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DNAP Career Paths: Where a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Degree Can Take You

Described as the terminal degree program for nurse anesthetists, the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree is a graduate degree program that allows students to explore the role of evidence-based anesthesia practice in clinical settings. Understanding the scope of the DNAP degree and the importance of continuing education for CRNAs can help you select the right graduate degree program for your personal career goals.

What Is a DNAP and Who Is It For?

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, or DNAP degree, is a doctoral degree program designed for registered nurses who want to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist, or CRNA. This graduate degree program enables registered nurses to build upon their nursing foundation and develop the skills required to pursue certification to practice as a CRNA. It’s important to note that this is not the same thing as becoming a medical “doctor,” as these professionals are still considered nurses.

The Role of a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice

While other doctoral degree programs focus solely on research, the DNAP degree is a practice degree that is intended for nurses who want to continue to work with patients in clinical settings. It is similar in scope to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, with an emphasis on evidence-based anesthesia practice.

Leadership Opportunities in Healthcare

Although becoming a CRNA is one of the most common nursing doctorate career outcomes, this terminal nursing degree program equips nurses with the skills required to pursue leadership opportunities in healthcare as well. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), the demand for qualified and effective nurse leaders continues to rise, particularly as the healthcare industry evolves.

These are some of the nurse anesthesia leadership positions that DNAP graduates may be able to pursue:

Nurse Anesthesia Department Director or Chief CRNA

Most hospitals or surgical centers employ a nurse anesthesia department director or chief CRNA to oversee all CRNAs who are practicing within their facility. This vital leadership position provides CRNAs with an opportunity to continue their clinical practice while supervising the CRNA team. In many cases, the chief CRNA serves as liaison between the CRNA staff and administration, allowing them to advocate for the needs of CRNAs and ensure that the team has the resources needed to implement evidence-based anesthesia practice within the facility.

Policy and Administration Roles in Healthcare Systems

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical and health service managers oversee operations at healthcare facilities and work to achieve organizational goals. They may be responsible for developing strategies to attract and retain healthcare workers, improve patient outcomes or maximize resource allocation within the facility. Graduates with a DNAP degree can rely on their specialized knowledge and skill set to pursue policy and administration roles in healthcare systems.

Leading Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Initiatives

The DNAP program curriculum emphasizes the importance of evidence-based anesthesia practice, as graduates build an advanced understanding of how to implement the latest research findings in a healthcare facility in order to improve patient outcomes. Whether practicing as a CRNA or working in a leadership position, DNAP graduates are uniquely qualified to lead quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.

Advancing in Clinical Practice

As the needs of patients become more complex alongside increased demand for more personalized care, nurses across all specialty areas will need to prioritize continuing education in order to advance their clinical practice, and a terminal degree like the DNAP will be an advantage.

Below are examples of the DNAP clinical advancement opportunities you may be able to consider:

Becoming a Clinical Expert in Specialized Anesthesia Settings

While the scope of practice for a CRNA is typically determined by state law, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) notes that nurse anesthetists are often able to:

Provide patients with information about the procedure they are about to have and the anesthesia they will receive.
Implement a patient-specific plan and administer anesthesia.
Ensure that the patient recovers safely and effectively from anesthesia after an operation.
Provide patients with personalized pain management services.

Within that scope of practice, CRNAs can also consider specialty areas. The AANA mentions some specialized anesthesia settings, including trauma, cardiac, dental and obstetrics.

Integrating Evidence-Based Practice Into Patient Care

The DNAP degree program focuses heavily on evaluating research findings and implementing the latest scientific findings into patient care, enabling graduates to more effectively implement evidence-based anesthesia practice in clinical settings. By prioritizing evidence-based anesthesia practice as a CRNA, you can deliver a safer experience for patients, all while ensuring that they enjoy the best possible outcomes.

Serving as a Clinical Preceptor or Mentor

According to the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, a clinical preceptor is a nurse leader who actively works to teach nurses and offer them guidance about safe nursing practices. DNAP-prepared nurse anesthetists are uniquely prepared to take on the role of a clinical preceptor, whose responsibilities may include:

Modeling safe and effective nursing practices in clinical settings.
Assisting new CRNAs as they acclimate to the anesthesia department.
Coaching and mentoring CRNAs to help them grow and advance their clinical practice.
Actively working to create a safe learning environment for CRNAs while protecting the needs of the patient.

Careers in Education and Academia

Though the DNAP degree differs from the PhD in Nursing because it focuses on clinical practice and nurse anesthesia, DNAP graduates may still be able to pursue careers in education and academia. Some of the DNAP academic opportunities that you may want to consider include:

Teaching in Nurse Anesthesia or Advanced Practice Programs

According to the ANA, the need for qualified and skilled nurse educators is on the rise across all specialty areas, including nurse anesthesia. Nurse anesthetists with a DNAP degree may find that they want to pursue teaching opportunities that allow them to shape and mold the next generation of CRNAs. As a nurse educator specializing in nurse anesthesia, you may be able to teach continuing education courses or create training programs to help CRNAs learn new skills or adapt to advancing technology.

Curriculum Development and Academic Leadership

Nurse anesthetists may also be able to explore opportunities in curriculum development and academic leadership. Within these roles, DNAP-prepared CRNAs can have an impact on the content that is used to anchor educational programs for nurse anesthetists.

Contributing to Scholarly Research and Publication

While the DNAP is a graduate degree designed for nurse anesthetists who want to advance their clinical practice, the curriculum does focus heavily on the fundamentals of nursing research. As a result, graduates may have the opportunity to contribute to scholarly research and collaborate with academics who are working to publish the latest nursing findings. In this role, CRNAs have the chance to influence the findings that will anchor the next wave of evidence-based anesthesia practice standards.

The Competitive Edge of a DNAP From Texas Wesleyan

Texas Wesleyan University boasts the largest graduate nurse anesthesia programs in the nation — but when you enroll in our DNAP program, you won't feel like you are lost in the crowd. Our expert faculty members and intuitive program coordinators work to ensure that every student receives the support they need to achieve their academic goals and develop the skills required to become an independent practitioner.

Advantages of the Texas Wesleyan DNAP program include:

The Opportunity for Clinicals Close to Home

While students are required to study at our main campus in Fort Worth, Texas for the first 12 months of the program, they then have the option to finish the program at an assigned clinical site from a choice of more than 25 in nine different states.

Experienced Faculty and Strong Alumni Network

The courses within the DNAP program at Texas Wesleyan University are taught by world-renowned faculty members with expertise in nurse anesthesia. Our faculty members work to communicate with students directly, providing them with the personalized support they need as they complete their DNAP degree.

Reputation for Excellence in Nurse Anesthesia Education

As the oldest program of its kind in the nation, the Texas Wesleyan DNAP program has earned a reputation for excellence that extends well beyond Texas. At the leading healthcare facilities around the country, the Texas Wesleyan DNAP degree is considered one of the premier educational programs for CRNAs.

Earn Your Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia at Texas Wesleyan University

If you have an interest in evidence-based anesthesia practice and a passion for providing patients with the best possible care, then you may want to consider a nurse anesthesia doctorate program. At Texas Wesleyan University, our graduate nurse anesthesia program is nationally recognized as we provide our many students with a relevant, focused and personalized educational experience. Our Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree features a hands-on, skills-based curriculum — allowing you to learn from expert faculty members while participating in simulation labs that prepare you to become an independent practitioner after graduation.

Request more information about our nurse anesthetist doctorate program today.

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