Associate Dean, Administration and Compliance, Chief Nurse Administrator: Joan Owens, PhD, RN
Chairperson: Scot Pettey, DNAP, CRNA, ARNP
Program Director: Scot Pettey, DNAP, CRNA, ARNP
Assistant Program Director: Brad Hemingway, DNAP, CRNA, ARNP
Clinical Director:Trista Burleson, DNAP, CRNA, ARNP
Introduction
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Program is designed for the registered nurse who wishes to assume a leadership role within the profession of nurse anesthesia. In addition to preparing students to be competent, skilled nurse anesthesia practitioners, it is the mission of the program to nurture and develop innovative, creative leaders for the advancement of the profession. The DNAP degree is a practice doctorate that provides DNAP students with robust clinical experiences gained through completing over 2800 clinical hours during the program. The Nurse Anesthesia Program is an integrated program; the first semester is primarily didactic, with clinical rotations beginning in the second semester.
Graduates of Gonzaga's DNAP program receive an evidence-based experience blending clinical anesthesia practice with leadership strategies. The curriculum of Gonzaga’s DNAP program builds on the extensive education of program participants. In addition to learning the practice of nurse anesthesia, candidates learn to engage in systems thinking to solve complex problems, translate evidence to improve health care practices and population health, lead quality improvement and change initiatives, and demonstrate effective intraprofessional collaboration in the nurse anesthesia field.
The DNAP Program is jointly owned and operated by Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (dba Providence Health Care) and Gonzaga University. The program has clinical rotations throughout Washington, Idaho and Montana. Clinical rotations at assigned clinical sites are mandatory and will be scheduled by the program. Clinical sites are located throughout the States of Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Washington State Clinical Sites: Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, Providence Holy Family Hospital, Providence Mount Carmel Hospital, Providence Regional Medical Center-Everett Colby Campus, Providence Regional Medical Center- Everett Pacific Campus, Mann-Grandstaff Veteran's Medical Center, Pullman Regional Hospital, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, and the Puget Sound Veteran's Medical Center.
Idaho Clinical Sites: Pleasant View Surgery Center, Kootenai Health, Inland Northwest Anesthesia and Pain, St. Mary’s Hospital, Clearwater Valley Hospitals and clinics.
Montana Clinical Site: Anaconda Community Hospital
Admission
- Students applying to Gonzaga University must submit Gonzaga’s Graduate Application, which can be accessed online at https://www.gonzaga.edu/gradapply
- Along with the application for graduate study, each program at Gonzaga has distinct admission requirements. Please refer to the table below to view that detailed information.
|
Program Name |
How To Apply Link |
| Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) | https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-nursing-human-physiology/departments/doctor-of-nurse-anesthesia/eligibility-and-admission |
Program Expectations:
- Attendance is required in all clinical and didactic courses.
- Hours of Duty: Didactic classes may be scheduled between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Evening classes or seminars are occasionally held. After the first semester, clinical duty begins at 6:00 a.m. During the second and third years of the program, students rotate to 3p-11p, 7a-7p, 7p-7a, Weekends, 12-16 hour rotations. Clinical hours and expectations escalate in the program from an average of 16 hours of clinical to 44 hours. The maximum number of clinical and didactic hours allowed per week by the COA is 64.
- Academic Performance
The DNAP Program has program-specific grading policies. All courses must be completed with a 3.0 or higher grade. If a student earns a grade below a 3.0 in any course, he/she will be placed on probation. Subsequent or additional grades below a 3.0 are grounds for dismissal from the Nurse Anesthesia Program. Appeals will be in accordance with the Nurse Anesthesia Program appeal policy located in the DNAP Student Handbook; grade remediation is in accordance with individual instructors' grading policies.
