The DNP-Nurse Anesthesia degree program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis received accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) effective January 22, 2025. Please visit the School of Nursing’s accreditation page for additional details.
Doctor of Nursing Practice — Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program prepares experienced critical care nurses with the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to excel as nurse anesthetists.
The integrated, full-time, three-year program offers online coursework coupled with in-person simulation and clinical experience training. The DNP-Nurse Anesthesia degree program prepares graduates to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The new program will open admissions in the fall.
The DNP – Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program is designed for experienced critical care RNs who hold a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in nursing and aspire to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). We are offering this program to address a critical health care need for anesthesia. CRNAs enhance access to vital anesthesia care in various settings, including rural and under-served communities. The program emphasizes the role of CRNAs as leaders poised to drive health care innovation through sustainable and forward-thinking anesthesia care.
Fast facts
- Type (full vs. part-time): full-time
- Duration: 3 years (36 months)
- Format: Integrated, hybrid
- Objective: to prepare Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
- Outcomes: graduates who are prepared for practice, including successful completion of the National Board of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists examination
- Application period: Mid-September – November 1
About the DNP-Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program
The 36-month, full-time program integrates online didactic courses with in-person simulation and clinical rotations. Coursework is designed to build sequentially, enhancing students’ understanding of anesthesia principles and the science of the profession.
The DNP-Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis received accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) effective January 22, 2025. Please visit the School of Nursing’s accreditation page for additional details.
Overview of program
- The immersive and rigorous program requires students to be on-site at the Sacramento campus 1-2 days a week in Quarters 3 and 5 for mandatory simulation training and programmatic requirements.
- Students also have the option to present their scholarly projects on campus in Quarter 12 if not presented through other means.
- Clinical rotations begin in Quarter 6 and continue through Quarter 12, with partnerships established at various UC Health campuses and other health systems across California.
Our goal is to educate and train nurse anesthetists to function to the fullest scope of practice after graduation, potentially arranging clinical sites outside of students’ areas of residence. Students should not expect to complete all rotations near their homes.
Students should expect the following in each year of the program:
Year 1
- Attend an online orientation in June before starting online courses.
- Attend simulation training on campus for 1-2 days per week during Quarter 3 (Winter).
Year 2
- Attend in-person simulation activities 1-2 days per week of in-person simulation activities in Quarter 5 (Summer) before beginning clinical rotations in Quarter 6.
- Increase clinical rotations from two to three days a week in Quarters 6, 7, and 8.
- Students complete scholarly project prospectus in Year 2.
Year 3
- Advancement to candidacy and engage in more extensive clinical rotations, occurring 4-5 days a week from Quarters 8 to 12.
- Execute culmination of clinical activities participating in increasingly specialized clinical cases.
- Take on off-shift, in-house calls, and some weekend clinical rotations.
- Experience the day-to-day working environment of nurse anesthetists, providing students with valuable experience and responsibilities.
- Students complete their final scholarly project in Year 3.
What we’re looking for
- We are seeking students with a diverse set of experiences who are interested in serving rural and under-served communities across California.
- We are looking for motivated applicants who are self-starters, take initiative, and posses a growth mindset, ready to commit to a rewarding, rigorous, and immersive academic experience.
- Students are HIGHLY encouraged to shadow a CRNA or anesthesiologist before applying to the program to gain a firsthand understanding of the expectations and opportunities in the profession.
What we provide:
- By partnering with UC Health Campuses, we provide clinical rotations that expose learners to a large academic health system across various regions throughout the state of California.
- Additionally, we plan on collaborating with facilities outside of the UC Health System, particularly in underserved communities, to offer a wide range of clinical experiences.
- We will offer a robust mentorship program that pairs students with experienced CRNAs from the community. Faculty members provide guidance, support and professional development throughout the program.
- We emphasize immersive learning experiences, including state-of-the-art simulation training, and diverse clinical rotations, to ensure students are well-prepared for the demands of the profession.
- We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive learning environment that values and promotes diversity in all its forms, ensuring a rich educational experience for all students.
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Vision
The vision for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program is to set a national and global benchmark in nurse anesthesia education, embodying the spirit of UC Davis in transforming healthcare through innovation, inclusivity and sustainability.
The program aims to cultivate a generation of nurse anesthetists who lead with excellence, compassion and a commitment to the betterment of community health and well-being.
Core values
Health Equity: Looking at health disparities and social determinants of health, we actively seek solutions to historical, societal and healthcare inequities that undermine population health. Using the values associated with the cultural humility framework, our program is committed to just and equitable care in partnership with marginalized and underserved communities, populations and individuals.
Bold Leadership: We define bold leadership as actively seeking to inspire and model multidisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration and engagement of individuals across healthcare settings and communities in strategic, system-level change, resource stewardship and policy advocacy to transform the status quo and improve healthcare and health outcomes.
Innovative Clinical Practice: We seek to inspire our graduates to lifelong innovation in clinical practice across the spectrum of DNP roles. Innovation involves courage, flexibility and creativity by applying evidence-based decision-making, translating research into clinical practice and involving the entire healthcare team. Innovation embodies experience, learning, dissemination of knowledge, advocacy and direct clinical practice to advance the health of individuals and systems.
Upon completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program, graduates will be prepared to sit for the National Certification Examination and become licensed Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Graduates will demonstrate:
Excellence in Clinical Practice: Graduates will demonstrate mastery in the full scope of nurse anesthesia practice, including readiness to deliver safe, compassionate and evidence-based care across settings.
Leadership in Healthcare: Alumni will emerge as leaders in healthcare, driving advancements in practice, policy and patient advocacy through a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
Innovation and Research: The program will instill a robust foundation in research methodologies, encouraging graduates to contribute to the knowledge base of nurse anesthesia and engage in innovative solutions to complex healthcare challenges.
Sustainability and Resource Stewardship: Reflecting UC Davis’s commitment to sustainability, graduates will be adept at optimizing healthcare resources and advocating for environmentally responsible practices in anesthesia care.
Community Engagement and Diversity: Embracing UC Davis’s values, the program prioritizes cultivating a diverse and inclusive community, preparing graduates to provide culturally competent care and address health disparities within society.
- Full-time enrollment (11 – 15 units per quarter for this program) is required.
- Required courses include a combination of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) core and Anesthesia core courses. Post baccalaureate applicants will be required to complete post baccalaureate foundational core courses in addition to DNP and Anesthesia core courses.
- Students are required to have certifications in ACLS, BLS and PALS prior to clinical rotations.
- Culminating requirements include a comprehensive exam and a DNP Scholarly Project.
- DNP-Nurse Anesthesia Degree Program students are expected to complete the program in 36 months.
- Essential abilities and technical standards for students
- DNP-NA degree program requirements will be posted by the Office of Graduate Studies prior to admissions opening this fall. Please see the Admissions and aid page for additional program information available now.
Review admissions requirements, prerequisites, application process, and financial aid information for the DNP-Nurse Anesthesia Degree program
