Doctor of Nursing Practice with major in Nurse Anesthesia (DNP)
Doctor of Nursing Practice with major in Nurse Anesthesia (DNP)
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with major in Nurse Anesthesia seeks to prepare qualified nurses to be highly skilled, values-based, health care practitioners in anesthesia, who can demonstrate attainment of the terminal objectives of the program and the graduate standards for the practice doctorate published by the Council on Accreditation. Graduates will participate in the mission of the McAuley School of Nursing, by providing high quality nursing care to the underserved in an urban context, and by their commitment to serve, lead, provide high quality, cost effective and culturally sensitive health care services to diverse individuals, families, communities, and populations.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal professional degree representing the highest level of clinical nursing competence. The DNP program is designed to provide students the opportunity to assimilate and utilize in-depth knowledge of nursing, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical and organizational sciences, with sophisticated informatics and decision-making technology to develop collaborative strategies that optimize the health of individuals, families, communities and systems.
Grounded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions, the DNP program emphasizes the student’s development as an expert clinician with strong leadership capacity, a commitment to service and skills to act as change agents, translating clinical research into improved health care.
The DNP program curriculum is based upon the AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education and the Council on Accreditation Standards for the Practice Doctorate. The DNP builds upon the undergraduate Nursing degree. The curriculum includes formative coursework that culminates in a capstone clinical practicum and a doctoral project.-
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Accreditation
The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The program's next accreditation review by the COA is scheduled for October 2025.
COA Address: 10275 W Higgins Rd, Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603 (224)-275-9130. Email: accreditation@coacrna.org
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20001. Contact the CCNE at 202-887-6791.
Web: https://www.coacrna.org/ -
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Admissions Requirements
The DNP program is targeted to outstanding registered nurses with critical care experience who possess a baccalaureate degree. Requirements include:
- Graduation from an accredited (ACEN or CCNE) nursing program.
- Baccalaureate or master’s degree in Nursing.
- Minimum of one-year recent experience (within the last five years) as a professional registered nurse in a critical care area in the United States, in which the applicant has had the opportunity to develop as an independent decision maker, demonstrate psychomotor skills and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitoring techniques. Direct patient contact is required.
- The requirement for critical care is that you have experience as a registered nurse in a critical care area, with emphasis placed on invasive hemodynamic monitoring, ventilatory care and pharmacologic management. The preferred areas are: Surgical Intensive Care (SICU), Medical Intensive Care (MICU), Cardiovascular Intensive Care (CVICU), Cardiac Intensive Care (CICU), Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care (PICU/NICU). Additionally, experience in the Emergency Department (ED) has proven sufficient provided the applicant has gained experience with invasive monitoring, ventilators and critical care pharmacology that could be attained in a level 1 or 2 trauma designated facility caring for complex patient conditions.
- Professional/academic competency attested by three letters of recommendation submitted directly to the program by the recommender.
- Have the online recommendations filled out by an academic reference (e.g. a professor in your BSN program), your current immediate supervisor (charge nurse or nurse manager) in critical care, and a colleague who is a CRNA, physician or RN, and is familiar with your critical care skills.
- For nurse managers and colleague recommendations: We are interested in an assessment of the applicant's critical care nursing skills, personal characteristics (maturity and readiness for a difficult program of study), and degree of professional development as a registered nurse.
- For nursing school, academic references: We are interested in whether the applicant is recommended for further study as a graduate student.
- A minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above.
- Undergraduate coursework: Transcripts should reflect one undergraduate course taken within the 10 years prior to the semester of intended enrollment, with a grade of B or above, in: anatomy and physiology and chemistry.
- Submission of a professional autobiography delineating personal goals of graduate study.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.
- Current unencumbered licensure as a professional registered nurse in Michigan, or ability to obtain the same.
- Applicants must demonstrate that they can meet the technical standards published in our handbook, and complete the application process as directed here including filling out and signing the Statement of Accuracy form.
Note:
- We do not require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
- We expect that applicants will shadow a CRNA during the application process (prior to interview) to learn more about the specialty and help them determine if nurse anesthesia suits them.
- Once accepted, enrollment is contingent on successfully passing a health and drug screening as well as a criminal background check, and remaining in critical care until enrollment. Policy and forms for criminal background check and drug screening are on the website.
