Post-Master's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Completion, College of Health Sciences, Glendale Campus

To be considered for admission to the Post-Master's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Completion (D.N.A.P.) program for CRNAs at Midwestern University, students must:

1. Successfully complete an accredited graduate degree program in nurse anesthesia and submit CRNA school transcript.
2. Have active clinical or educational practice.
3. Have completed a telephone interview.

Full list of requirements

The D.N.A.P. Program is completed in 12 months of full-time study. The program is designed for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who desire to earn a practice-orientated doctoral degree. A prior master's degree in nurse anesthesia education and clinical experience provide the foundation for acquiring new advanced knowledge that prepares the CRNA to assume leadership positions in nurse anesthesia administration and education. 

The curriculum specifically addresses community, health organizations and systems analysis related to anesthetic care, quality assessment and improvement, leadership, policy analysis, best practice evidence, education process and research. 

A scholarly project is required. These projects are intended to improve the anesthesia practice environment where the student is employed while adding to the body of knowledge on the selected topic. Settings for the project include the clinical arena, educational environment or professional anesthesia organization platforms. Analysis of the practice environment is used to plan and execute the scholarly project under the direction of the program faculty.

Curriculum details

To be eligible to graduate, D.N.A.P. students will:

• Follow the approved course of study, satisfactorily completing required 45 credit hours and passing courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and achieving a "B-" or higher in all courses.
• Present a final scholarly project with the approval of the scholarly project committee.
• Receive a favorable recommendation from the Nurse Anesthesia Program, Program Student, Academic Review Committee, and the College of Health Sciences Student Promotion and Graduation Committee.
• Be recommended for conferral of the doctoral degree by the University Faculty Senate.
• Settle all financial accounts with the University.
• Complete all graduation clearance requirements as instructed by the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation requirements

• Overall GPA: 3.76
• Male: 10 (34%)    
• Female: 19 (66%)    
• Class Size: 29

The program has 100% employment for graduates in a CRNA within six months of graduation for the 2023 graduating class. 

Attrition for the 2023 cohort was 3%.

As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), you are an advanced practice nurse who is trained to safely provide anesthesia services to surgical, obstetrical, and trauma patients. You collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified health care professionals to provide anesthesia and related care before and after medical procedures. In addition, you may provide pain management and emergency services, such as airway management. 

While you are trained to deliver anesthesia and related care in a variety of general clinical settings where you function with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect, you may also choose to specialize in pediatric, obstetric, cardiovascular, plastic, dental, or neurosurgical anesthesia. Or you may provide clinical support services outside of the operating room, in areas such as MRI units, cardiac catheterization labs, and lithotripsy units.

According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA):

• CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pain management specialists; the U.S. military, public health services, and Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities.
• Nurse anesthetists first provided anesthesia  on the battlefields of the American Civil War and have been the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military men and women on the front lines since WWI; today, CRNAs continue to be the primary providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on front lines, navy ships, and aircraft evacuation teams around the globe.
• CRNAs are the primary anesthesia providers in rural America, inner cities, and other underserved areas, allowing obstetrical, surgical, and trauma stabilization services to be offered to patients in these locations.
• Each year, CRNAs administer approximately 30 million anesthetics to patients in the United States.
• As with the overall need for nurses to provide care for an expanding and aging population, the demand for nurse anesthetists is expected to remain strong.

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) completion degree program for CRNAs is approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603; phone: 224-275-9130; email: Accreditation@coa.us.com. 

The Nurse Anesthesia Program received full 10-year accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) in October 2021. Accreditation was granted for the period of October 12, 2021 through October 31, 2031. For information regarding this accreditation, contact COA, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 10275 W. Higgins Rd. Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603; phone: 224-275-9130.

Midwestern University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.