Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course establishes anesthesia pharmacology. Residents examine pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics anchored to pathophysiology and receptor biology, with direct application to anesthetic drug selection and dosing. Core content includes physiologic principles, inhaled anesthetics, intravenous sedatives and hypnotics, benzodiazepines and antagonists, alpha-2 antagonists, and opioids and antagonists, with emphasis on mechanism, efficacy, and safety in diverse perioperative contexts. The course develops disciplined habits of appraisal and prepares learners for advanced drug classes and complex scenarios in Pharmacology II

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course is the first in a three-course sequence that develops the advanced knowledge base required for nurse anesthesia practice across the lifespan. It establishes a comprehensive foundation in physiologic, pharmacologic, psychological, and technologic concepts essential for anesthesia care. Students examine principles of anesthesia delivery, safety protocols, perioperative monitoring, and equipment integration, with emphasis on risk assessment and decision-making in diverse surgical contexts.Content includes anesthesia machine design, airway management strategies, neuromuscular and cardiovascular monitoring, malignant hyperthermia recognition and treatment, fluid and transfusion management, and postoperative recovery considerations. Through integrated case studies, evidence-based discussions, and structured simulation activities, students synthesize preoperative patient evaluation data, cultural and environmental factors, and evolving clinical guidelines into individualized anesthesia management plans.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This is the first of three high-fidelity simulation courses to accompany the program’s Principles of Anesthesiology courses. This advanced course integrates didactic knowledge, clinical decision-making, and technical expertise through high-fidelity simulation. Residents will engage in skills-based examinations, complex anesthesia scenarios, and evidence-based clinical practice exercises that reflect real-world perioperative challenges.Residents will demonstrate proficiency in all types of anesthetics, including general anesthesia, neuraxial anesthesia, and regional anesthesia across diverse special populations, not limited to obstetrics and pediatrics. Focus on anesthesia equipment preparation, airway management, pharmacologic interventions, crisis resource management, and interdisciplinary communication. Skills-based exams provide a structured assessment of core technical competencies. In contrast, scenario-based exams evaluate the resident’s ability to synthesize knowledge, anticipate complications, and lead the anesthesia care team under pressure. Emphasis is placed on integrating scholarly evidence into clinical practice, reinforcing the translation of current research into safe, high-quality anesthesia care.Through repeated practice, structured demonstration and debriefings, and formative feedback, this course fosters the development of advanced critical thinking, professional judgment, and the competency expected at the doctoral level. By the end of the course, residents will be prepared to independently manage everyday anesthetic situations while applying evidence-based anesthesia principles to optimize patient outcomes.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course focuses on cardiovascular, pulmonary, and advanced renal physiology with emphasis on anesthesia applications. Residents will explore normal and abnormal function of these systems, including hemodynamics, cardiac rhythm disturbances, respiratory gas exchange, and renal regulation of blood pressure and acid–base status.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course advances into complex anesthetic pharmacology and hemodynamic management. Residents study neuromuscular blocking agents and reversal strategies, sympathomimetics and sympatholytics, Vasodilators, antiarrhythmics, diuretics, antiemetics, antacids, and prokinetics, with emphasis on selection, sequencing, and interaction profiles. Subspecialty application is explicit: obstetric and non-obstetric surgery in pregnancy, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, pediatric and neonatal anesthesia, geriatric anesthesia, otolaryngologic procedures, neurosurgical head and spine care, and orthopedic surgery with obesity considerations.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course builds on core anesthesia foundations with emphasis on regional and cardiothoracic anesthesia. Residents study neuraxial and peripheral regional techniques, hemodynamic monitoring, cardiac disease states, vascular procedures, and thoracic anesthesia. Case-based analysis emphasizes physiologic interpretation, intraoperative risk management, and integration of monitoring and pharmacology into anesthesia care.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This is the second of three high-fidelity simulation courses accompanying this program’s Principles of Anesthesiology courses. This advanced course continues to integrate didactic knowledge, clinical decision-making, and technical expertise through high-fidelity simulation. Residents will engage in skills-based examinations, complex anesthesia scenarios, and evidencebased clinical practice exercises that reflect real-world perioperative challenges.Residents will demonstrate proficiency in all types of anesthetics, including general anesthesia, neuraxial anesthesia, and regional anesthesia across diverse special populations, not limited to obstetrics and pediatrics. Focus on anesthesia equipment preparation, airway management, pharmacologic interventions, crisis resource management, and interdisciplinary communication. Skills-based exams provide a structured assessment of core technical competencies. In contrast, scenario-based exams evaluate the resident’s ability to synthesize knowledge, anticipate complications, and lead the anesthesia care team under pressure. Emphasis is placed on integrating scholarly evidence into clinical practice, reinforcing the translation of current research into safe, high-quality anesthesia care. Through repeated practice, structured demonstration and debriefings, and formative feedback, this course fosters the development of advanced critical thinking, professional judgment, and the competency expected at the doctoral level. By the end of the course, residents will be prepared to independently manage everyday anesthetic situations while applying evidence-based anesthesia principles to optimize patient outcomes.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course examines the legal, ethical, and professional foundations of nurse anesthesia practice. Emphasis is placed on professionalism, advocacy, and communication in the evolving healthcare landscape. Residents will analyze the role of professional associations, legal frameworks, malpractice, and economic dynamics, while developing the skills to represent the CRNA profession effectively to patients, colleagues, and healthcare organizations. Learners will also demonstrate knowledge of marketing strategies to promote the profession and its impact on healthcare delivery, and apply strategies for interprofessional collaboration and effective communication with stakeholders.