DNP Nurse Anesthesia
Our Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) program is designed to prepare you for the full scope of nurse anesthesia practice in diverse clinical settings, from hospitals to outpatient surgery centers to physicians’ offices.
First Year Nurse Anesthesia Student, Jennifer Ranieri, practices inserting an arterial line in a simulated patient arm. Developing psychomotor dexterity is just one aspect of the knowledge gained through simulated experiences.Our program
Led by a team of expert practitioners, and top nurse researchers, our DNP-NA brings the real world and innovative science into the classroom. Our program faculty – who include many alumni – are nurse anesthetists who practice across a range of settings and are vested in helping you develop your educational and professional career. Mentored by expert nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists, you’ll acquire the critical thinking skills for independent as well as collaborative clinical decision-making.
You’ll hone your skills in our state-of-the-art simulation center, performing procedures like placing regional anesthetics, using fiber optic intubating equipment, inserting central venous catheters, pulmonary artery catheters and chest tubes, using ultrasound guidance, performing needle cricothyroidotomies, and placing double lumen endotracheal tubes. And you’ll be exposed to experiences that range from common complications to rare occurrences.
Coursework
Our curriculum is divided into four conceptual areas: core courses, area courses, translating research into practice, and leadership and management.
Our robust clinical rotation allows you the opportunity to work with patients of all acuity levels including concentrations in pediatric, cardiac, and non-cardiac thoracic specialties. Our clinical coordinators work to provide you with a supervised introduction to clinical experiences, relying heavily on our excellent faculty to mentor students as they gain independence, critical thinking, and autonomy.
Plan of Study
The DNP-NA program is offered full-time and can be completed in 36 months. Starting January 2021, the plan of study includes 36 course units. The previous plan of study included 1 CU for NURS636 Pain, Science, & Practice.
Certification
Penn Nursing’s DNP-NA program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSN) program (not currently offered) received a 10-year accreditation on October 16, 2016. The entry to practice Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) degree was approved by the COA in January 2016. The completion DNP degree and distance education options were approved in June 2016.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) to be certified in every state as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906,
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
Main Number: (224) 275-9130
Email: accreditation@coacrna.org