Degree Requirements: 88 credits
| 1st Semester - Summer | |||
| DNAP 701 Basic Principles of Anesthesia I | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 711 Anatomy and Advanced Physiology I | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 721 Advanced Pharmacology I | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 731 Advanced Health Assessment | 3 credits | ||
| 2nd Semester - Fall | |||
| DNAP 702 Basic Principles of Anesthesia II | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 712 Anatomy and Advanced Physiology II | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 722 Advanced Pharmacology II | 4 credits | ||
| DNAP 781 Clinical Practicum: I (108 clinical hours) | 1 credit | ||
| 3rd Semester - Spring | |||
| DNAP 703 Advanced Principles of Anesthesia – Regional Anesthesia | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 713 Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 723 Advanced Pharmacology III | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 741 Chemistry and Physics of Anesthesia | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 782 Clinical Practicum: II (390 clinical hours) | 1 credit | ||
| 4th Semester - Summer | |||
| DNAP 704 Advanced Principles: Obstetric Anesthesia | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 755 Medical Ethics | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 761 Evidence-Based Practice in Anesthesia | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 783 Clinical Practicum: III (480 clinical hours) | 2 credits | ||
| 5th Semester - Fall | |||
| DNAP 705 Advanced Principles: Anesthesia Across the Lifespan | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 754 Culture, Diversity and Health Care Policy | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 762 Research Methods and Design and Datal Analysis | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 784 Clinical Practicum: IV (480 clinical hours) | 2 credits | ||
| 6th Semester - Spring | |||
| DNAP 706 Advanced Principles: Neurosurgical and Thoracic Anesthesia | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 760 Leadership and Quality Improvement | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 763 Capstone I: Project Design | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 785 Clinical Practicum: V (480 clinical hours) | 2 credits | ||
| 7th Semester - Summer | |||
| DNAP 707 Advanced Principles: Cardiac and Vascular Anesthesia | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 759 Professional Role Development | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 764 Capstone II: Project Development | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 786 Clinical Practicum: VI (480 clinical hours) | 2 credits | ||
| 8th Semester - Fall | |||
| DNAP 708 Advanced Principles: Acute and Chronic Pain Management | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 765 Capstone III: Project Implementation | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 787 Clinical Practicum: VII (480 clinical hours) | 2 credits | ||
| 9th Semester - Spring | |||
| DNAP 709 Advanced Principles of Anesthesia: Integration | 3 credits | ||
| DNAP 742 Crisis Management in Anesthesia | 2 credits | ||
| DNAP 769 Oral Exam | 0 credits | ||
| DNAP 788 Clinical Practicum: VIII (480 clinical hours) | 2 credits | ||
This course assists the doctoral candidate in learning the methods, techniques, and agents involved in the administration of anesthesia. Specific types of anesthetic equipment are demonstrated. The course includes pre- and post-anesthetic assessment of the patient, drugs that augment anesthesia, common complications related to anesthesia, and the importance of initiating and maintaining the patient's anesthesia record during surgery.
This course is a continuation of DNAP 701 and will enhance the doctoral candidate’s knowledge of pre- and post-anesthetic assessment of the patient, drugs that augment anesthesia, and common complications related to anesthesia. Throughout the course, the candidate will have a variety of experiences learning the theory and techniques administration of anesthesia.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 701 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 781
This course will introduce the doctoral candidate to the theory, methods, techniques, anatomy, and agents involved in regional anesthesia. Students will be instructed in the science and administration of neuraxial and peripheral regional anesthesia. Instructions on the use, strategies and science of ultrasound will also be covered.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 702 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 782
This course will introduce the doctoral student to anesthesia for the obstetric patient. This course presents epidural anesthesia theory in preparation for the practicum, focuses on anesthesia for routine and complicated obstetric and neonatal patients, and begins the study of clinical anesthesia for routine and high-risk patients. Pharmacology, physiology, pathophysiology and anatomic considerations unique to the obstetric patient will be emphasized.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 703 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 783
This course focuses on the delivery of anesthesia to patients across the lifespan. Special focus will be given to the neonatal, pediatric and geriatric populations. This includes the anesthetic implications for routine, healthy and high-risk patients. Pharmacology, physiology, pathophysiology and anatomic considerations unique to the patient age specific populations will be emphasized.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 704 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 784
This course will introduce the doctoral student to anesthesia for neurosurgical and thoracic (non-cardiac) procedures. Common pathophysiology and conditions associated with these procedures is the focus of study. Invasive monitoring, use of vasoactive drugs, and case studies complete the course.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 705 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 785
This course will introduce the doctoral student to anesthesia for peripheral and central vascular procedures, noninvasive cardiac procedures, and open heart procedures. Common pathophysiology and conditions associated with these procedures is the focus of study.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 706 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 786
This course will provide the doctoral student with an introduction to the management of acute and chronic pain. The doctoral student will assess and evaluate patients experiencing chronic pain, and develop a plan of care specific to the patients' situations. Acute and chronic pain treatment options, origins, physiological and psychological effects on the patient will be introduced.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 707 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 787
This course will prepare the graduating doctoral student for practice as a CRNA by integrating pharmacology, physiology, pathophysiology, principles of anesthesia, experience in clinical practicum, and legal and professional issues in a case management seminar format.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 788 Minimum Grade: B
Concurrent:
DNAP 788
Cellular and system physiology and anatomy as it applies to anesthesia practice.