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course builds on foundational evidence-based practice (EBP) principles and focuses on translating research into anesthesia practice. Students critically evaluate clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, and high-quality evidence to inform decision-making and improve patient outcomes. Emphasis is placed on identifying clinical issues, appraising research findings, and integrating evidence into anesthesia protocols. Through scholarly discussions, literature synthesis, and structured project development, students design anesthesia-focused interventions aimed at practice change. Assignments progress through the identification of a clinical issue, literature review, and an evidence-driven implementation plan presented in a professional format. By the end of the course, students will demonstrate the ability to apply advanced EBP strategies to influence practice, policy, and patient safety within nurse anesthesia.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course introduces nurse anesthesiology residents to the principles and applications of biostatistics in healthcare research and evidence-based practice. Residents will develop the skills necessary to critically evaluate statistical methods used in the literature and to apply appropriate statistical techniques to analyze research data. Topics include study design, sampling, summary statistics, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression modeling, logistic regression, non-parametric methods, contingency tables, and survival analysis. Emphasis is placed on developing statistical literacy and the ability to integrate biostatistical reasoning into research design, interpretation of findings, and evidence-based anesthesia practice.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course applies advanced anesthesia principles to specialized populations and complex surgical procedures. Residents examine anesthesia considerations for obstetric, pediatric, neonatal, geriatric, bariatric, trauma, neuro, orthopedic, burn, and transplant patients, as well as anesthesia for laparoscopic, robotic, ENT, and ophthalmologic surgeries. Focus is placed on adapting anesthetic plans to unique physiologic states, surgical demands, and perioperative risks.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

Anesthesiology courses. This advanced course continues to integrate didactic knowledge, clinical decision-making, and technical expertise through high-fidelity simulation. Residents will engage in skills-based examinations, complex anesthesia scenarios, and evidence-based clinical practice exercises that reflect real-world perioperative challenges.Students will demonstrate proficiency in all types of anesthetics, including general anesthesia, neuraxial anesthesia, and regional anesthesia across diverse special populations, not limited to obstetrics and pediatrics. Focus on anesthesia equipment preparation, airway management, pharmacologic interventions, crisis resource management, and interdisciplinary communication. Skills-based exams provide a structured assessment of core technical competencies. In contrast, scenario-based exams evaluate the resident’s ability to synthesize knowledge, anticipate complications, and lead the anesthesia care team under pressure. Emphasis is placed on integrating scholarly evidence into clinical practice, reinforcing the translation of current research into safe, high-quality anesthesia care.Through repeated practice, structured demonstration and debriefings, and formative feedback, this course fosters the development of advanced critical thinking, professional judgment, and the competency expected at the doctoral level. By the end of the course, residents will be prepared to independently manage everyday anesthetic situations while applying evidence-based anesthesia principles to optimize patient outcomes.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course provides structured integration of didactic knowledge with residency-based clinical practice, helping residents advance their ability to deliver safe, evidence-based anesthesia care. The course emphasizes critical analysis, evaluation, and application of anesthesia science to increasingly complex surgical populations.This course is the first in a five-course Clinical Correlation Seminar sequence. Across the sequence, residents will progressively complete the APEX Clinical Knowledge Units as part of certification preparation and professional development. The specific units emphasized in each course will follow the APEX units spread across the five courses. By the conclusion of the series, residents will have covered all unit domains, which span physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, equipment and monitoring, regional anesthesia, lifespan considerations, and professional issues. Learning occurs asynchronously through APEX workbooks and professional practice exams, reflective discussion board posts, and in-person, supervised clinical residency immersion.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course provides an in-depth analysis of healthcare policy and advocacy as it relates to advanced practice nursing and nurse anesthesia. Residents will examine the policy-making process, the role of interest groups and professional organizations, and strategies to influence healthcare legislation. Emphasis is placed on applying advocacy skills to real-world contexts at the local, state, and national levels.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course provides structured integration of didactic knowledge with residency-based clinical practice, helping residents advance their ability to deliver safe, evidence-based anesthesia care. The course emphasizes critical analysis, evaluation, and application of anesthesia science to increasingly complex surgical populations.This course is the first in a five-course Clinical Correlation Seminar sequence. Across the sequence, residents will progressively complete the APEX Clinical Knowledge Units as part of certification preparation and professional development. The specific units emphasized in each course will follow the APEX units spread across the five courses. By the conclusion of the series, residents will have covered all unit domains, which span physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, equipment and monitoring, regional anesthesia, lifespan considerations, and professional issues. Learning occurs asynchronously through APEX workbooks and professional practice exams, reflective discussion board posts, and in-person, supervised clinical residency immersion.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course explores healthcare systems and communication methods relevant to advanced practice nursing, with a focus on nurse anesthesia. Residents will examine professional interactions, healthcare system structures, and the role of communication, including digital platforms, in shaping professional relationships and practice outcomes. Emphasis is placed on strategies that foster effective interdisciplinary collaboration and enhance the public image of CRNAs.