Curriculum / DNP-A Degree
The DNP-Anesthesia is a thirty-six month program designed for the post baccalaureate RN seeking certification in anesthesia and doctoral education.
Phase I -
Phase I consists almost entirely of on-line courses, classroom and laboratory work. It begins each January and is completed in 20 months. During this period, students earn fifty-two (52) graduate credit hours. In order to begin Phase II of the program, students must complete Year 2 (see below) within twelve (12) months. In the event of emergencies, students may be granted a leave of absence.
Distance Option
The first year spring and summer sessions are on-line and are designed for working RNs. All students must be in residence during the fall semester of year 2. Students may arrange to complete the 2 nd year spring and summer semesters of Phase I by distance programming at sites that offer this option. Classes are presented via live video-broadcast and are supported on-line. At least two students per site must elect this option in order to make programming
feasible; once initiated for a group of students, distance programming will continue as long as needed by that group. A fee per credit hour is assessed to cover broadcasting costs in year 2 (No students at distant sites are assessed broadcast fees during Phase II.).
Phase II -
Upon completion of Phase I, students must immediately enter Phase II. This phase of the program begins in late August and lasts approximately sixteen (16) months. During this time, the student's learning is built upon the material covered during the first phase of the program. Phase II is primarily a clinical residency, although the student returns to the classroom on a weekly basis for extensive clinically related study. Phase II ends in December. At the end of Phase II, the graduate is awarded the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree* and becomes eligible to write the National Certifying Examination for Nurse Anesthetists given by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. Graduates who successfully complete this written examination are eligible to be Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
Phase II consists of the actual administration of general and regional anesthesia with qualified clinical instructors (anesthesiologists and/or anesthetists). Weekly classroom sessions consist of clinical conferences and seminars
addressing with current topics including, but not necessarily limited to, respiratory, cardiovascular, thoracic, neurosurgical, regional, obstetrical, pediatric, and special areas of anesthesia. Various special projects and competency examinations are administered throughout this phase.
Phase II courses are offered in concurrent sequences. Each set of courses, e.g., NRAN 60572 and 60583, must be taken together and successfully completed prior to beginning the next set of courses.
*Pending COA approval
Phase I Curriculum (55 hours)
Spring Semester – 6 credits
NRAN 60113 Research and Theory in Nurse Anesthesia*
NRAN 81123 Biostatistics for the Advanced Health Practitioner*
Summer Semester – 6 credits
NRAN 81113 Complexity and Innovation in Health Care*
NRAN 81233 Decision Science and Informatics*
Fall Semester - 16 credit hours
NRAN 81243 Translational Research*
NRAN 60123 Physical Science in Nurse Anesthesia
NRAN 60134 Advanced Pharmacology
NRAN 60146 Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I
Spring Semester - 15 credit hours
NRAN 60213 Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology III
NRAN 60224 Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents
NRAN 60235 Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology II
NRAN 81363 Emerging Sciences for Advanced Practice
First Summer Session - 6 credit hours
NRAN 60316 Physical Assessment and Monitoring in Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Second Summer Session - 6 credit hours
NRAN 60416 Principles of Anesthesia Practice
*On-line
Phase II Curriculum (26 Hours)
Fall Semester - 8 credit hours
NRAN 60572 Pathophysiology and Clinical Management I
NRAN 60583 Clinical Residency I
NRAN 88080 Advanced Clinical Project *
Spring Semester - 8 credit hours
NRAN 60672 Pathophysiology and Clinical Management II
NRAN 60683 Clinical Residency II
NRAN 88080 Advanced Clinical Project *
First and Second Summer Sessions - 5 credit hours
NRAN 81353 HealthCare Policy & Politics
NRAN 60782 Clinical Residency III
NRAN 88080 Advanced Clinical Project *
Fall Semester - 5 credit hours
NRAN 60972 Clinical Concepts
NRAN 60983 Clinical Residency IV
NRAN 88080 Advanced Clinical Project *
These academic courses are accepted as Continuing Education by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas for Type I credit (If audited, contact the School of Nurse Anesthesia Director for instructions).
* Must register for a minimum of two semesters
