Our programs
At VCU Department of Nurse Anesthesia, we offer two pathways to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) in the nurse anesthesia specialty.
The first, the DNAP entry-to-practice, is for baccalaureate-prepared Registered Nurses (RNs) to gain the requirements necessary to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and earn a practice-oriented doctoral degree, the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). Our objective is to prepare graduates who have acquired knowledge, skills and competencies in patient safety, perianesthetic management, critical thinking and communication to fulfill their professional responsibility as CRNAs.
In addition, we offer a post-master's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree for CRNAs that builds upon previous education and experiences, and prepares individuals to assume leadership positions in education, management, and clinical practice.
Students in Virginia also benefit from our Distance Education program, which offers our entire nurse anesthesia curricula at distance sites across Virginia. Both the DNAP entry-to-practice and post-master’s DNAP programs are offered at all sites at the very same time as classes are held in Richmond. Distance sites also include face-to-face instruction by VCU faculty and simulation laboratory training. Learn more about our distance education offering.