Duke University is one of six CRNA schools in North Carolina.
Duke University School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program
Duke University School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program DUMC 3322 307 Trent Drive Durham, NC 27710
Contact Information Frank Titch, CRNA, MSNA, Program Director Angela Goss, , Administrative Assistant For Program questions: ph: (919) 684-9330 For Application questions: ph: (877) 415-3853 fax: (919) 668-4693 *preferred method: email: DUNAP@notes.duke.edu
Quick Facts
CRNA Degree (s) offered Master of Science in Nursing, Post-Master's Certificate. DUSON currently offers a Post-Master's DNP.
Program Length 28 months, full time
Credit Hours 60
Starting Month(s) January
Application Deadline May 1st Due to strong demand and limited class size, early application is encouraged. And don’t miss the open house in March and October. You can meet the faculty and ask questions about the program.
Please note that tuition is calculated at the 2011-2012 rate. Tuition at most schools increases each academic year. Over the duration of the program, expect to pay a tuition that is 5% to 15% higher than what is shown here.
Cost of Tuition: $77,700 Fees and expenses: $3,000 Grand Total: $80,700
Class Size 25 students
Number of Applicants There are roughly 100 applicants each year. Applicants selected for interview are usually notified mid to late July via e-mail notification followed by a personal letter.
When did this CRNA Program begin? Duke’s CRNA program re-opened in 2000.
Are you concerned that Duke University School of Nursing’s Nurse Anesthesia Program won’t give you the specific experiences or training you need to be a successful CRNA? Learn what standards CRNA Programs must meet in order to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia (COA).
This CRNA program (as well as all others that are accredited by the COA) prepares you to take the CCNA certification exam at the conclusion of the program, allowing you to become a CRNA.
In this integrated CRNA program, you’ll begin your clinical practicum with one day a week in the sim lab. Beginning in your second semester, this will increase to two days a week in the Operating Room, then 3 days a week in the third semester and finally 4 days a week in the OR for the remainder of the program.
Your didactic learning will mostly take place in the classroom, with the exception of 5 classes (one per semester excluding the first and last semesters) which are taken online.
Your clinical experience will take place at 15 different sites located throughout the state of North Carolina. This will give you increased variety in clinical experience, but also means you’ll be spending some time in your car.
It’s also important to note that there is a medical residency program at Duke and though you don’t share anesthesia cases with them on a case-by-case basis, it means you will spend less clinical time at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) and more time at the other clinical sites.
Looking for something specific? Find CRNA schools categorized by their unique requirements.
Some CRNA schools require much more out of their applicants than others. See how the requirements at Duke University School of Nursing compare to most CRNA school’s requirements.
CRNA Program Requirements
Required Bachelor Degree Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program OR an ADN with a bachelor’s degree in a related science field.
RN: Current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a professional nurse in North Carolina, unless you are licensed in a "compact state"
Critical Care: You must have a minimum of one year (two years preferred) current, continuous full-time acute care experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting. You may apply before your one year experience is complete, assuming that you’ll have at least one full year by the January start date.
Your experience should involve the following skills:
Independent decision making
Interpretation of advanced monitoring techniques
Caring for ventilated patients
Pharmacologic hemodynamic management
Experience areas preferred include:
Surgical ICU
Medical ICU
Cardiac ICU
Neuro ICU
Pediatric or Neonatal ICU
Other experiences considered:
ICU step-down or transitional areas
Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
Operating Room
Emergency Room
They do not accept:
Radiology/cath lab
Flight team
GPA: Cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale) or evidence of outstanding graduate academic achievement.
Minimum GRE scores: GRE scores need to be available before the application deadline (May 1). Only the most recent GRE score will be considered. In order for your GRE scores to be competitive they recommend the following:
Minimum score of 1,000 (or higher) when combining the verbal and quantitative scores
Analytical Writing Score of 4.0 (or higher)
International Students: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores from applicants whose native language is not English or who have not completed their high school and college education in the U.S. (Refer to the Duke University School of Nursing Application Admissions Procedures: Additional Requirements for International Applicants)
Certifications:
BLS (Basic Life Support)
ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) is not required but strongly encouraged
Course Prerequisites
Undergraduate statistics course: must include descriptive and inferential stats
Proven undergraduate success in all major science classes
Accredited CRNA Programs are reviewed regularly. Duke University School of Nursing Nurse Anesthetist Program was last reviewed 10/2003. It was given the maximum of 10 years accreditation and will be reviewed again 10/2013. This shows that the program is in full compliance with the COA’s accreditation standards.
Pass Rate for CRNA Boards at Duke University School of Nursing Please note: It is extremely rare for a student at any CRNA school to not eventually pass the exam. Most students who don’t pass the first time pass the second. Very rarely does a person ever take it a third time. This statistic only measures how well the program prepares students to pass the test the first time around.
An average nurse anesthetist salary in North Carolina North Carolina CRNA salaries are about the same as the national average and range from $140k to $160k.
An average annual nurse anesthetist salary in the US is $163,467 (according to a 2008 study)
Rural average: $174,214
Metropolitan average: $164,148
Suburban average: $156,630
Average starting CRNA salaries range from: $110,000-$130,000.
How many hours should I expect to be engaged in the program each week? Successful completion of the nurse anesthesia program requires a substantial time commitment averaging 50-60 hours per week (includes class time, clinical, and study time) during the 28-month program.
Can I work as an RN while I’m in the program? Historically, given the rigorous nature of the program, students find it difficult to subsidize their educational expenses through part-time employment.
Students pursuing the post-master's certificate option (46 course credits) often find greater flexibility given the need for fewer course credits. While we discourage part-time employment, students may choose to do so only if they maintain satisfactory academic progress. If students must engage in part-time employment, it cannot conflict with academic or clinical assignments.
