have to pay to attend the DNP program at USU's Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing. Instead, graduates complete obligatory service. The post-BSN curriculum changes slightly each year, but here are the basics: roughly 30 credits in the nursing core, another 20 toward the advanced practice nursing core, and a further 50 in the specialty. Nursing core coursework explores everything from economics and ethics to statistics and research. Advanced practice core work leans heavily on pathophysiology and pharmacology while incorporating integrative medicine, operational leadership, and contextual thinking. Finally, the specialty mandates six practicums in addition to an extensive exploration of anesthesia principles and pharmacology. The school has 14 project priority areas students can work on, including sleep health, sexual assault, and obesity management, with military treatment facilities to practice in across the country.
University of Maryland-Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland
The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) emphasizes flexibility. For one thing, it's partially online. For another, it presents three pathways to a DNP with a specialization in Nurse Anesthesia. Students can enter with a BSN or MSN or be APRNs in the specialty already. For post-BSN students, the full program is 93 credits, 52 of which are specific to the specialty. Specialty work includes five clinical practicums. For general DNP credits, students take courses in professional writing, research methods, IT, and even a practicum in leadership and collaboration. There's also a DNP project that begins at the end of the second year and continues through the third and final year. In addition to providing merit and donor-funded scholarships, UMSON gives second- and third-year DNP students a shot at the Conway Scholarship, which pays all tuition and fees; graduate teaching and research assistantships are also available.
DNAP Programs in Massachusetts
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Baccalaureate DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Post-Master's DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaMSN required
Boston College has DNP programs in the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist specialty for RNs who have a BSN or MSN. The nurse anesthesia program is presented in conjunction with the Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians. It prepares CRNAs to provide anesthesia in settings ranging from hospital operating rooms to labor and delivery units and pain management clinics. To get a wide range of clinical experience, students work rotations at three to six clinical sites, including options such as Boston Children's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Students spend three years in the full-time DNP program, completing 100 credits. They enter the program in the summer and spend the first year in classes with an emphasis on science and advanced nursing. They start six semesters of anesthesia clinical practice when they enter the second year.
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program at Northeastern University is a full-time, 36-month program that starts in May. Students take four core nursing courses, nine courses in the DNP core, eight classroom courses in the nurse anesthesia specialty, and six nurse anesthesia clinical courses. In the first year, students take foundational courses such as health assessment and cardiopulmonary physiology of anesthesia. They also look at health care from the systems level, with classes in epidemiology and health informatics. Students begin their practicum rounds in the second year when they start to design the scholarly project. The entire third year of the program is dedicated to advanced clinical experiences in nurse anesthesia. The most recent class had no attrition, and all graduates passed the certification exam.
DNAP Programs in Michigan
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Michigan State University's College of Nursing uses a front-loaded format for the BSN to DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. Students spend the first two semesters taking foundational coursework before starting clinical rotations in the third semester. However, students are allowed to enroll in core courses before entering the program to lighten the load. Some core courses are delivered online, but students spend at least a day or two on campus each week. DNP coursework takes a system-level view of health care, focusing on informatics, health policy, patient safety, and leadership. Courses in the concentration cover anatomy, pharmacology, chemistry, physiology, and principles of anesthesia. The College of Nursing has affiliations allowing students to complete clinical hours at hospitals in Detroit, Lansing, and Warren, Michigan.
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Bachelor's Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The DNP-Nurses Anesthesia program at Oakland University is a joint project between the university and Beaumont Health System. The program requires students to attend full time for 36 months, and students should expect to spend an average of 64 hours a week on studies and clinical experiences. Classes cover advanced practice nursing, the nurse anesthesia specialty, and Doctor of Nursing Practice classes. Students enter the program in the fall, and they begin their first clinical internship the next semester. The primary site for clinical rotations is Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, where students can participate in 14 clinical specialties. Students also spend about one day a month in the simulation lab, where they can rehearse procedures and develop their clinical thinking and decision-making skills in a realistic environment.
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, Michigan
Accreditation: COA
At the University of Detroit Mercy, faculty for the Nurse Anesthesia DNP program are all practicing anesthetists with their own clinical practice. The faculty includes recognized experts in the field who have written textbooks and published studies. The full-time program takes 36 months, and during the first year, students enroll mostly in DNP core courses. At the start of the second year, students turn their attention to the anesthesia specialty with classes in principles of anesthesia, pharmacology, and physiology. They also begin clinical internships in the fourth semester and continue to work clinical rounds for the rest of the program. While classes mostly meet in person, many have an online component. The six-month employment rate for graduates is 100%.
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at the University of Michigan-Flint is set up so that RNs can continue to work during the first year. The course and clinical load increases in the final two years, and students are discouraged from full-time jobs as they advance to the second year. The program uses a cohort format, allowing students to develop a strong network of fellow students. Future nurse anesthetists complete seven semesters of clinical practicum, and the university has more than two dozen clinical sites around the state. With that many clinics available, students gain experience in various health care settings, including rural hospitals and independent CRNA practices. This full-time, nine-semester program requires 92 credits, including a comprehensive review class to prepare for the national certification exam.
