The Duke DNP with specialization in nurse anesthesia integrates didactic and clinical experience to prepare nurse anesthesia clinical scholars who are skilled in anesthetic administration in a wide array of clinical settings to patients across the lifespan. It prepares graduates for translation of research and other evidence into clinical practice, measurement of patient outcomes, and transformation of health care systems to ensure quality and safety. The DNP is well defined and addresses the critical leadership skills needed to translate evidence-based care into practice, change systems of care, and measure outcomes of groups of patients, populations and communities. The first cohort of students in this new program enrolled in the Fall 2014 semester.

The Duke DNP with specialization in nurse anesthesia is a 36-month, full-time, on-campus program. The degree requires completion of an 83-credit-hour curriculum that integrates DNP and nurse anesthesia specialty courses, with courses taught on-campus and online. Part-time options are not available. The program culminates in completion of a DNP Project addressing a process improvement/quality improvement/project affecting populations of patients, health care organizations, and health care systems in a clinical setting.

All students must complete the following clinical minimum:

  • 600 cases and didactic minimums

  • Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia Practice: 45 hours

  • Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology: 135 hours

  • Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents/Adjuvant Drugs: 105 hours

  • Principles of Anesthesia Practice: 105 hours

  • Evidence-Based Theory and Practice: 90 hours

  • Health and Physical Assessment: 45 hours

  • Anesthesia Specialty Techniques and Procedures: 45 hours

  • DNP Project: Minimum 400 hours

The DNP with specialization in nurse anesthesia prepares graduates for the national CRNA certification examination and provides a solid foundation for their career. All program graduates meet or exceed the minimum eligibility requirements to sit for the National Certification Examination (NCE) for nurse anesthetists. This exam is administered by the National Board for Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.