Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, DNAP

Admission Requirements

Minimum GPA requirements:

Minimum overall GPA ≥ 3.0 OR ≥ 3.2 last 60 credit hours

Minimum science/math GPA ≥ 3.0 strongly recommended

Prerequisite Courses:

Statistics course: Must contain content on both parametric and nonparametric statistics which are components of most basic statistics courses. Please note that a nursing research class does not meet this requirement.

RN Licensure:

Unrestricted license as a professional registered nurse. Upon admission to the program, students must possess either a compact nursing license OR a Kansas registered nurse license (and if selected for an Oklahoma City primary site, must possess either a compact nursing license OR Oklahoma registered nurse license).

Certifications:

BLS

ACLS

PALS

CCRN preferred

Graduate Record Exam (GRE):

Minimum combined Quantitative and Verbal scores ≥ 295. Score of ≥ 300 is strongly preferred. GRE must be taken within the last 5 years.

Critical Care Experience:

Minimum of 1 year (2 years preferred) full-time employment in an ICU is required. This must be within the 2 years of the start of the program. Acceptable ICUs include: cardiac ICU, medical ICU, neuro ICU, trauma ICU, etc. The Admissions and Progression Committee has found that successful applicants most often have adult ICU experience; however, PICU experience is acceptable to meet the critical care requirement. NICU, PACU, ER, OR, POCU do NOT meet the requirements for admission to the Newman University Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Program. A minimum of 1 year must be from a hospital within the 50 states, US territories, or at a US military hospital.

Bachelor’s Degree:

Must possess a bachelor’s degree from a fully-accredited college or university. BSN preferred but not required. Applicants with an associate’s degree in nursing will be considered provided that a bachelor’s degree in any discipline has been earned.

Professional References:

Three professional references are required. One must be from a current supervisor.

Personal Statement:

A personal essay should be submitted in which the applicant demonstrates graduate-level writing ability. The personal essay should reflect the applicant’s professional development as a registered nurse in critical care and how this will translate to success in an advanced practice role as a nurse anesthetist. The personal statement should be 2 pages or less.

Current Resume/CV:

Background check/drug screen:

If accepted to the program, all students must pass a background check and drug screen prior to the start of the nurse anesthesia program. This will be at the cost of the student, and information will be given after acceptance is granted.

Disclaimers:

Admission to the nurse anesthesia program is highly competitive. Successfully meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or acceptance to the program. Newman University reserves the right to change policy, procedures, fees, and admissions criteria without prior notification. These changes shall be made to reflect the needs of the University, faculty, students, clinical sites and affiliated institutions.

Nondiscrimination:

This program will not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any factor protected by law. Because of the nature and intensity of the work, students requesting reasonable accommodations will be assessed on an individual basis in relation to their ability to meet the technical requirements of the nurse anesthesia profession.

Any person having inquiries concerning this may contact the Vice President of Academic Affairs, 3100 McCormick Avenue, Wichita, KS, 67213-2097, or by calling 316-942- 4291.

Shadow experience:

Shadow experience of an anesthesia provider actively administering anesthesia is preferred. There is no minimum requirement of shadowing hours.

Personal interview:

A professional interview is required for acceptance to the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program. Invitations for professional interviews will be sent to selected applicants by mid- September. Interviews with the Admissions and Progression Committee will be conducted in October and/or November. The interview will provide the applicant the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge in the areas of pharmacology, physiology, pathophysiology, and critical thinking as it relates to their unique critical care experience and patient population.

Limit in number of applications:

An applicant may not apply for the program more than twice.

DNAP Program Description and Design:

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice is a comprehensive 36-month course of study that prepares registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). This program includes a didactic portion conducted at Newman University and a clinical anesthesia component carried out at local and regional hospitals. The first year is primarily didactic, allowing the student to acquire the skills necessary for the safe administration of anesthesia. During the second year, the student continues didactic instruction and an introduction to the practice of clinical anesthesia under the supervision of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists. As the student progresses through the program, didactic instruction lessens while clinical time and case complexity increases. Second year students explore professional leadership issues, and assume greater responsibility in the hospital through increased call and leadership. Third year students will continue clinical practicums including specialty rotations, prepare for the Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE), and the National Certifying Exam (NCE), and shall successfully complete the doctoral scholarly work.

