The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia is a 36-month, 114-credit hour, full-time program that prepares Registered Nurses for entry into Nurse Anesthesia practice.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board for Certification and Re-Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (NCBRNA). Satisfactory performance is necessary in order to practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
Policies and other information are available in a guide for graduate nursing students, entitled"Graduate Information Guide (GIG)". Knowledge of the policies and information in the GIG, A-State Nurse Anesthesia Student Handbook and A-State Graduate Bulletin are required following admission.
Expected Outcomes
Nurse Anesthesia graduates will demonstrate knowledge, skills and competencies in patient safety, perianesthetic management, critical thinking, communication, and competencies needed to enter nurse anesthesia practice in culturally diverse population, and to fulfill professional responsibilities.
The Educational Outcomes of the Program are as follows:
Patient Safety
Graduates will demonstrate patient safety by their ability to:
- Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care in culturally diverse populations.
- Protect patients from iatrogenic complications.
- Participate in the positioning of patients to prevent injury.
- Conduct a comprehensive and appropriate equipment check.
- Utilize standard precautions and appropriate infection control measures.
Perianesthetic Management
Graduates will demonstrate individualized perianesthetic management by their ability in:
- Providing care throughout the perianesthetic continuum.
- Using a variety of current anesthesia techniques, agents, adjunctive drugs, and equipment while providing anesthesia.
- Administering general anesthesia to patients of all ages and physical conditions for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
- Providing anesthesia services to all patients, including trauma and emergency cases.
- Administering and managing regional anesthesia including regional blocks for pain management.
- Functioning as a resource person for airway and ventilatory management of patients.
- Possessing current advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) recognition.
- Possessing current pediatric advanced life support (PALS) recognition.
- Delivering culturally competent perianesthetic care throughout the anesthesia experience
Critical Thinking
Graduates will demonstrate critical thinking by:
- Applying knowledge to practice in decision-making and problem solving.
- Providing Nurse Anesthesia care based on evidence-based practice.