Cellular and system physiology and anatomy as it applies to anesthesia practice.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 711 Minimum Grade: B
and DNAP 701 Minimum Grade: C
This course will present common and uncommon disease processes encountered in the anesthetic settings across the lifespan. The participant will gain a better understanding of the general concepts of the disease, including etiology, pathogenesis, treatment strategies and anesthetic implications. These concepts are applied in a systems-oriented approach to disease processes affecting musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, renal, nervous, gastrointestinal, immune, hematological and endocrine systems. By the end of the course, students should be able to understand the relation between the symptoms and disease process.
This course covers the fundamentals of blood, respiratory, and pharmaceutical chemistries and the principles of general anesthesia and pharmacology including all pharmaceutical agents used for these purposes and their application in diseased state.
This course is a continuation of DNAP 721 and involves the doctoral candidate in a deeper study of blood, respiratory and pharmaceutical chemistries and the principles of general anesthesia and pharmacology including all pharmaceutical agents used for these purposes and their application in diseased state with regard to surgical cases.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 721 Minimum Grade: B
This course, a continuation of DNAP 722, is the last of three courses in this series. It involves the doctoral candidate in an extensive study of blood, respiratory, and pharmaceutical chemistries and the principles of general anesthesia and pharmacology including all pharmaceutical agents used for these purposes and their application in diseased state with regard to surgical cases.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 722 Minimum Grade: B
This course will prepare the doctoral student to complete a focused history and physical assessment of patients on whom they will administer anesthesia. The body systems assessments that are emphasized are cardiac, respiratory, renal, hepatic, and neurological. An overview of the other systems is included. The student will learn focused history and review of symptoms relative to the proposed procedure and anesthesia management.
This course will introduce the doctoral student to the principles of physics as applied specifically to anesthesiology. Included is a review of biomedical instrumentation pertinent to anesthesia, application of the gas laws, and review of principles of uptake and distribution from the perspective of physics.
This course will introduce the doctoral student to the principles of crisis management in anesthesia, through a serious of case studies and use of high fidelity simulation. Students will be given didactic instruction in dynamic decision-making, human performance issues, and in the principles of anesthesia crisis resource management. Students will be presented with a serious of simulated crisis cases and debriefings covering critical events in anesthesia such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, equipment, obstetric, pediatric and pathophysiologic events.
Candidates will develop cultural competencies that will help them work more effectively in their professional settings. The course will identify the issues that underlie health care policy development as well as the economic systems that support the financing of health care services in the United States. This course will provide doctoral candidates with the skills to analyze, advocate, and implement health care policy in organizations, communities, and educational environments.
The course will highlight the function of values clarification in ethical analysis, identify recurrent medical-ethical entanglements impacting the delivery of care, comprehensively detail the major principles of health care ethics, and suggest a manner of their employment to enhance the process of decision-making. Attempting to provide students with the tools requisite to negotiate more effectively the health care system in general, either professionally or personally.
This course examines the professional aspects and role of the Nurse Anesthetist. Focus will be given toward development as a professional nurse anesthetist, the role of the Nurse Anesthetist in the delivery of health care, ethical considerations, legal aspects, economics and the business of clinical practice as they relate to the delivery of quality health care services both generally and in the CRNA profession.
This course focuses on quality improvement strategies designed to transform care delivery within organizations. Students are introduced to leaderships principles and skills and principles. Students will apply data-driven, customer-focused, statistical-based and process-oriented thinking to common health care problems. Continuous improvement in processes and sharing of results within an organization is emphasized.
This course focuses on the evidence-based practice process and the knowledge and skills that are necessary for the translation of professionally accepted evidence into the advanced clinical practice of anesthesia. Doctoral candidates will compare and contrast various forms of scientific evidence with an emphasis on research technique, instrumentation, study design, and theories that are relevant for advanced clinical practice. This course will also emphasize the critical appraisal skills necessary to ensure meaningful translation of scientific evidence into professional practice in order to ensure the highest quality of patient care and optimal outcomes. This course provides the doctoral candidate the opportunity to integrate evidence-based literature and principles in anesthesia to teach and precept other adults in healthcare settings within the context of professional leadership.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 731 Minimum Grade: B
This course is designed to help candidates understand the research process through the development of a research proposal including selecting a topic, reviewing the relevant literature, choosing an appropriate collection methodology, and determining the appropriate method to analyze the data.