The curriculum of the program has a wide range of physical, behavioral, and biological science courses to help the student establish a theoretical base. Instructional approaches include a one-to- one instructor student ratio, lecture, lab, self-directed study and structured learning. The clinical portion of the program consists of a hands-on approach to the administration of anesthesia. Students obtain clinical skills in a variety of settings, which include large Level 1 Trauma Centers, teaching hospitals, and rural anesthesia practices. Graduates of the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program provide approximately 1006 anesthetics with over 2054 hours of direct anesthesia care. Enrichment rotations such as cardiothoracic, pediatric, regional anesthesia, obstetric, neurosurgery, and rural anesthesia provide a well-rounded clinical experience.

Students are encouraged to expand personal, educational, and professional goals as they push toward excellence.

Employment during the program:

In the first summer, students are encouraged to work as their schedule permits. All summer courses will be delivered online. In the first fall, students will have some online courses with some in-person courses. Employment is encouraged if the student desires during this time. During the first spring, all classes will be delivered in-person, and students may work outside of the program if their schedule and planning allows. Please note that a minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained during the entirety of the program. Students who receive more than 1 C in the program will be dismissed from the program.

Program Schedule:

New classes begin in May of each year.

Program Philosophy and Mission:

The philosophy and mission of the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program flow from the mission and values of the university. The purpose of preparing graduates to transform society is inherent in the role of nurse anesthesia education. The curriculum and experiences during this three-year program support developing proficient and safe practitioners who met the goals for the Newman graduate student through:

• the development of critical thinking and problem solving in the advanced practice nurse anesthetist role
• knowledge of the nurse anesthetist discipline allowing communication with fellow practitioners, patients, and family
• the incorporation of Judeo-Christian values supporting ethical practice in diverse settings
• the incorporation of research to promote an up-to-date evidence-based practice

Program Goals:

1. Academic:  Obtain an advanced body of specialized knowledge necessary to integrate didactic information and clinical data and formulate a comprehensive individualized care plan.
2. Clinical:  Demonstrate ability to plan and administer a safe and physiologic anesthetic based on knowledge and synthesis of anesthetic principles and basic science study.
3. Research:  Demonstrate an appreciation for the role, nature, and conduct of research modalities and their application to practice and professional growth.
4. Professionalism:  Integrate ethical, legal, and cultural considerations with personal and professional value systems in nurse anesthesia.

Program Outcome Criteria:

Graduates of this program shall have demonstrated the attitude, knowledge, skills, and judgements consistent with the safe and effective practice of nurse anesthesia by demonstrating competency in the following:

1. The graduate will successfully complete the required and clinical competencies of the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs, the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists, the Department of Nurse Anesthesia Education, School of Health Professions, and the Graduate School of Newman University that have been prescribed by policy and curricula.
2. The graduate will be able to - independently or in collaboration as a member of the Anesthesia Care Team - plan and implement a safe and physiologically sound anesthetic based on integrated knowledge of the basic sciences and principles of anesthesia practice that has been synthesized into unified and coherent management parameters to patients with varying age and acuity.
3. The graduate will be capable of using all sources of clinical and theoretical data that promote problem identification, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making in prioritizing patient needs, establishing a safe anesthetic course, and evaluation of patient outcomes.
4. The graduate is aware of their professional role as dictated by law, State Statues, and by credible and continuous self-evaluation.
5. The graduate will demonstrate an appreciation for the role, nature, and conduct of various research modalities and the application to clinical practice and continued professional growth.
6. The graduate will demonstrate a conceptual knowledge of healthcare delivery systems, and ethical legislative and legal concerns that affect the scope and quality of nurse anesthesia practice.
7. The student will understand the importance of his/her participation in the professional organizations of nurse anesthetists at all levels.
8. The student will be proficient in the principles of adult learning as demonstrated by active participation in program evaluation, individualized study, and responsible self-evaluation of personal study and progress.

