Degree and Programs

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program provides Master’s level prepared Nurse Anesthetists with advanced studies that leads to a practice doctorate. The program is designed to provide enhancement of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist’s (CRNA) current scientific knowledge and to develop skills in health care administration, management and/or nurse anesthesia education administration. The program provides the student an opportunity to select advanced studies in the interrelationships of pathophysiology, biochemistry and pharmacology, study of management theory, educational administration and scholarly work.

The program builds upon the scientific and leadership knowledge and skills that the student gained during her/his Master’s Degree nurse anesthesia education as well as from her/his professional practice experience gained as a nurse anesthetist. The successful student will develop advanced, in-depth scientific knowledge concerning the disease processes and treatment modalities and strengthen the leadership, administrative and management skills beyond that gained at the Master’s level.

Three foci are offered in the program, and students may choose to complete one or all:

Education

The goal of the education specialty focus is to prepare the CRNA to be a faculty member or an administrator of a nurse anesthesia program. Skills necessary for the successful faculty member are explored including curriculum design, instructional methods, and evaluation techniques.

Health Care Administration

The Health Care Administration focus will provide the knowledge necessary to advance into health administrative leadership roles. This designed courses provide knowledge a health administrator may utilize such as accounting, human resource management, project management, and negotiation and conflict resolution.

Management

The management focus courses will provide the knowledge necessary to advance personal finance and provide the information needed to develop a plan to achieve financial security. Additionally, advance knowledge of administrative roles in the anesthesia department/group is provided. This knowledge will include the customary activities of a manager such as planning, organizing, decision making, staffing, and budgeting.