Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, DNAP

Central to Meeting Critical Workforce Needs.

CCSU’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program strives to train critical care nurses to become highly proficient nurse anesthesia practitioners. The demand for nurse anesthesia practitioners will increase dramatically in the coming years and, beginning in 2025, all entry-level nurse anesthetists must possess an earned doctoral degree in anesthesia.

In collaboration with Yale New Haven Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia and Integrated Anesthesia Associates' Nurse Anesthesia Program of Hartford, our DNAP provides a practice-based doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia that will enable critical care registered nurses to become either certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) or, for those possessing a master’s degree, to acquire a doctoral degree. Our program prepares practitioners to become leaders and experts in anesthesia care by providing a curriculum that includes an expanded understanding of evidence-based medicine, advanced sciences, bioethics, healthcare policy, and patient safety.

Program Features

  • Starts every May (Entry-Level Cohort) and August (Advanced Specialization Cohort)
  • Entry-Level Cohort attend full-time, Advanced Specialization Cohort attend full- or part-time
  • Dedicated faculty
  • Central Connecticut State University is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). Integrated Anesthesia Associates’ Nurse Anesthesia Program of Hartford and Yale New Haven Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia hold accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
  • Financial aid is available
 
 

Program Options

  • This is an 80- to 86-credit program
  • First 12 months are spent full-time on CCSU’s campus with 700-level hybrid courses
  • Remaining 24 months are spent between CCSU and program specific clinical sites

Students entering the Yale New Haven Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia or the Integrated Anesthesia Associates' Nurse Anesthesia Program of Hartford are given the opportunity to receive a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree from Central Connecticut State University via an academic affiliation agreement. For the entry to practice candidate, the program is 36 months in length with admissions annually in May to coincide with the summer session at CCSU. The first 12 months are spent at the CCSU campus with the student enrolled full-time (9-12 credits) for three semesters. The remaining 24 months are spent between CCSU and the program specific clinical sites.

  • This is a 30- to 38-credit program
  • Program offers a 5-semester and an 8-semester option in a hybrid structure

The Advanced Specialization is a Post-Master’s completion degree curriculum designed for the practicing CRNA. The program is 21 months in length which commences in late August to coincide with the fall semester at CCSU. The majority of the curriculum is delivered via distance education with on-campus sessions occurring at the beginning and end of each semester, typically over the course of a 3 to 4 day weekend.
Students wishing to enter the Advanced Specialization may apply through either the Yale New Haven Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia or the Integrated Anesthesia Associates' Nurse anesthesia Program of Hartford.

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, DNAP

Admissions Contact

Graduate Recruitment & Admissions
graduateadmissions@ccsu.edu
860.832.2350

Academic Contact

Rachel Rachler
DNAP, CRNA, APRN
Associate Professor
Nicolaus Copernicus Hall, Room 22408-2
dnap@ccsu.edu
860.832.2676

Academic Department

Biology

Did You Know?

Entry to Practice class of 2020 and 2021 had a 100% NCE pass rate.

Beginning in 2025, all entry-level nurse anesthetists must have a doctorate in anesthesia.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyzes best-practice models for nurse anesthesia patient care management through integration of knowledge acquired from arts and sciences within the context of the scope and standards of nurse anesthesia practice.
  2. Undertakes complex leadership role and integrate critical and reflective thinking to facilitate intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration.
  3. Uses evidence-based practice in clinical decision making, develop and assess strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of care.
  4. Evaluates the impact of public processes on financing and delivery of healthcare.
  5. Assesses and evaluates health outcomes in a variety of populations, clinical settings, and systems.
  6. Completes and disseminates scholarly work, demonstrating knowledge with an area of academic focus.
  7. Uses information systems/technology and evaluate clinical and research databases to support and improve patient care and healthcare systems.
  8. Demonstrates ability to advocate for health policy change to improve patient care and advance the specialty of nurse anesthesia.
  9. Analyzes healthcare delivery systems, organizations, and risk management plans to improve outcomes for the patient, organization, and community.
  10. Demonstrates ethical decision-making; and communicates and represents themselves in accordance with the Code of Ethics for CRNAs.