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Terminal Objectives
Attainment of these terminal objectives demonstrates that graduates have acquired knowledge, skills and competencies in the areas of patient safety and perianesthesia care, knowledge and critical thinking, professional communication and collaboration, leadership, and the professional role.
Domain 1: Patient Safety and Perianesthesia Care
Administers and manages comprehensive, safe, and patient-centered anesthesia care across the lifespan for a variety of procedures and physical conditions.
- Provides safe & vigilant patient care throughout perianesthesia period
- Performs a comprehensive preanesthetic equipment check
- Protects patients from perioperative complications
- Delivers culturally competent perianesthesia care
- Administers anesthesia for a variety of procedures and physical conditions to patients across the lifespan
- Induction
- Maintenance
- Emergence
- Postoperative care
- Administers and/or manages a variety of regional anesthesia techniques
Domain 2: Knowledge and Critical Thinking
Comprehends, applies, synthesizes, and evaluates new and existing knowledge and experience to guide clinical anesthesia decision making.
- Uses knowledge, experience & science-based principles to formulate an anesthetic plan
- Performs a comprehensive pre-anesthesia H&P assessment, and utilizes these findings to formulate an individualized anesthetic plan
- Interprets and utilizes data obtained from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities for clinical decision-making
- Calculates, initiates, manages fluid, blood & blood component therapy
- The recognition, evaluation and/or appropriate management of physiologic responses during anesthesia care
- The recognition and appropriate management of complications occurring during anesthesia care
Domain 3: Professional Communication and Collaboration
Engages in effective communication with patients, their families/significant others, and other health care professionals to deliver safe, patient-centered anesthesia care.
- Utilizes communication skills with patients, their families/significant others, and other health care professionals
- Maintains comprehensive, accurate, and legible (if applicable) health care records
- Transfers responsibility for patient care assuring continuity and patient safety
- Provides leadership that facilitates intra-professional and inter-professional communication and collaboration
Domain 4: Professional Role
Practices in a responsible and accountable manner that complies with professional, legal, ethical, and regulatory standards with an awareness and responsiveness to the larger health care system.
- Adheres to the AANA and ANA Codes of Ethics
- Adheres to the AANA Standards for Nurse Anesthesia Practice
- Interacts with professional integrity
- Functions within professional, legal, regulatory standards, and adheres to institutional policies
- Responsible and accountable for practice
- Provides cost-effective anesthesia care
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Degree Requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice with major in Nurse Anesthesia (85 credits)
- ANE 7010 Clinical Internship I (1 credits)
- ANE 7020 Clinical Internship II (1 credits)
- ANE 7030 Clinical Internship III (1 credits)
- ANE 7040 Clinical Internship IV (1 credits)
- ANE 7050 Clinical Internship V (1 credits)
- ANE 7060 Clinical Internship VI (1 credits)
- ANE 7100 Physics & Biomedical Measurement (2 credits)
- ANE 7110 Pathophysiology Review (1 credits)
- ANE 7200 Epidemiology and Population Health in Nurse Anesthesia Practice (2 credits)
- ANE 7210 Epidemiology and Population Health in Nurse Anesthesia Practice Seminar (1 credits)
- ANE 7350 Quality, Safety and Other Professional Aspects in Anesthesia Care (3 credits)
- ANE 7490 General Principles of Nurse Anesthesia (4 credits)
- ANE 7500 Anesthesia for Specific Procedures and Special Populations I (4 credits)
- ANE 7510 Anesthesia for Specific Procedures and Special Populations II (4 credits)
- ANE 7521 Anesthesia for Specific Procedures and Special Populations III (3 credits)
- ANE 7600 Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia I (4 credits)
- ANE 7610 Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia II (4 credits)
- ANE 7701 Principles of Regional Anesthesia (3 credits)
- ANE 7800 DNP Project Proposal (3 credits)
- ANE 7900 DNP Practicum and Project Implementation (3 credits)
- ANE 7920 DNP Practicum and Project Implementation II (3 credits)
- BIO 5380 Graduate Physiology I (4 credits)
- BIO 5390 Graduate Physiology II (4 credits)
- BIO 7420 Gross Anatomy (2 credits)
- BIO 7440 Gross Anatomical Dissection (2 credits)
- ETH 7010 Ethical Issues in Advance Nursing Practice (1 credits)
- HLH 7100 Health Care Policy, Economics and the Law in Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- NUR 5160 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
- NUR 7000 Advanced Theory and Knowledge Development for Clinical Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NUR 7300 Transformational Leadership and Innovation in Advanced Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- NUR 7400 Information Management and Decision Support (3 credits)
- NUR 7450 Analytics for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
- NUR 7500 Evidence-Based Practice: Theory, Design and Methods (3 credits)
Total 86 credits
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Curriculum Plan
The 86 credits are taken in 36 months. Doctoral Core Courses are all those taken in Year 1 (except BIO 7420/7440), NUR 7300, & the Doctoral Project courses (ANE 7800, 7900, 7920).