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP)BSN to DNP option
Wayne State University, long a leader in nurse anesthesia education, offers a three-year, full-time program leading to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. The program is part of the Eugene College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.Facilities are equipped with modern technology to help students learn and practice anesthesia techniques in a safe environment. Students also get plenty of hands-on experience by completing eight clinical practica. They also take a heavy dose of science classes, including pathophysiology, and chemistry and physics of anesthesia. In DNP classes, they get a systems view of health care and learn about leadership, ethics, policy, and research. All candidates complete a group research project, typically on a topic such as an innovative practice issue or an education issue in nurse anesthesia.
DNAP Programs in Minnesota
Mayo School of Health Sciences
Rochester, Minnesota
Accreditation: CANAEP
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
The Mayo Clinic has been training nurse anesthetists since 1889, making it the longest-running program in the country. The clinic's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice is a 42-month program that covers advanced anesthesia science as well as the essentials of the DNP, such as evidence-based practice, leadership, and health care policy. Instructors for the program are practicing CRNAs who share their real-world experience and understanding of best practices. While a few courses are delivered online, students spend most of their time - including classwork and clinical rounds - on the Mayo Clinic campus. During the final year of the program, students are required to complete a 10-week off-campus rotation to gain experience in a community-based hospital. Clinicals focus on a variety of areas, such as cardiovascular, neuro, EENT/oral, obstetrics, and pediatrics.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The School of Nursing at UMN frequently tweaks the DNP Nurse Anesthesia specialty, but the basics remain the same: It's three years, roughly 100 credits, and over 3,000 hours in clinicals. Practicums start in the second term and don't stop; in the second year, students take courses in cardiothoracic disease and special populations, followed by practicums in those topics. Students with an MSN in the specialty set aside one year for studies. (Applicants with an MSN in another specialty can enter the three-year program and transfer in credits.) Most of that is online with a four-day intensive on campus each semester. UMN's School of Nursing goes big on financial aid. Fifty new post-bachelor's DNP students receive the $20,000 Bentson Scholarship each year. Those who don't win (as well as returning and post-master's students), can complete a single application to become eligible for all other relevant School of Nursing scholarships.
DNAP Programs in Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Post-Master's DNP in Nurse AnesthesiaMSN required
Classes for the University of Southern Mississippi's Nurse Anesthesia program meet in Hattiesburg. Students who enter are strongly encouraged to relocate to Hattiesburg during the three years they spend pursuing their DNP. The program is open to nurses with a BSN or MSM who are currently working full-time and have at least 18 months of intensive care experience. Potential applicants are also required to shadow a CRNA for a minimum of 16 hours to get a clear idea of what the career involves. For clinical rotations, students are assigned to sites the university has partnerships with, including level II trauma centers, military hospitals, ambulatory centers, and CRNA practices. The university allows DNP candidates to complete their final project on a topic of interest, including joining a faculty member in research.
DNAP Programs in Missouri
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
The Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes Jewish College introduced the DNP nurse anesthesia concentration in 2020, with the first class entering in January of that year. The 36-month, full-time program combines online and in-person learning to give students some flexibility in scheduling. Core DNP courses use an online format, while all anesthesia-specific classes meet in person. Students complete more than 2,000 clinical hours training in operating rooms under expert supervision, with all clinical rounds scheduled for sites at the Washington University Medical Campus. The program is affiliated with the Washington University Department of Anesthesiology and prepares students to care for even the most complicated cases. Graduates have the skills to work in surgery centers, clinics, and urban and rural hospitals.
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
CRNA to Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
RN to Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
Missouri State University uses a cohort model for the RN to DNAP program, admitting a group of students each summer who will progress through the 36-month program to earn the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. The program requires 119 credits, including courses in the NA specialty, clinical practice hours, and doctoral level courses in evidence-based practice, research, and health policy. Students are also required to complete a capstone project in which they investigate a problem in nurse anesthesia practice. Students may examine administrative or education issues related to NA if they choose, but solutions must be based on evidence. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists with a master's degree can enroll in a 27-credit DNAP completion program and select a one-, two-, or three-year plan of study.
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)BSN to DNP option
Webster University uses an unusual schedule for the DNP Nurse Anesthesia program. Classes are presented in nine-week terms, with five terms each calendar year. During the first year of the three-year program, students take classes four days a week and participate in multiple clinical simulations weekly. As they enter the second year, students start clinical experiences, working three days a week and attending class two days per week. During the final year, students take part in clinical rounds four days each week and attend class one day each week. The program has multiple private and university-based clinical sites for rotations, and all students must complete at least one nine-week rotation at a rural facility. Webster also has a 31-credit online DNP completion program for CRNAs with a master's degree.
