Nurse Anesthesiology
The Post-BSN and Post-MSN 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 and Post-MSN 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.
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 81%. Second-time pass rate within 60 days of graduation was 96%.
Application Deadlines
Start Term | Application Open Date |
Priority Application Deadline |
Final Application Deadline |
Summer | March 15 | July 15 | August 15 |
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Nurse Anesthesiology Program, the graduate will be able to demonstrate the following skills:
Patient safety demonstrated by the ability of the graduate to:
- Be vigilant in the delivery of patient care.
- Protect patients from iatrogenic complications.
- Participate in the positioning of patients to prevent injury.
- Conduct a comprehensive and appropriate equipment check.
- Utilize universal precautions and appropriate infection control measures.
Individualized perianesthetic management demonstrated by the ability of the graduate to:
- Provide care throughout the perianesthetic continuum.
- Use a variety of current anesthesia techniques, agents, adjunctive drugs, and equipment while providing anesthesia.
- Administer general anesthesia to patients of all ages and physical conditions for a variety of surgical and medically related procedures.
- Provide anesthesia services to all patients, including trauma and emergency cases.
- Administer and manage a variety of regional anesthetics.
- Function as a resource person for airway and ventilatory management of patients.
- Possess current advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) recognition.
- Posses current pediatric advanced life support (PALS) recognition.
- Deliver culturally competent perianesthetic care throughout the anesthesia experience.
Critical thinking as demonstrated by the graduate’s ability to:
- Apply knowledge to practice in decision-making and problem-solving.
- Provide nurse anesthesiology care based on sound principles and research evidence.
- Perform a preanesthetic assessment and formulate an anesthesia care plan for patients to whom they are assigned to administer anesthesia.
- Identify and take appropriate action when confronted with anesthetic equipment-related malfunctions.
- Interpret and utilize data obtained from noninvasive and invasive monitoring modalities.
- Calculate, initiate, and manage fluid and blood component therapy.
- Recognize and appropriately respond to anesthetic complications that occur during the perianesthetic period.
- Pass the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists’ certification examination.
Communication as demonstrated by the graduate’s ability to:
- Effectively communicate with all individuals influencing patient care.
- Utilize appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and written communication in the delivery of perianesthetic care.
DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration Course Requirements
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 |
- Individual course details and descriptions can be viewed in the College of Nursing
section of the 2023-2024 Academic Bulletin.
Technical and Performance Standards
All students in the DNP Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration must meet the Technical and Performance Standards for admission and progression.
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:
- Perform a systematic and complete history and physical examination on a client.
- Communicate significant examination findings to other professionals and client/family.
- Appropriately assess and record subjective and objective findings.
- Maintain effective relationships and interact appropriately with other professionals and clients/families, demonstrating skills of leadership collaborations and decisiveness.
- Accurately analyze alterations in functional patterns.
- 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.
- Maintain flexibility and emotional stability in response to novel, unique situations and stress.
Additional Technical and Performance Standards Specific to Nurse Anesthesiology Concentration
- Safely provide airway management and be able to maintain advanced life support systems while operating and interpreting multiple monitoring modalities.
- 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 Disability Services, https://uthsc.edu/tlc/disability-services.php, Any student wishing accommodations must contact the university’s Office of Disability Services at tlc@uthsc.edu.
DNP Nurse Anesthesiology FAQs
CCRN Certification
To qualify for the Nurse Anesthesiology program, nurses must be CCRN-certified. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses administers the CCRN exam for that certification.
DNP Concentrations
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Midwifery
- DNP/PhD Dual Degree
- Dual Concentration:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner
- Dual Concentration:
Psychiatric Mental Health/Family Nurse Practitioner
- Dual concentration: Pediatric Acute Care/Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Program Documents
DNP Concentrations
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Midwifery
- DNP/PhD Dual Degree
- Dual Concentration:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner - Dual Concentration:
Psychiatric Mental Health/Family Nurse Practitioner - Dual concentration: Pediatric Acute Care/Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Anesthesiology Student Handbook (2024-2025)
Nurse Anesthesiology Student Handbook (2023-2024)