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course provides structured integration of didactic knowledge with residency-based clinical practice, helping residents advance their ability to deliver safe, evidence-based anesthesia care. The course emphasizes critical analysis, evaluation, and application of anesthesia science to increasingly complex surgical populations.This course is the first in a five-course Clinical Correlation Seminar sequence. Across the sequence, residents will progressively complete the APEX Clinical Knowledge Units as part of certification preparation and professional development. The specific units emphasized in each course will follow the APEX units spread across the five courses. By the conclusion of the series, residents will have covered all unit domains, which span physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, equipment and monitoring, regional anesthesia, lifespan considerations, and professional issues. Learning occurs asynchronously through APEX workbooks and professional practice exams, reflective discussion board posts, and in-person, supervised clinical residency immersion.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course introduces residents to foundational and advanced concepts of epidemiology with direct application to nursing and nurse anesthesia practice. Residents will examine the history, models, and frameworks of epidemiology while learning to critically interpret and apply population-level data to improve health outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on social epidemiology, the influence of social determinants of health, and the integration of epidemiologic data into evidence-based decision-making. Through exploration of descriptive and analytic epidemiology, residents will develop skills to identify trends in disease distribution, assess risk factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. The course also highlights the role of epidemiology in program evaluation, research, and health policy development, preparing residents to contribute to initiatives that advance health equity and patient safety. By the end of the course, residents will be equipped to apply epidemiologic principles not only to population health but also to perioperative patient care, enabling them to become leaders who bridge individual and community health perspectives.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course provides structured integration of didactic knowledge with residency-based clinical practice, helping residents advance their ability to deliver safe, evidence-based anesthesia care. The course emphasizes critical analysis, evaluation, and application of anesthesia science to increasingly complex surgical populations. This course is the first in a five-course Clinical Correlation Seminar sequence. Across the sequence, residents will progressively complete the APEX Clinical Knowledge Units as part of certification preparation and professional development. The specific units emphasized in each course will follow the APEX units spread across the five courses. By the conclusion of the series, residents will have covered all unit domains, which span physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, equipment and monitoring, regional anesthesia, lifespan considerations, and professional issues. Learning occurs asynchronously through APEX workbooks and professional practice exams, reflective discussion board posts, and in-person, supervised clinical residency immersion.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course explores the principles of healthcare economics and financial analysis with a focus on their application to anesthesia practice and advanced practice nursing. Topics include healthcare delivery models, regulatory policies, financial pressures, cost-containment strategies, and practice model economics. Residents will critique how policy and payment systems shape APRN, specifically CRNA, practice and anesthesia business structures, while also designing fiscally responsible practice models that balance cost, quality, and safety.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course provides structured integration of didactic knowledge with residency-based clinical practice, helping residents advance their ability to deliver safe, evidence-based anesthesia care. The course emphasizes critical analysis, evaluation, and application of anesthesia science to increasingly complex surgical populations.This course is the first in a five-course Clinical Correlation Seminar sequence. Across the sequence, residents will progressively complete the APEX Clinical Knowledge Units as part of certification preparation and professional development. The specific units emphasized in each course will follow the APEX units spread across the five courses. By the conclusion of the series, residents will have covered all unit domains, which span physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, equipment and monitoring, regional anesthesia, lifespan considerations, and professional issues. Learning occurs asynchronously through APEX workbooks and professional practice exams, reflective discussion board posts, and in-person, supervised clinical residency immersion.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This culminating course provides Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) residents with the opportunity to integrate, apply, and critically evaluate knowledge gained throughout the program. Building upon prior coursework, the capstone emphasizes the synthesis of evidence, expert practice, and leadership competencies to advance high-quality, safe, and patient-centered anesthesia care within complex healthcare systems. The capstone project, initiated and developed over previous semesters, represents a comprehensive and scholarly practice experience that demonstrates mastery in translating current research into practice innovations. Residents will apply principles of organizational leadership, systems analysis, program evaluation, and practice change to address meaningful problems in nurse anesthesia or broader healthcare delivery. The project is expected to generate improvements in outcomes for patients, families, populations, or organizations. Successful completion of the course requires dissemination of results to professional and academic audiences. This final requirement affirms the resident’s readiness to function as a clinical expert, leader, and change agent in nurse anesthesia practice.

3.0 Doctoral Credit Hours

This course examines the evolving role of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) and its impact on healthcare delivery. Residents will analyze professional tensions, inter- and intra-professional dynamics, and the broader implications of doctoral education for CRNAs. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, communication, and scholarly writing as residents assess the value, challenges, and future of the DNAP role in advancing anesthesia practice and healthcare systems.