DNAP Programs in Nebraska
Bryan College of Health Sciences
Lincoln, Nebraska
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)BSN to DNP option
Bryan College of Health Sciences ensures that students in the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program gain clinical experience in various settings. Students enter the clinical arena earlier than in many programs, beginning with observational assignments and simulation work in the first year of the three-year program. Candidates complete six semester-long clinical practicums where they are assigned a "home hospital" in a large Nebraska city (Lincoln, Kearney, or Omaha) and work one- and two-month rotations in community hospitals using regional anesthetic techniques. Students interested in rural practice can request additional rural rotations. Overall, Bryan students average more than 3,000 hours of clinical experiences, 50% above the minimum required for certification. Coursework is mostly in person with a few courses incorporating some online elements.
Clarkson College
Omaha, Nebraska
Accreditation: ACEN
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Clarkson College limits each Nurse Anesthesia DNP entering class to 15 students who receive instruction from a faculty that includes highly experienced nurse anesthetists. For the first 20 months of the 36-month program, students are in classroom mode. They take courses in anesthesia theory and work in simulation labs to perfect their skills. In the DNP core classes, they gain skills in policy, leadership, and translational research. Later, students synthesize what they learned in class by completing a scholarly project that seeks to apply evidence to solve a practice problem. In the final 16 months of the program, students work clinical rotations in urban and rural facilities. Experiences include specialized cases such as cardiothoracic, trauma, obstetrics, and pain management. Some students may work pediatric internships as they prepare for a career that involves treating patients across the lifespan.
DNAP Programs in New Jersey
Rutgers University
Newark, New Jersey
Post Baccalaureate DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Rutgers School of Nursing offers the only DNP in Nurse Anesthesia in New Jersey. To get in, applicants must have graduated with a 3.2 in a BSN program and have a year of recent critical care experience; no GRE is required. The first year of the 85-credit program, termed the 'didactic phase,' is spent mostly in Newark classrooms. General DNP courses in pathophysiology, clinical pharmacology, and assessment gradually give way to specialized anesthesia courses in physics, technology, and pharmacology. In the second year, things get clinical, with students spending 1,000 hours pursuing anesthesia practicums throughout the metropolitan area while also learning how anesthesia is used for different populations and procedures, such as cardiovascular, pediatric, obstetrical, and neurosurgical. The third, and final, year packs in another 1,800 hours of practicums, with students also submitting a project. DNP students who enter with a 3.4 or above are eligible for the Fenlason Endowed Scholarship.
DNAP Programs in New York
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Accreditation: CCNE
Applicants to UB's post-BSN DNP program can expect to spend nearly half of their three years online. They'll take a variety of practical coursework geared toward producing well-rounded graduates that could go into research, teaching, or clinical practice. They'll take four foundation courses that cover concepts, health promotion, writing, and teaching; seven DNP core courses, which explore policy and leadership in addition to pharmacotherapeutics and pathophysiology; and five research courses, including a seminar in grant writing. These stand in addition to 70 credits - 14 classes, one lab, and six practicums - dedicated to anesthesiology and another 10 credits for advanced practicums and a DNP project. Nurse anesthetists with an MSN and APRN license can apply to the fully online post-master's program, which features a student-driven curriculum. All DNP students should apply for the Petsan Doctoral Scholarship, which is merit-based, and endowed School of Nursing scholarships, which may also consider need.
DNAP Programs in North Carolina
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
Duke University's DNP in nurse anesthesia is a campus-based, three-year program that welcomes new students in the fall semester. Students complete 83 credits, including coursework in advanced practice nursing topics, the DNP core (which focuses on leadership, health care policy, informatics, and translational research), and specialty classes in nurse anesthesia. The faculty includes nurse anesthetists who are active leaders in the profession at all levels, including one faculty member honored as the instructor of the year. Students complete their clinical rounds in a wide range of settings to meet the standards set for national certification as a CRNA. Applicants can also apply for the Nurse Anesthesia Merit Scholarship, which provides nearly $70,000 in tuition money for a student recognized as a potential leader in the field.
