Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
As a result of the AACN’s activity, the AANA Board of Directors felt it was important to study the possible impact of requiring doctoral education for nurse anesthetists based on increased interest in the nursing community. The Task Force on the Doctoral Preparation of Nurse Anesthetists was appointed in 2005 to research the advisability of doctoral degrees for nurse anesthetists. Although it is difficult to know how many of the current nurse anesthesia educational programs will eventually develop doctoral programs, many of these nurse anesthesia programs are in colleges of nursing that are members of the AACN. Other programs are in colleges of nursing that are not members of the AACN, or are in colleges within disciplines other than nursing.
Could nurse anesthesia programs that are not sponsored by colleges of nursing offer the DNP?
The DNP is proposed by the AACN as the degree for all advanced nursing practice. Some nurse anesthesia programs affiliated with colleges of nursing already award or are considering awarding the DNP. The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) is an example of a non-nursing degree that has been approved by the COA for a nurse anesthesia program that is not affiliated with a college of nursing. Both degrees, DNP and DNAP, are considered professional doctorates or practice-focused doctorates. Currently, the graduate degree title for nurse anesthesia programs—MS, MSN, MSA, DNP, DNAP, etc.—is determined by the degree- granting university. Institutional authority to grant types of degrees is not expected to change. The AANA does not support a requirement of the DNP as a degree title.
Are any nurse anesthesia programs accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) to offer doctoral degrees?
The COA accredits both master’s degree and doctoral degree programs. The two types of doctoral degree programs that are eligible for accreditation are practice-oriented and research-oriented. Currently there are three programs that are accredited to offer students the option of earning doctoral degrees. Rush University College of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program has been offering a doctoral degree since the mid-1980s. Very recently, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program was approved to offer an optional DNP and Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Nurse Anesthesia was approved to offer an optional
DNAP
.
Definitions for the two types of degrees published by the COA in the Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs are as follows:
Practice-oriented doctoral degree – The primary purpose of the practice-oriented doctoral degree is to prepare registered nurses for professional practice as nurse anesthetists who have additional knowledge in an area of academic focus. The curriculum for a practice-oriented doctoral degree is typically a minimum of 36 calendar months of full-time study or longer if there are periods of part-time study. The DNAP and DNP are examples of this type of degree.
Research-oriented doctoral degree – The primary purpose of the research-oriented doctoral degree is to prepare registered nurses for professional practice as nurse anesthetists and as researchers capable of generating new knowledge and demonstrating scholarly skills. The curriculum for a research-oriented doctoral degree is typically a minimum of 5-7 years of full-time study beyond the master’s degree, or longer if there are periods of part-time study. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) are examples of this type of degree.
How do practice-oriented doctorates such as the DNP or
DNAP
differ from the PhD?
Doctoral programs generally fall into two categories: practice-oriented (professional) degrees and research-oriented degrees. Practice-oriented degrees prepare experts for specialized roles within disciplines. Coursework focuses on practice roles with application of scientific findings that are innovative and supported by available evidence. The practice doctorate usually culminates in a clinically oriented “capstone project” that pertains to the individual’s area of specialization.
Research-oriented degrees prepare scientists and scholars who can develop programs of research that lead to advancing the knowledge and science of a discipline. PhD programs require extensive coursework in theory, research methodology, and statistics. The PhD culminates in an original research project with completion and defense of a dissertation. The two types of doctoral degrees are alternative approaches to the terminal level of educational preparation in a field.
Do doctoral degrees for nurses generate confusion about who is a “doctor”?
Historically, the title “doctor” refers to both academic (PhD) and professional (MD, DDS, DPM) degrees and acknowledges a higher degree of educational attainment in an area. Traditionally, only medical doctors practicing in the hospital setting were called “doctor.” It has been suggested that patients may become confused if other healthcare workers are addressed as “doctor,” and trust in the doctor-patient relationship will be eroded. No evidence exists that patients are confused about who is an MD (medical doctor) or DO (doctor of osteopathy) and who is not. Nurses are proud to be nurses and routinely identify the nature of their profession and practice, regardless of the particular degree they possess. There is no credible evidence that nurses who currently hold doctorates use their credential and title in a way that misleads patients. In addition, ethical concerns require that CRNAs identify themselves appropriately as “Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists” in the clinical setting, no matter what their level of education.
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
(D.N.A.P.)
Q & A Continued
The Department of Nurse Anesthesia recently received approval from the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) for an innovative clinical doctorate, the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). The DNAP is offered in two formats: A 33-credit post-masters program for CRNAs who wish to expand their knowledge in the areas of patient safety, evidence-based practice, education, and leadership. An optional combined degree program (MSNA-DNAP) is available for students matriculating in the master’s program.
DNAP
Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
For Immediate Release
For more information
Contact Christopher Bettin
AANA Announces Support of Doctorate for Entry into
Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)by 2025
DNAP
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This website, its administration, staff and users are in no way associated with the AANA (American Association Of Nurse Anesthetists) or speak for the AANA.
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