Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice - (DNAP)

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program at Newman University has been designed for the baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse who wishes to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. The program offers both didactic and clinical education to enable the student to acquire the knowledge, skills, and competence necessary to assume an advanced practice role.

The DNAP program is a multifaceted academic unit that addresses healthcare needs and problems of the city, region, and nation through anesthesia education. The program prepares qualified individuals to assume advanced practice nursing roles in the delivery of safe and evidence-based anesthesia care. This safety is only achieved with a complete understanding of the science of anesthesia complemented by the humanistic touch of a caring practitioner—the art of anesthesia. This blending of science and art is accomplished by providing the student with a strong academic base upon which to build clinical experience.

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DNAP Documents & Resources

• Printable DNAP Course Schedule
• DNAP Admission Requirements

Program Curriculum

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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)

The GRE is NOT required for application to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program.

Critical Care Experience

Minimum of 1 year (2 years preferred) full-time employment in an ICU is required. This experience 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 must 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 / Curriculum Vitae

A current resume / CV is required at the time of application.

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.

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.

Additional Application Information

Shadow experience

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

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.

View DNAP Course Schedule