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
Accreditation: COA
Students in East Carolina University's Nurse Anesthesia DNP program devote 22 of their 90 credits to science coursework. In the third semester of the nine-semester program, for example, they take three science classes: human physiology for NAs, chemistry and physics of anesthesia, and advanced pharmacology for NAs. Students also take 24 credits in the anesthesia core and complete five semester-long clinical practicum advancing their skills in providing anesthesia. They also take 22 credits in the DNP core - classes ranging from interprofessional leadership to translational science and health care finance. The DNP core classes are offered online, with most other courses requiring face-to-face meetings. Previous cohorts have accrued a record of 100% employment within six months of graduation, and the vast majority of graduates pass the CRNA exam on the first attempt.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The University of North Carolina Charlotte presents its BSN to DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program with its partner, Carolinas Medical Center. Students work their clinical rounds in Atrium Health facilities around Charlotte, reaching a minimum of 2,000 hours. The full-time, campus-based program begins classes in the summer, and students graduate in nine semesters. The program has an across-the-lifespan focus and emphasizes evidence-based, culturally competent care. The curriculum includes 89 credits, with a breakout that provides 18 credits in core classes, 25 credits in nurse anesthesia theory, 21 credits in NA methods, 19 credits in NA clinical residency, and six credits in scholarly project courses. All candidates complete a project to demonstrate their expert practice, translational research, and ability to apply evidence to practice.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
The School of Nursing's DNP program emphasizes evidence-based clinical practice, so students should expect forays into health care policy, economics, population health, and leadership. The Nurse Anesthesia concentration takes CCRNs with a BSN and, over the course of a three-year program, helps them become CRNAs. The program features mostly face-to-face classes, with a handful of online and hybrid courses. Online courses tend to be in general nursing areas, such as healthcare law, informatics, and biostatistics. Subjects that are relevant to other DNPs are instead tailored to nurse anesthetists, including biochemistry, cell pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physics. Clinical practicums start early in the program - the second semester - and students spend at least 360 hours a term at a health facility until the end of the program. All clinical sites are within North Carolina, and the program is made for full-time, non-working students.
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at Western Carolina University gets students into clinical practice in the third semester when they work the first of seven practicum semesters. That early start allows students to work more than 900 anesthetic cases on average, far exceeding certification minimums. Students gain extensive regional anesthesia experience in a diverse range of clinical settings, including two sites where CRNAs are the only anesthesia providers. Students can also practice various scenarios and work on critical thinking skills in the high fidelity simulation lab. This nine-semester, full-time program starts in the summer and is limited to 14 to 16 students. The program devotes five classes to the DNP project, keeping students on track to complete the scholarly work on time.
DNAP Programs in North Dakota
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Accreditation: CCNE
The Nurse Anesthesia DNP program at the University of North Dakota combines face-to-face classes with online sessions and hands-on training. Before students begin clinical rounds, they get experience in the Clinical Resource and Simulation Center, where they practice scenarios and develop critical thinking and decision-making skills in a safe environment. When it's time for clinical practicum, students train in urban and rural settings in North Dakota and Minnesota. Students enter the program in August and complete nine semesters of study. Along with classes in the theory and methods of nurse anesthesia, they take courses in leadership, evidence-based practice, collaboration, informatics, and health care economics and policy. UND nurse anesthesia grads have achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the certification exam for three straight years.
DNAP Programs in Ohio
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio
Accreditation: COA
Nurse Anesthesia DNPBSN to DNP option
Case Western University is home to two related but separate nurse anesthesia DNP programs. One is based at the university's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and the other is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic. The programs use the same curriculum and classrooms, but students work their clinical rotations in different sites. Students in the university-based program gain experience at the various hospitals and medical centers in the University Hospitals system, while the Cleveland Clinic program uses the Cleveland Clinic and a variety of hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Practicums begin in the sixth semester, and students prepare by taking classes in advanced nursing, principles of anesthesia, and translational research. In their final four semesters, students develop a practice inquiry proposal and complete a DNP project.
Otterbein University
Westerville, Ohio
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Nurse anesthesia can be a high-pressure job, and the DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at Otterbein University makes every effort to prepare students for that pressure. While classes focus on science and skills for delivering anesthesia, students also work on developing their emotional intelligence and accepting criticism as part of the first-year experience. The program, a partnership with OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, is a three-year, full-time program. Students begin with simulated clinical practice before starting clinical rounds in a variety of settings. During their rotations, they'll administer anesthesia for procedures including OB, cardiac, emergent, and elective. Many of the DNP core classes use an online format. Additionally, each semester students enroll in a course designed to provide guifdance as they complete their final scholarly project.
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
The University of Cincinnati lays claim to the fourth-oldest Nurse Anesthesia program in the country. It's used that time to build partnerships so that enrollees have access to six clinical sites within a mile of campus, not including the UC Medical Center, which houses one of the nation's best-known children's hospitals; additional sites extend as far as Lexington and Louisville. The program is the most credit-intensive DNP Cincy offers, with 104 units packed into three years of full-time study, some of it online. Semesters 1-3 cover the basics: physiology, statistics, research methods, health assessment, pharmacology, and, of course, anesthesia. Semesters 4-6 are more specific to anesthesia, with internships and practicums woven in. The final three semesters are stacked with practicums, internships, and a capstone. RNs with a BSN, adult or pediatric ICU experience, and strong GRE scores can apply. Second-year students are eligible for Nurse Anesthetists Traineeship Grants through the College of Nursing.
