What Is a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)?
A doctor of nurse anesthesia practice (DNAP) is a nurse who has completed one of the two degrees to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Unlike other doctoral-level programs like PhDs, this terminal degree is focused on clinical nursing practice rather than research. But it’s not the only way to become a CRNA: the doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) can also prepare you, but it’s a little different from the DNAP.
CRNAs can work in surgery centers, hospital operating rooms, emergency departments, and more. CRNAs are especially essential in rural areas, where they represent more than 80% of anesthesia providers, and half of hospitals in these areas rely solely on CRNAs for obstetric care. They work to assist and provide anesthesia during procedures like:
- Emergent and surgical intubations
- Epidurals
- Spinal anesthesia
- Nerve blocks
- Anesthesia management during surgery
- Arterial and central venous catheter insertion
In the past, a master’s degree could qualify you to work as a CRNA. But as of January 2022, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) requires a doctoral-level degree to practice. But what does the coursework entail? And how does this degree compare to a DNP?
FAQs About the Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesiology Practice
What Is a Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Degree?
This doctoral-level degree prepares new CRNAs to assist with and administer anesthesia. It heavily focuses on clinical practice, with curriculum in pharmacology, physiology, and anatomy. DNAP programs consist of courses like:
- Health Systems Leadership, and Professional Practice
- Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics for Anesthesia
- Anesthesia Simulation
- Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice
DNAP vs. CRNA Credentials: What’s the Difference?
These two acronyms refer to separate qualifications within the anesthesiology specialty. DNAP is a degree in anesthesiology practice, while CRNA is a credential that you earn by sitting for an exam after qualifying. DNAPs cannot practice anesthesiology before becoming CRNAs, but not all CRNAs have a DNAP degree.
DNAP vs. DNP:Which Degree Should I Get?
Although they sound similar, there are key differences between these two doctoral degrees:
| Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | Doctorate of Nursing Practice | |
| Governing body | Accredited by The Nurse Anesthetists Council of Accreditation (COA) | Curriculum set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) |
| Curriculum | Programs focus on these objectives:
|
Programs focus on eight essentials:
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| Job Outlook | Prepares students for clinical practice and academic leadership as a CRNA. | Prepares students for clinical practice and academic leadership as a CRNA, and is sometimes preferred by academic institutions to achieve tenure. |
How Much Do DNAPs Make?
Your DNAP salary depends on what you do with your degree. CRNAs are known for being well-compensated, with an average salary of $205,770 per year. On the other hand, if you choose to work in an academic setting, such as teaching in a nursing school, the salary for nursing professors averages $84,180 per year.
Looking for higher wages? These states offer some of the highest pay for CRNAs:
How to Become a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice: 5 Steps
Follow the steps below to become a DNAP-prepared CRNA. It can take between seven to eight-and-a-half years to go through the requirements and complete this degree. If you’re already a practicing RN, you can skip to step 2 or 3.
Step 1: Become an RN
DNAP requirements start with a nursing degree. If you know you want to become a nurse anesthetist, it will be the best use of your time to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). On the other hand, an associate’s degree (ADN) can also be a good option if you want to start working faster and complete a BSN while practicing. Either way, you’ll need to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for nurses (NCLEX-RN) to begin practicing once you graduate.
Step 2: Gain Critical Care Experience
Managing critically ill patients will help you gain the baseline skillset that CRNA schools require to enter. In an ICU setting, you’ll build skills, including ventilator management, invasive monitoring, and resuscitation, which are essential in anesthesia. You’ll also learn to manage vasopressors and other life-saving medications that are used in emergency medicine and the operating room.
Step 3: Complete Your Application Requirements to Apply
After gaining some experience as an RN, you can go straight to a BSN to DNAP program. These programs typically require:
- At least a year of ICU experience
- Completion of a qualifying exam, such as the GRE
- Application forms
- Complete transcripts from your previous schools
- A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Coursework in descriptive and inferential statistics
- A qualifying interview
Step 4: Complete Your Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesiology Practice Degree
Once you’re admitted, congratulations! Now the hard part starts. Many nurse anesthetist students describe their schooling as one of the most difficult things they’ve done. It takes between 24–51 months to complete this degree.
In addition to didactic coursework, you’ll also need to complete a clinical residency during school. Similar to your clinicals to become an RN, this is an opportunity for you to gain skills, mentorship, and real-world experience as a student registered nurse anesthetist.
Step 5: Sit For the Certification Exam to Become a CRNA
Once you’ve graduated, you’re qualified to sit for the qualifying exam to be certified as a CRNA. This National Certification Exam (NCE) is administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Once you pass, you can practice as a nurse anesthetist.
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