- What is the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree?
- DNAP Will Soon Replace the MSNA
- List of CRNA Schools that offer a DNAP or DNP
- Voice Your Opinion
What is the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree?
There are two different kinds of terminal nursing degrees: research-oriented degrees and practice-oriented degrees.
Research-oriented degrees include the Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc, DNS or DSN) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
The practice-oriented degree, also called the clinical doctorate, is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP or DrNP).
The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Anesthesia is referred to as the DNAP.
The DNP degree is meant to prepare registered nurses to become advanced practice nurses. The curriculum includes leadership training, the application of clinical research, and advanced practice training.
The DNP degree will soon be required of all advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners (NP), certified nurse-midwives (CNM), clinical nurse specialists (CNS), and nurse anesthetists (CRNA).
DNAP Will Soon Replace the MSNA
In 2015, the AANA is required that all CRNA programs begin changing their curriculum from a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia degree to a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Programs will need to have made this change by 2025.
In the meantime, all nurse anesthetists who obtain a CRNA master’s degree before 2025 will be “grand will not be required to go back to school to get a DNP.
So if you’re not required to get an advanced practice nursing degree, should you? Find 4 compelling reasons to get your DNP today. You’ll also learn the difference between the DNP and the DNAP, as well as components of the program (what you’ll be learning).
List of CRNA Schools that offer an entry DNAP
Many schools have transitioned their programs from MSN/MSNA to DNP/DNAP. You will find two lists identifying both entry-level and would like to continue your education, please refer to the Completion List.
This list will continue to grow until 2025 but these are the schools that already have a DNP/DNAP program or are currently waiting for COA approval.
Entry Level Programs
Arizona
University of Arizona School of Nursing
Alabama
University of Alabama Birmingham
California
Cal State Fullerton – Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
University of Southern California
Connecticut
Fairfield University & Bridgeport Hospital
Integrated Anesthesia Associates
Florida
Adventist University of Health Sciences
Florida International University
Georgia
Illinois
NorthShore University & DePaul University
Millikin University & Decatur Memorial Hospital
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kentucky
Murray State University & Baptist Health
Louisiana
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Maryland
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences/ Military Nurse Anesthesia Program
Massachusetts
Michigan
University of Michigan – Flint
Minnesota
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi
Missouri
Missouri State School of Anesthesia
Truman Medical Centers School of Nurse Anesthesia
Nebraska
Bryan College of Health Science
New Jersey
New York
State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo
North Carolina
Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia – the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Ohio
WellSpan Health and York College of Pennsylvania
Villanova University and Crozer-Chester Medical
South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Texas
Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing
University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center
Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Washington
Gonzaga University & Sacred Heart Medical Center
Washington, DC
West Virginia
Charleston Area Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
The Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare School of Anesthesia
Completion Program List
Connecticut
Integrated Anesthesia Associates
Florida
Kentucky
Murray State University & Baptist Health
Illinois
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine
Louisiana
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Michigan
University of Michigan – Flint
Minnesota
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Missouri
Missouri State School of Anesthesia
Pennsylvania
Excela Health School of Anesthesia & Saint Vincent College
South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
Tennessee
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Texas
Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Voice Your Opinion
How do you feel about this change to the DNP?
How does this change to the DNP affect your educational plans?
Do you think nurse anesthetists must have a doctorate?
Some people think it’s unfair for a nurse (who spends a few extra years beyond the bachelor’s level) to be given almost the same title as a medical doctor who devotes an entire decade to study. They feel it will confuse patients. Do you agree?
If you want help comparing schools, we’ve created a tool that allows you to search and compare all accredited nurse anesthesia schools by 70+ criteria, helping you find the schools that are the best match for you. We call it the School Finder. It is now accessible through a membership with our thriving community platform of pre-CRNAs, All CRNA Connect
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