DNAP Programs in Oklahoma
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Accreditation: COA
BSN to DNP in Nurse Anesthesia (NA)BSN to DNP option
The University of Tulsa uses a hybrid format for the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program. Core nursing courses are available online in an asynchronous format that gives students some flexibility in their schedules. Classes in the anesthesia specialty and classes that use the Human Patient Simulation lab require in-person attendance at the Oxley College of Health Sciences in downtown Tulsa. Students enter the program in the fall semester and take courses in advanced nursing, principles of nurse anesthesia practice, and DNP core courses in the first five semesters. By the fifth semester, students start clinical rotations, with the main clinical sites located near Tulsa. Optional enrichment sites are located throughout Oklahoma and nearby states.
DNAP Programs in Oregon
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP in Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Since 2008, all graduates of the DNP Nurse Anesthesia program at Oregon Health and Sciences University have passed the CRNA exam. The program runs for 36 months, with most courses meeting on campus. The first year is frontloaded with foundational courses and classes in the DNP core. By the start of the second year, students are ready to begin clinical practicum, and they'll continue to gain practice hours for the next eight quarters. The university uses a variety of clinical sites so students can participate in specialty and general surgical cases. Some assignments are at large hospitals, such as OHSU Hospital or the University of Washington Medical Center, while others are in rural community hospitals. Students who plan to work in a rural or underserved community can apply for the Scholars for a Healthy Oregon scholarship.
DNAP Programs in Pennsylvania
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Cedar Crest College uses small cohorts for its BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia program to provide individualized mentoring to students in the three-year, full-time program. All classes in the nurse anesthesia specialty meet on campus, with many of the courses presented in the college's high-fidelity simulation lab so that students gain hands-on experience with operating room machinery and techniques. Courses in the advanced practice nursing core and DNP core use an online format. During the first year, students take didactic classes and begin simulation work in the third semester. The second year includes classroom work, simulation practice, and clinical practicum. During the third year, students continue with clinical practice, complete a DNP scholarly project, and attend mandatory study days on campus to prepare for the CRNA exam.
La Roche University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: ACEN
Nurses who are already certified as nurse anesthetists can complete a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice in as little as a year through La Roche University. The program uses online courses, with a weeklong on-campus residency to kick off the program. Full-time students can graduate in a year by taking three courses per semester. Required courses cover topics such as systematic leadership, health policy and economics, decision-making for health services, and medical statistics. The curriculum also includes three classes devoted to guiding students through the capstone project. In the capstone classes, students identify a problem in anesthesia practice, examine relevant research for evidence, and design an evidence-based inquiry. After implementing the project and evaluating the results, students produce a scholarly report.
La Salle University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Anesthesia program at LaSalle University uses a hybrid format. For the first two years, students take core courses online and visit the Frank. J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia campus once a year for an immersion experience. Online courses may use synchronous and asynchronous elements. After two years of study, students begin their clinical residency, which lasts for 29 months, and classes move onsite. For the first clinical practicum, students work two days a week, and the other five internships all require a full-time work schedule. While completing their residencies, students take additional classes in anesthesia practice and work on a DNP project. Graduates of this post-BSN program are eligible to take the CRNA exam.
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: COA
Post-BSN Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)BSN to DNP option
Saint Vincent Hospital and Excela Health have joined forces to present a Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice program that prepares RNs for a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Students enter the 36-month program in January and begin with a heavy load of science classes, including anatomy, physics, and chemistry. In the second semester, students take a systems-level approach, studying evidence-based practice, informatics, and patient safety. Advanced nursing classes fill the third semester before students begin clinical practicum in the fourth semester. The second year focuses on basic anesthesia principles, followed by advanced anesthesia principles in the third year. Students typically perform more than 750 anesthesia cases during six semesters of clinical rounds at some of Saint Vincent's 20 practice sites.
The University of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: COA
DNP in Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Students enter the Nurse Anesthesia DNP program at the University of Scranton in the summer and spend the next 36 months developing competencies in anesthesia as well as health care leadership, translational research, and evidence-based practice. During the first year, students attend in-person and online classes that help them to use evidence-based practice. In the second year, the focus turns to anesthesia knowledge and skills. Students take courses and participate in simulation labs to learn about patient safety and positioning, airway management, use of anesthesia machines, and other skills they need to begin clinical rotations. Students complete two clinical practicum in the second year and spend their third year in nurse anesthesia residencies. They also complete a DNP scholarly project during the final semesters.
