The entry-into-practice Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (D.N.A.P.) is offered as a full-time thirty-six month (three-year) curriculum divided into three distinct phases: an online didactic phase (3 quarters), a face-to-face didactic phase (4 quarters), and a clinical phase (5 quarters). The initial online component introduces students to topics such as professional development, leadership, and healthcare policy.
Following the online component, the face-to-face didactic phase of the program provides a strong foundation of the basic sciences upon which the student will build a framework of basic and advanced principles of pharmacology, pathophysiology, anesthesia knowledge and skills.
The clinical phase of the program begins in the second summer quarter of the program. Each clinical rotation is 11-weeks in duration with a week of travel time between rotations. This phase provides students with the necessary hands-on experience to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to the practice of nurse anesthesia in a variety of practice settings. Additionally, a scholarly project and online didactic component is integrated during the clinical rotations. All students may rotate at clinical sites that include but are not limited to: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Washington State. These sites provide students with a broad scope of experiences in rural, urban, and suburban hospitals, as well as specialty rotations in cardiac surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and neurosurgery. Thus, a student may be assigned to rotations in any combination of these states as needed to ensure the best quality set of clinical experiences. For a current list of the Program's clinical sites see Clinical Practicum I - V under Course Descriptions or contact the Program at 623-572-3760. The Program adds new clinical sites on an ongoing basis. It will be necessary for students to make arrangements for transportation and lodging at these clinical sites. The University does not provide for the cost of transportation or lodging during the program.
Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree.