Program Overview

Introduction to the Nurse Anesthesia Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

The Nurse Anesthesia DNP program at Duke University School of Nursing prepares students to confidently practice autonomously in any environment and thrive in a fast-growing field. The program equips students with the skills needed to deliver anesthesia to patients across the lifespan, contribute to the latest evidence-based practices, and utilize high-fidelity simulation and cadaver labs.

Program Description

The Nurse Anesthesia DNP program is a 36-month program that prepares students to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and received 10-year reaccreditation in October 2023. The program's next review by the COA is scheduled for April 2033.

Program Highlights

• Comprehensive anesthesia training: Duke CRNA students are exposed to a wide variety of cases and patient scenarios, gaining hands-on experience in various practice settings and patient populations.
• World-class simulation experience: The program utilizes the Center for Nursing Discovery, a state-of-the-art simulation facility accredited and endorsed by two international simulation professional organizations.
• Unmatched experiential learning: Students participate in a faculty-led, full-semester cadaver course that includes two Ph.D.-prepared anthropologists, enhancing their understanding of 3D anatomical structures.

Career Opportunities

With a Nurse Anesthesia DNP from Duke University, students can pursue versatile and rewarding career opportunities in a wide range of settings, including:

• Clinical practice: administering anesthesia for surgeries and procedures in various health care settings.
• Specialization: specializing in a specific area, such as pediatrics, cardiology, or obstetrics.
• Education and research: pursuing careers in education, teaching nursing students or other health care professionals about anesthesia, or becoming researchers to improve anesthesia practices.
• Leadership roles: taking on leadership roles within health care organizations, managing teams of nurses, developing anesthesia protocols, or advocating for the CRNA profession.

Admissions

Applicants must have at least one year (two years preferred) of current, continuous full-time acute care experience in a hospital setting and a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The program offers scholarships based on merit and need to help lessen financial burden, enabling students to concentrate on their studies and career preparation.

Student Achievement Indicators

• Class of 2024 Attrition Rate: 4.3%
• Employment Rate for the Class of 2024: 100%
• First-Time National Certification Exam Pass Rate for the Class of 2024: 91.3%
• Five-year Attrition Rate (Classes of 2020 - 2024): 4%
• Overall NCE Pass Rate: 100%

Program Director

The program director is Jessica Szydlowski, DNP, CRNA, MSN, ACNP, Assistant Dean, Nurse Anesthesia Program.

Faculty

The program faculty are renowned scholars who are passionate about igniting a lifelong love of learning in their students. The faculty includes:

• Hanzhang Xu, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Sharron Docherty, PhD, PNP, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Nancy Crego, PhD, RN, CCRN, CHSE, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Margaret (Peggy) Bush, PhD, MBA, RPh, Professor
• Eleanor McConnell, PhD, MSN, RN, BC, Associate Professor
• Virginia (Chris) Simmons, DNP, CRNA, CHSE-A, FAANA, FAAN, Professor
• Blanca Iris Padilla, PhD, MBA, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, Associate Professor
• Kathryn Kreider, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, Professor
• Barbara Turner, PhD, RN, FAAN, Elizabeth P. Hanes Distinguished Professor of Nursing
• Eleanor Stevenson, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor
• Mariam Kayle, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Carolina Dimsdale, DNP, ACNP-BC, AACC, FAANP, Associate Professor
• Donald (Chip) Bailey Jr., PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Valerie Sabol, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, GNP-BC, ANEF, FAANP, FAAN, Professor
• Shari Rushton, DNP, MS, RN, CCM, CNE, Associate Professor
• Tracey Yap, PhD, RN, CNE, WCC, FGSA, FAAN, Professor
• Mary Lou Affronti, DNP, MHSc, RN, ANP, FAAN, Professor
• Michael Cary, PhD, RN, Associate Professor
• Debra Brandon, PhD, RN, CNS, FAAN, Professor
• Susan Silva, PhD, Associate Professor
• Hideyo Tsumura, PhD, DNP, RN, CRNA, Assistant Professor
• Irene Felsman, DNP, MPH, RN, C-GH, Associate Professor
• Ragan Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, CNE, FAANP, Associate Professor
• Kais Gadhoumi, PhD, Assistant Professor
• Anne Derouin, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHS, FAANP, ANEF, Professor
• Julia Walker, PhD, Helene Fuld Health Trust Distinguished Professor of Nursing, Professor of Medicine
• Malinda Teague, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, Assistant Professor
• Kathryn Trotter, DNP, CNM, FNP-C, CHSE, FAANP, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Qing Yang, PhD, Associate Professor
• Alison Edie, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, Associate Professor
• Staci Reynolds, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, CNRN, CPHQ, FAAN, Professor
• Derrick Glymph, PhD, DNAP, CRNA, CHSE, CNE, COL (RET), FIAANA, FAANA, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Kathleen Turner, DNP, RN, Associate Professor
• AnnMarie Walton, PhD, RN, MPH, OCN, CHES, FAAN, Term Chair for the Dorothy L. Powell Professorship, Associate Professor
• Jennie De Gagne, PhD, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, Professor
• Jill Brennan-Cook, DNP, RN, GERO-BC, CNE, Associate Professor
• Allison Lewinski, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor
• Margaret (Midge) Bowers, DNP, FNP-BC, CHSE, FAANP, FAAN, FACC, Professor
• Bradi Granger, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, Professor
• Jessica Szydlowski, DNP, CRNA, MSN, ACNP, Assistant Professor
• Emily Funk, DNP, CRNA, Associate Clinical Professor
• Michelle Webb, DNP, RN, CHPCA, Assistant Professor
• Rémi Hueckel, DNP, CPNP-AC, CHSE, FAANP, Associate Professor

Conclusion

The Nurse Anesthesia DNP program at Duke University School of Nursing is a comprehensive program that prepares students to become certified registered nurse anesthetists. The program offers a wide range of career opportunities, a strong faculty, and a commitment to excellence in education and research. With a focus on creating innovative, nurse-led models of care, the program is an excellent choice for students who want to make a meaningful impact in the field of nurse anesthesia.