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jefferson College of Nursing's clinically focused DNP is designed for RNs with a BSN and strong undergraduate performance in nursing research and physical assessment. In addition to the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, which houses the Rector Clinical Skills & Simulation Center, the college maintains relationships with 20 hospitals and health systems within an 80-mile radius (including some in New Jersey and Delaware). The academic requirements are front-loaded, with students completing 38 of their 92 credits in the first three semesters. Classes during this phase include epidemiology, pharmacology, and advanced anesthesia principles; students also get their first taste of clinical practice. After that, things slow down a bit. Over the remaining six semesters, students average nine credits. Three of those credits go toward clinical practice each semester. The rest go toward one of three 60-hour practicums or toward advanced coursework in areas like social policy, informatics, and disease prevention.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: COA
Post-BSN DNP for Nurse Anesthetists (DNP-NA)BSN to DNP option
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Pitt's BSN-to-DNP is a full-time, onsite program, while the MSN-to-DNP version is online. Both are designed to take three years, though the post-master's version is just 36 credits, as opposed to 86. Somewhat uniquely, Pitt's DNP program offers students the chance to add a 12-credit minor to that. Available minors, some of which include practicums, are Health Care Genetics, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Research. To graduate, all students are expected to pass a comprehensive exam and complete a DNP project that improves patient care. There are no on-campus requirements for post-master's students, and clinical sites in Ohio, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia give distance learners some options. Others will become well-acquainted with Pittsburgh-area hospitals. Program-affiliated clinical sites include a dental school and a children's hospital.
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: COA
Post-Baccalaureate Nurse Anesthesia Doctor of Nursing PracticeBSN to DNP option
Villanova University runs its Nurse Anesthesia DNP in conjunction with Crozer-Chester Medical Center, although it has affiliations with clinics in several states. Students enter the program in the spring and take DNP courses for the first two semesters. In the fall, they take foundational anesthesia classes and begin clinical practicum. At first, student anesthetists are assigned basic cases to focus on learning, using the equipment, and developing an anesthetic plan of care. The first rotation spans seven months to provide a consistent setting. After that, rotations can range from one month to six months, so that students gain experience working with different patient populations, providers, and techniques. Villanova allows accepted students to take three courses before entering the anesthesia track to lessen their course load once they begin clinicals.
York College Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
Nurse Anesthetist Doctor of Nursing PracticeBSN to DNP option
Nurse Anesthesia DNP students at York College enter the program in the summer semester and graduate three years later after completing 102 credits. Classes meet on campus during the day. The schedule is front-loaded with science classes, including anatomy and physiology, chemistry and physics in anesthesia, and pharmacology of anesthetic agents - all taken in the first two semesters. Students in this BSN to DNP program receive an MSN at the end of the second year. Nurse Anesthesia candidates are required to compile a structured portfolio as a final project. Required elements in the portfolio include a weekly journal entry evaluating their progress, a log of patient encounters, narratives about eight complex cases, and an abstract for a systems-based project involving an evidence-based issue in anesthesia.
DNAP Programs in South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Accreditation: COA
The Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice at the Medical University of South Carolina is divided into two phases. During the first 18 months, students take online and in-person classes while learning advanced anesthesia skills and the scientific underpinnings of the specialty. They take courses in the chemistry and physics of anesthesia, human anatomy, pain management, and pharmacology. They also get experience working with the tools of the specialty in the simulation lab. During the second 18 months, students get hands-on experience administering different anesthesia to patients in various settings, taking what they learned in class and combining it with critical thinking to select the appropriate interventions. The university also has a post-master's DNAP for CRNAs. The program uses a hybrid model that combines online classes with on-campus sessions one or two weekends a semester.
DNAP Programs in South Dakota
Mount Marty College
Yankton, South Dakota
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)BSN to DNP option
Mount Marty College uses a personalized matching process to select clinical sites for Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia students. The college has partnerships with 32 clinical locations throughout the Plains States. It can assign students to a primary site and a variety of enrichment rotations, which allows future anesthetists to gain experience in a variety of clinical settings. Rotations may be in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, or Nebraska. Mount Mary's BSN to DNAP program begins in the summer and spans nine semesters. Some courses use a distance format, including all the courses students take in the first semester. In-person classes meet at the campus n Sioux City, South Dakota. Nurses with a master's in nurse anesthesia can complete a doctorate in six semesters of part-time study.
DNAP Programs in Tennessee
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc
Madison, Tennessee
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)BSN to DNP option
RNs who enter the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia can stay at home for the first semester when all the classes are online. After that, they must relocate to Middle Tennessee for the remainder of the 36-month program. By the third semester, students begin their clinical experiences, and the school has affiliations with more than a dozen sites, mostly in middle Tennessee. In addition to learning and practicing anesthesia techniques, students complete a doctoral curriculum that culminates with a quality improvement project. MTSA also has a DNAP completion degree for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The curriculum for the two-year practice doctorate includes NA content in each course, and students complete the degree with an evidence-based scholarly project.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center offers a post-BSN DNP program in nurse anesthesia. This is a nine-term program. Students spend the first four semesters in didactic coursework and begin their clinical experiences during the fifth term. The final four semesters focus completely on clinical coursework. Students perform their clinical rounds at health care agencies that are located near the campus in Memphis, Tennessee, and around the Mid-South. During clinical experiences, students are mentored by skilled preceptors. UTHSC notes that students can learn about specialty anesthesia as they perform rounds in areas such as cardiothoracics, obstetrics, pediatrics and pediatric oncology, trauma, and pain management. Students are required to complete 600 cases and 2,000 clinical hours as they prepare for the national certification exam. This is a full-time, 36-month program, and students are encouraged not to hold a job while they are enrolled in this concentration.
