Learn from the BEST, Become your BEST
Advance from critical care nurse to nurse anesthesiologist (NA) through our rigorous DNP program, designed to prepare you for one of nursing’s most advanced and rewarding practice roles. With a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Certification Examination, a 100% employment rate for recent graduates, and small cohorts that foster individualized faculty mentorship, our program has a proven record of producing successful nurse anesthesiologists.
Building on your critical care experience, the curriculum integrates advanced didactic coursework, simulation-based learning, clinical residencies, and scholarly work. You’ll develop expertise in conducting comprehensive preanesthetic assessments, formulating individualized anesthesia care plans, and applying evidence and clinical judgment to complex decision-making. Our expert faculty provide personalized support, fostering a challenging, collaborative learning environment that prepares you to excel.
Patient safety is central to every learning experience. You’ll learn to deliver vigilant, patient-centered care; prevent iatrogenic complications; perform comprehensive equipment checks; implement infection-control measures; and safely administer a range of anesthesia techniques, agents, and technologies. Our graduates are prepared to provide anesthesia care to patients across the lifespan, including in trauma and emergency settings, and to administer and manage general and regional anesthesia with confidence.
Our three-year, full-time hybrid program combines online coursework, on-campus intensives in Tucson, AZ, and clinical residencies at health care facilities nationwide. We offer diverse clinical experiences across rural, urban, and specialty practice settings, preparing you to care for a broad range of patients and clinical conditions. Since its inception, our program has graduated 144 nurse anesthesiologists who are making an impact in health care settings nationwide. Join a program with a proven record of success, and you’ll graduate ready to lead, innovate, and transform patient care!
Program Outcomes
- Graduates will have acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies in patient safety, perianesthetic management, critical thinking, and communication, as well as the competencies needed to fulfill their professional responsibilities.
- Improve health outcomes through science-based advanced practice.
- Engage in and lead collaborative practice teams.
- Generate and disseminate nursing practice knowledge to stimulate research and improve clinical outcomes.
- Influence clinical practice transformation and policy initiatives.
The U of A DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Nurse Anesthesiology Specialty is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.