- In the first 12 months of the curriculum, the student takes 9-10 credits per term and has no clinical component. It may be realistic for some students to remain employed (part-time or perhaps more) during this period. How many hours you can continue to be employed depends on your energy level, family responsibilities, and how well you are doing in the classroom.
- In years two and three, the student has more intense clinical and classroom commitment. The time commitment is 60 or more hours per week year-round. It is suggested that students will do better without any outside work responsibilities in view of the demands of the clinical area, board preparation, and the scholarly project.
Term 1 Fall 9 credits
- NUR 7500 Evidence-Based Practice: Theory, Design and Methods (3 credits)
- BIO 7420 Gross Anatomy (2 credits)
- BIO 7440 Gross Anatomical Dissection (2 credits)
- ANE 7200 Epidemiology and Population Health in Nurse Anesthesia Practice (2 credits)
Term 2 Winter 10 credits
- NUR 5160 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
- NUR 7450 Analytics for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
- NUR 7000 Advanced Theory and Knowledge Development for Clinical Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- ANE 7210 Epidemiology and Population Health in Nurse Anesthesia Practice Seminar (1 credits)
Term 3 Summer 12 credits
- NUR 7400 Information Management and Decision Support (3 credits)
- HLH 7100 Health Care Policy, Economics and the Law in Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- ETH 7010 Ethical Issues in Advance Nursing Practice (1 credits)
- ANE 7350 Quality, Safety and Other Professional Aspects in Anesthesia Care (3 credits)
Term 4 Fall 13 credits
- ANE 7490 General Principles of Nurse Anesthesia (4 credits)
- ANE 7600 Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia I (4 credits)
- BIO 5380 Graduate Physiology I (4 credits)
- ANE 7010 Clinical Internship I (1 credits)
Term 5 Winter 16 credits
- ANE 7500 Anesthesia for Specific Procedures and Special Populations I (4 credits)
- ANE 7610 Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia II (4 credits)
- BIO 5390 Graduate Physiology II (4 credits)
- ANE 7701 Principles of Regional Anesthesia (3 credits)
- ANE 7020 Clinical Internship II (1 credits)
Term 6 Summer 11 credits
- ANE 7510 Anesthesia for Specific Procedures and Special Populations II (4 credits)
- ANE 7800 DNP Project Proposal (3 credits)
- ANE 7030 Clinical Internship III (1 credits)
- NUR 7300 Transformational Leadership and Innovation in Advanced Clinical Practice (3 credits)
Term 7 Fall 9 credits
- ANE 7100 Physics & Biomedical Measurement (2 credits)
- ANE 7521 Anesthesia for Specific Procedures and Special Populations III (2 credits)
- ANE 7920 DNP Practicum and Project Implementation II (3 credits)
- ANE 7040 Clinical Internship 4 (1 credits)
Term 8 Winter 5 credits
- ANE 7110 Pathophysiology Review (1 credits)
- ANE 7900 DNP Practicum and Project Implementation (3 credits)
- ANE 7050 Clinical Internship V (1 credits)
Term 9 Summer 1 credits
- ANE 7060 Clinical Internship VI (1 credits)
Total 86 credits
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2024-2025 Program Policy Manual
The Student-Faculty Handbook contains additional policies that apply to Nurse Anesthesia students.
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Program Contact Information
Greg Bozimowski DNP, CRNA Professor and Department Chair
McNichols Campus