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
The Nurse Anesthesia program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville uses a blended format, with some classes incorporating online activities and in-person meetings. The curriculum includes courses that run for an entire semester and a few classes that are delivered in a shorter period. The front-loaded curriculum includes science classes - such as anatomy, chemistry, and physiology - along with DNP classes covering topics such as leadership, finance, and evidence-based practice. Students enter supervised clinical training in their third semester, with the University of Tennessee Medical Center serving as the primary clinical site. With seven semester-long practicums in the curriculum, students may also perform clinical rotations at enrichment sites, which are usually within driving distance of Knoxville.
Union University
Jackson, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
Union University runs three DNP nurse anesthesia tracks: one each for nurses with BSNs and MSNs and another for CRNAs. Union promotes a Christian worldview toward healthcare, which manifests mainly in medical mission trips and an introductory course called Faith and Science. The rest of the curriculum should look pretty familiar: theoretical coursework, 660 hours of clinical fellowships, plus a DNP project to end the program. The nurse anesthesia track is a blended program, with students travelling to Union's main campus in Jackson, Tennessee, for some courses. The BSN-DNP and CRNA-DNP tracks are both full-time programs, while the CRNA-DNP track can be taken full- or part-time. The 46-credit CRNA program looks similar to the 38-credit post-master's, with the main difference being three additional courses in the first year covering advanced nursing statistics, advanced nursing research, and APRN role development.
DNAP Programs in Texas
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Baylor College of Medicine has tracks leading to a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia for BSN-prepared RNs and master's degree-trained nurses who have passed the CRNA exam. Nurses entering with a BSN start with 18 months of coursework, including a heavy dose of sciences, translational research, courses that examine health care policy and delivery systems, and classes where they gain management and leadership skills. After that, students spend 18 months in clinical settings gaining experience in providing all kinds of anesthesia. CRNA holders enter with advanced standing and complete their coursework online in 24 months, with only three trips to campus required. Baylor grads have a nearly 100% first-time pass rate on the CRNA exam, and all grads pass by the second attempt.
Baylor University
Waco, Texas
Accreditation: COA
United States Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN)BSN to DNP option
Baylor University in Waco, Texas, is home to the U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing. The program leads to a Doctor of Nursing practice and prepares graduates to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Graduates serve in the military for at least five years, working at Army and VA hospitals worldwide. Cohorts enter the program in June and complete the degree in three years. Students begin courses in anesthesia by the second semester, and they start clinical practicum at the end of the second year. The third year is primarily dedicated to clinical experiences where students provide anesthesia to a wide variety of patients. Candidates also complete a DNP project in their third year, investigating a clinical practice change and evaluating the outcomes.
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
The School of Nurse Anesthesia at TCU's Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences enrolls RNs from across the US in its hybrid DNP-A program. To get in, applicants need a BSN or baccalaureate in a natural science as well as competitive GRE scores and CCRN certification, which requires 1,750 hours in a critical care setting. Once admitted, students can continue working for the first two semesters as they complete classes online. The rest of Phase 1, which spans the first 20 months, covers core requirements at on-campus classrooms and labs (with distance options available in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Oklahoma). Phase 2 is 16 months' long, and it's where students practice actually administering anesthesia; nurses are based at a clinical residency in one of nine states and check in on campus weekly. TCU sees graduates of the program as leaders and innovators in the field.
Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, Texas
Accreditation: COA
Entry-Level Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
Nurses who are certified nurse anesthetists can complete a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice in one of three specialty tracks at Texas Wesleyan University. The options are education administration, management, or health care administration, and each requires students to complete 32 credits. The university also has an entry-level DNAP for RNs with a BSN. The three-year program requires 92 credits. Students enter in the fall and spend the first year taking a full load of classes in the science of anesthesia. They also spend a lot of time in the human patient simulation lab, where they practice new skills and learn to apply critical thinking in various scenarios. Students begin their clinical practicums in the fifth semester when they also start work on the DNP project.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas
BSN to DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse AnesthetistMSN required
The Cizik School of Nursing at Texas Medical Center, the world's largest, runs two nurse anesthesia programs. The post-master's DNP is a part-time hybrid program that takes 34 credits, or eight semesters, to complete. Students are in Houston for three intensive sessions each semester; the rest of the time they're learning online. The upper-level coursework runs the gamut from business and ethics to data analysis and healthcare technology. The second half of the program incorporates two fellowships. During each semester students add to a portfolio demonstrating their competency in the field. BSN-holders may apply to the on-campus, 112-credit program, which is laid out differently. The first five semesters cover the basics - anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and the like - and gradually weave in specialized anesthesiology coursework. Semesters 6 through 9 incorporate four practicums and a portfolio. Cizik offers 16 scholarships to nurse anesthesia students who show some combination of financial need and academic merit.
