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Nurse Anesthesiology


The Post-BSN DNP Nurse Anesthesiology concentration is a nine-term plan of study with the initial four terms  dedicated to didactic course work. During the fifth term, the students begin clinical experiences while completing didactic course work. The final four terms are dedicated to clinical coursework. The program is completed on campus and in near-by clinical agencies. Students learn about the scope of the CRNA role within the health care community.

This degree concentration includes a pathway for initial Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist certification. Post-BSN degree graduates are prepared to write the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist examination. Additional information may be obtained from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology website.

The UTHSC College of Nursing Nurse Anesthesiology concentration received continued IFNA recognition in May, 2021, having completed all requirements of the Anesthesia Program Approval Process established by the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists. 

Accreditation

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Nursing Post-BSN DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration is accredited by Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 10275 W. Higgins Road, Suite 906, Rosemont, IL, 60018-5603, phone: 224.275.9130, http://coacrna.org, through Fall of 2029. In addition, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202-887-6791, http://www.ccneaccreditation.org, through December 31, 2024, and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. The most recent class of DNP graduates completed the program in May 2023. Attrition was 10%. Employment of graduates within six months of graduation was 100%. Certification examination first-time pass rate was 75%. Second-time pass rate within 60 days of graduation was 90%. 

DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration Course Requirements

Post-BSN DNP Courses

Core Courses

Course ID Title Credits
NSG 876 Leadership and Health Policy  3
NSG 877 Healthcare Economics  3
NSG 824 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis 3
NSG 827 Epidemiology for Clinical Practice 3
NSG 910 Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing 4
NSG 947 DNP Project Seminar I  1
NSG 948 DNP Project Design and Methods 2
NSG 949 DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation  2
NSG 950 DNP Project Seminar II 1
  Total 22

 

Concentration-Specific Courses

Course ID Title Credits
ANES 817 DNP APN Anatomy 4
ANES 876 DNP Medical Physical Sciences for Anesthesia 3
ANES 877 DNP Physiology/Pathology 5
ANES 879 Principles of DNP Anesthesia Practice I 5
ANES 880 Principles of DNP Anesthesia Practice II 6
ANES 882 Principles of DNP Anesthesia Practice III 2
ANES 883 DNP Anesthesia Practicum A 8
ANES 884 DNP Anesthesia Practicum B 6
ANES 885 DNP Anesthesia Practicum C 7
ANES 886 DNP Specialty Practicum A 7
ANES 887 DNP Specialty Practicum B  7
ANES 888 Roles of DNP Advanced Nurse Anesthesia Practice  1 
ANES 889 Roles of DNP Adv Nurse Anesthesia Practice II  1 
ANES 890 Roles of DNP Advanced Nurse Anesthesia Practice III 1
ANES 891 Roles of DNP Adv Nurse Anesthesia Practice IV 1
ANES 892 DNP Pharmacology I: Anesthesia 4
ANES 893 DNP Pharmacology II: Anesthesia 4
NSG 926 DNP Synthesis Practicum: Nurse Anesthesia 6
  Total 78
  Post-BSN DNP Total Credits:  100

 

Technical and Performance Standards

All students in the DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration must meet the Technical and Performance Standards for admission and progression.

View standards.

Technical and Performance Standards: All DNP Concentrations

In addition the technical and performance standards expected of all students in educational programs in the College of Nursing, students in the DNP program are also expected to possess the mental, auditory, visual, sensory, strength, manual dexterity, and communication skills to:

  1. Perform a systematic and complete history and physical examination on a client.
  2. Communicate significant examination findings to other professionals and client/family.
  3. Appropriately assess and record subjective and objective findings.
  4. Maintain effective relationships and interact appropriately with other professionals and clients/families, demonstrating skills of leadership collaborations and decisiveness.
  5. Accurately analyze alterations in functional patterns.
  6. Demonstrate advanced use of the nursing process: assess, develop, implement, educate and counsel clients, prescribe appropriate therapy, demonstrate self-care skills and evaluate appropriate plans of action for diagnosed problems.
  7. Maintain flexibility and emotional stability in response to novel, unique situations and stress.

Additional Technical and Performance Standards Specific to Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration

  1. Safely provide airway management and be able to maintain advanced life support systems while operating and interpreting multiple monitoring modalities.
  2. Rapidly respond and intervene in emergency situations requiring anesthesia care throughout the spectrum of practice settings.