The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice:

The 8 Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing was created with the intention to outline the curricular elements and competencies that must be present in programs conferring the Doctor of Nursing Practice (or in this case, DNAP). The DNP Essentials address the foundational competencies that are core to all advanced nursing practice roles. However, the depth and focus of the core competencies will vary based on the particular role for which the student is preparing.

The 8 Doctoral Pillars are:

1. Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
2. Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
3. Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
4. Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care
5. Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
6. Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
7. Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health
8. Advanced Nursing Practice

Nurse Anesthesia Doctoral Graduate Standards:

Graduates will be required to demonstrate they have acquired knowledge, skills and competencies in patient safety, peri-anesthesia management, critical thinking, communication, and the professional role as identified in the following:

Patient safety is demonstrated by the graduate’s ability to:

1. Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care.
2. Refrain from engaging in extraneous activities that abandon or minimize vigilance while providing direct patient care (e.g., texting, reading, emailing, etc.).
3. Conduct a comprehensive equipment check.
4. Protect patients from iatrogenic complications.

Peri-anesthesia management is demonstrated by the ability of the graduate to:

5. Provide individualized care throughout the peri-anesthesia continuum.
6. Deliver culturally competent peri-anesthesia care.
7. Provide anesthesia services to all patients across the lifespan.
8. Perform a comprehensive history and physical assessment.
9. Administer general anesthesia to patients with a variety of physical conditions.
10. Administer general anesthesia for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
11. Administer and manage a variety of regional anesthetics.
12. Maintain current certification in ACLS and PALS.

Critical thinking is demonstrated by the graduate’s ability to:

13. Apply knowledge to practice in decision-making and problem solving.
14. Provide nurse anesthesia services based on evidence-based principles.
15. Perform a preanesthetic assessment before providing anesthesia services.
16. Assume responsibility and accountability for diagnosis.
17. Formulate an anesthesia plan of care before providing anesthesia services.
18. Identify and take appropriate action when confronted with anesthetic equipment-related malfunctions.
19. Interpret and utilize data obtained from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities.
20. Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy.
21. Recognize, evaluate, and manage the physiological responses coincident to the provision of anesthesia services.
22. Recognize and appropriately manage complications that occur during the provision of anesthesia services.
23. Use science-based theories and concepts to analyze new practice approaches.
24. Pass the national certification examination (NCE) administered by NBCRNA.

Communication skills are demonstrated by the graduate’s ability to:

25. Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients and their families.
26. Utilize interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective interprofessional exchange of information and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
27. Respect the dignity and privacy of patients while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of interprofessional care.
28. Maintain comprehensive, timely, accurate and legible healthcare records.
29. Transfer the responsibility for care of the patient to other qualified providers in a manner that assures continuity of care and patient safety.
30. Teach others.

Leadership is demonstrated by the graduate’s ability to:

31. Integrate critical and reflective thinking in his or her leadership approach.
32. Provide leadership that facilitates intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration.

Professional role is demonstrated by the graduate’s ability to:

33. Adhere to the Code of Ethics for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
34. Interact on a professional level with integrity.
35. Apply ethically sound decision-making processes.
36. Function within legal and regulatory requirements.
37. Accept responsibility and accountability for his or her practice.
38. Provide anesthesia services to patients in a cost-effective manner.
39. Demonstrate knowledge of wellness and substance use disorder in the anesthesia profession through completion of content in wellness and substance use disorder
40. Inform the public of the role and practice of the CRNA.
41. Evaluate how public policy making strategies impact the financing and delivery of healthcare.
42. Advocate for health policy change to improve patient care.
43. Advocate for health policy change to advance the specialty of nurse anesthesia.
44. Analyze strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of care.
45. Analyze health outcomes in a variety of populations.
46. Analyze health outcomes in a variety of clinical settings.
47. Analyze health outcomes in a variety of systems.
48. Disseminate research evidence.
49. Use information systems/technology to support and improve patient care.
50. Use information systems/technology to support and improve healthcare systems.
51. Analyze business practices encountered in nurse anesthesia delivery settings.

**These outcome criteria reflect the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs/Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (Practice Doctorate), Standard D, and Graduate Standards.