DNAP Programs in Virginia
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia
Accreditation: CCNE
BS-DNP - Nurse AnesthesiaBSN to DNP option
Every May, RNs licensed in Virginia begin their studies in ODU's DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. Entering students need a BSN or a bachelor's in a related science with a 3.0 overall GPA, a 3.0 in their nursing studies, a 300/3.5 on the GRE, and one year of recent service in an intensive care unit. Starting in the second year of the 36-month program, students take the first of six clinical practicums centered around nurse anesthesiology. Those are complemented by an additional four practicums in general DNP nursing. A capstone completes their studies. Standard nursing coursework is spread across the program's 103 credits: general APN courses in research, assessment, ethics, leadership, business, informatics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and epidemiology. More specialized coursework for anesthesiologists includes chemistry and physics, physiology, pharmacology, and applied principles, with practice-centered seminars scheduled every semester starting the second year.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Accreditation: COA
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) - Entry to PracticeBSN to DNP option
Virginia Commonwealth University has two DNAP programs. One is for nurses entering the practice of nurse anesthesia, and the other is for post-master's CRNAs. Students in the nine-semester entry-to-practice track complete their first two semesters in a hybrid format, then begin a traditional, full-time on-campus schedule in the third semester. The following semester, they start clinical training, which continues for six semesters at affiliate hospitals where students are supervised by CRNAs or physician anesthesiologists. Students get experience administering all kinds of general and regional anesthesia. The post-master's DNP combines on-campus meetings with online components as students gain leadership skills and concentrate on safety, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice. Practicing CRNAs can complete the DNP in as little as a year or take up to three years.
DNAP Programs in Washington
Gonzaga University
Spokane, Washington
Accreditation: CANAEP
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at Gonzaga University prepares nurses to practice as a CRNA, use evidence-based methods to improve anesthesia practices, and fill clinical leadership roles. The full-time, nine-semester program kicks off in May, and by the fall semester, students begin their first clinical practicum. The program is jointly operated by Gonzaga and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, with practitioner faculty from the health center teaching anesthesia practice and science classes. Gonzaga faculty members teach classes covering leadership, policy, and research. The main clinical sites are at Providence Sacred Heart, which is also where most classes meet. Students also complete practicum experiences at enrichment sites, including regional hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and a pain management clinic.
DNAP Programs in West Virginia
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
Accreditation: COA
DNP Nurse AnesthetistBSN to DNP option
The Nurse Anesthesia DNP program at West Virginia University School of Nursing is an 88-credit program that spans nine semesters beginning in the fall. Many of the DNP core classes - such as health care policy, health research statistics, and populational health promotion - use an online format. Anesthesia courses meet in person and start in the first semester when students learn about standards of practice and professionalism in the NA role. Future anesthetists take foundational classes in principles of safe anesthesia care, regional anesthesia, and management of special populations. Other courses cover perioperative assessment and administering anesthesia in cardiothoracic and vascular procedures. The program requires at least 2,000 clinical hours, but most graduates complete more time in clinical practice.
DNAP Programs in Wisconsin
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Accreditation: COA
The Nurse Anesthesia Doctor of Nursing Practice at Marquette University prepares students as expert clinicians who are qualified to use general and regional anesthesia techniques in various settings. Beyond that, graduates also understand the health system, including finances and business management. They also know how to implement evidence-based practice. Students enter in the fall and complete 91 credits in nine semesters. At the start, students take advanced practice nursing classes and develop skills in the simulation lab. By the third semester, they begin nurse anesthesia clinicals, then advance to three NA residencies and two NA specialty immersions. Most classes use a traditional format, although some are hybrid or online. All the clinical sites are within driving distance of campus.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Accreditation: COA
BSN to DNP in Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia PracticeBSN to DNP option
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh uses several different course delivery modes for the BSN to DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. Most of the classes in the NA specialty meet on campus, and some use a hybrid format that includes online lessons plus in-person meetings every other week. Courses in the DNP core are generally delivered online. This 74-credit program starts in the summer semester and continues for 36 months. At the start, students spend two semesters taking science and advanced nursing classes. By the third semester, students begin clinical practica for three days a week, and the following spring, they transition to four days of clinical practice each week. Clinical sites are located around Wisconsin.
Viterbo University
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Accreditation: COA
The DNP in Nurse Anesthesia at Viterbo University is a unique program that involves the Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Health Care School of Anesthesia, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and Viterbo School of Nursing. At the end of the 36-month, full-time program, students receive an MS in Biology from UW-L, a certificate of completion from the School of Anesthesia, and the DNP from Viterbo. Graduates are eligible for the CRNA exam. Students enter in the summer term and begin by taking classes in anatomy, electrocardiography, and physical assessment for anesthetists. Clinical practicums start in the fourth term and continue to the end of the program. The nurse anesthesia track is small, with only about ten members in each cohort, and it boasts a 100% employment rate for five years.