If a student cannot fulfill these Technical and Performance Standards, with or without accommodations, at any time in the program, the student will be ineligible for admission or continued progression in the DNP Program. In addition to assuring that students can meet the intellectual, emotional, and physical criteria for the DNP Program, it is of utmost importance that students have the ability to provide for the safety and welfare of their patients and others. Reasonable accommodations will be provided, when appropriate, to help students meet these Technical and Professional Standards. Determination of eligibility and recommendations of accommodations must be made by Student Academic Support Services and Inclusion https://www.uthsc.edu/sassi/. Any student wishing accommodations must contact the university’s Office of Student Academic Support Services and Inclusion at 901-448-5056 (email: SASSI@uthsc.edu).


DNP Nurse Anesthesiology FAQs

What skills do CRNAs have?
Certified Register Nurse Anesthesiologists (CRNAs) take care of patients before, during and after surgical or obstetrical procedures. Nurse anesthesiologists stay with their patients for the entire procedure, constantly monitoring every important body function and individually modifying the anesthetic to ensure maximum safety and comfort. Specific procedures include (but are not limited to) oral and nasal airway management, endotracheal intubation, laryngeal mask airway (LMA) placement and management, anesthesia machine operation, ventilator management, spinal and epidural placement and management, and multiple nerve blocks.
Where can I work after graduation?
CRNAs practice in a variety of settings in the private and public sectors and in the U.S. military, including traditional hospital operating rooms, ambulatory surgery centers, pain clinics, and physicians’ offices. The scope of practice is determined by individual state legislation, but rules and regulations vary. Scope of practice is based on both education and experience. The best place to explore individual scope of practice issues is to look at the State Board of Nursing for guidance and not the physician or office manager in a practice.
What salary can a CRNA expect to earn?
Compensation rates vary regionally but the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that CRNAs have an annual mean salary of $202,470 (2021).
What makes the CRNA program at UTHSC different?
The UTHSC CRNA program is fortunate to have multiple clinical sites in the Memphis and Mid-South area that provide a richness of experience serving a wide variety of patients with high-quality anesthesia care. Specialty anesthesia rotations, which occur during the full-time clinical component, include cardiothoracic, pediatric, pediatric oncology, neurosurgical, OB, trauma, pain management, burn, and rural site. Along with a dynamic and challenging didactic program, our clinical program requires a minimum of 600 cases and 2000 hours of clinical time in specific areas to take the national certification exam.
How long is the program?
The DNP Nurse Anesthesiology program is 36 months.
Can I go part time, full time?
Only full-time study is available for DNP nurse anesthesiology students.
Can I work while going to school?
The UTHSC program is a rigorous full-time program. Working is strongly discouraged due to the academic rigor and time constraints of the Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration.
How much will this program cost?
Tuition costs are determined by in-state or out-of-state status and may change during the program. Tuition and fee information can be found at UTHSC Bursar's Fees webpage. Additionally, the Educational Common Market may be available for some out-of-state students. Information on this program can be obtained at the Office of Financial Aid. Many employers also offer tuition reimbursement even for part-time employees. Additionally, students will need to make arrangements for travel and hotel accommodations during the on campus experiences. Students should also explore the many private scholarship funds available for graduate study in their communities, region, state and nation. A Google search of graduate nursing scholarships will produce vast opportunities. Many diverse groups offer scholarship programs and some states and organizations also have loan repayment programs for nursing education. There are also federal government grants for nursing students.
What books, equipment and supplies will I need?
Book purchases will vary by semester. Many books specific to the student will be used in multiple semesters. Textbooks are supplemented with electronic media, much of which is available in the library for the students at no cost. Students need adequate computer hardware and Internet access. Students will need basic health assessment equipment including an otoscope, ophthalmic scope and a high quality stethoscope. Students generally do not have clinical their first four semesters and are encouraged to wait to purchase this equipment closer to their first clinical course. Requirements change as the quality of equipment continually advances. Lab coats will be required for clinical experiences but the specifications periodically change.
Where/when do I do my clinical experiences?
The CRNA program is a front-loaded format with the initial four terms consisting of didactic course work. During the fifth term, the students begin clinical rotations while completing didactic course work. The final four terms are dedicated full-time to supervised clinical education. The program is completed on campus at UTHSC and near-by clinical agencies. Highly-skilled preceptors mentor students in a variety of clinical settings.
Are there specific certifications or work requirements I need before applying?
One year of full-time critical care experience is a national requirement for admission to all Nurse Anesthesiology Programs. Applicants are assessed based on a variety of criteria including critical care skills. A minimum of one year of professional nursing experience in adult and/or pediatric critical care is required within two years prior to application. BCLS, ACLS, and PALS are required prior to application. CCRN certification is also required prior to application.
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DNP Concentrations


Program Documents
Faculty/Student/Preceptor Manual 
Sep 22, 2023