The DNAP program culminates in the successful completion of a scholarly project that demonstrates a synthesis of the doctoral candidate's work and lays the groundwork for future scholarship and contribution to the profession. The candidate will engage in scholarly inquiry to analyze, evaluate, or transform a relevant aspect of clinical practice. The focus of this first Capstone course is the analysis of applicable data, after which the candidate will design the project in collaboration with the instructor of the research course and the program directors, along with appropriate faculty and clinical preceptors.
This course is a continuation of DNAP 763 Capstone I. The focus of this Capstone course is the development of the project. The candidate will develop the doctoral project in collaboration with the instructor of the research course and the program directors, along with appropriate faculty and clinical preceptors.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 763 Minimum Grade: B
This course is a continuation of DNAP 763 Capstone I and DNAP 764 Capstone II. The focus of this Capstone course is the actual implementation of the project. The candidate will implement the doctoral project in collaboration with the instructor of the research course and the program directors, along with appropriate faculty and clinical preceptors.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 764 Minimum Grade: B
The oral exam meeting is the final, formal interaction among the doctoral candidate, the program directors, and the anesthesiologist liaison. The oral exam focuses on the integration of anesthesia didactic knowledge and clinical critical thinking and decision making. Questions are clinically case-based and range from focused to comprehensive.
In this practicum, the doctoral candidate will learn the actual administration of anesthesia under the supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists. Pre-operative and post-operative assessment of the patient is made by the candidate. The candidate is responsible for selecting the appropriate anesthetic, administering needed pharmaceutical agents, and maintaining homeostasis during general surgical procedures. Monitoring, positioning, and recovery are stressed.
Concurrent:
DNAP 702
This course is a continuation of DNAP 781. Doctoral candidates rotate through general surgery, special procedures, basic vascular surgery, and basic neurosurgery.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 781 Minimum Grade: S
Concurrent:
DNAP 703
This course is a continuation of DNAP 782. Doctoral candidates rotate through vascular surgery, neurosurgery, and evening trauma rotations, in addition to general practice.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 782 Minimum Grade: S
Concurrent:
DNAP 704
This course provides for the clinical application of knowledge and skills learned in p the study of obstetric anesthesia, and builds upon previous clinical rotations. 30 hours per week for a total of 480 clinical hours.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 783 Minimum Grade: S
Concurrent:
DNAP 705
This course will provide the clinical application of knowledge and skills learned in DNAP 706 Neurosurgical and Thoracic anesthesia. Doctoral students will be assigned to these cases as part of their clinical rotations, from this semester forward. Other rotations will include pediatrics, obstetrics, general surgery, and out-of-area rotations. 30 hours per week, total 450 clinical hours.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 784 Minimum Grade: S
Concurrent:
DNAP 706
This course will provide the third-year clinical practicum rotations for doctoral students and will include assignments in general surgery for adult and pediatric patients, neurosurgery, thoracic, vascular, obstetrics, and out-of-area anesthesia services. This rotation includes assignments to the 3-11 and Saturday shifts. 30 hours per week, total 450 clinical hours.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 785 Minimum Grade: S
Concurrent:
DNAP 707
This course will provide the doctoral student with a one-week rotation to a chronic pain management clinic or setting. The student will participate in evaluation of patients, adjunctive therapy decision making, and assist/perform regional anesthesia for chronic pain management via one 36-hour clinical rotation during the last 12 months of the program. This course will provide the third-year clinical practicum rotations for doctoral students and will include assignments in general surgery for adult and pediatric patients, neurosurgery, thoracic, vascular, cardiac, obstetrics, and out-of-area anesthesia services. This rotation includes assignments to the 3-11 and Weekend shifts. 28 hours per week for a total of 476 clinical hours.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 786 Minimum Grade: S
Concurrent:
DNAP 708
This course will provide the third-year clinical practicum rotations for doctoral students and will include assignments in general surgery for adult and pediatric patients, neurosurgery, thoracic, vascular, cardiac, obstetrics, and out-of-area anesthesia services. This rotation includes assignments to the 3-11 and Weekend shifts and one week of 7p-7a obstetric/house assignment. 36 clinical hours per week, for a total of 504 clinical hours.
Prerequisite:
DNAP 787 Minimum Grade: S
Concurrent:
DNAP 709