Entry-Level DNAP Degree in 36 Months
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Entry-Level Program at the University of Michigan-Flint empowers you to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) capable of providing quality anesthesia care.
UM-Flint’s world-class DNAP degree program is designed for registered nurses who have earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or in another appropriate biological science from a regionally accredited institution. Building upon your existing nursing knowledge and experience, this 36-month nurse anesthesia practice program increases your credentials through a mix of didactic studies and clinical experiences.
By completing the robust Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia program with the seven-semester clinical training, you exceed the minimum requirements established by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). You are also eligible to take the NBCRNA National Certification Examination, the final step to becoming an independent practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
Why Choose UM-Flint’s DNAP Program?
Ranked among the nation’s best nursing anesthesia programs by U.S. News & World Report, the University of Michigan-Flint’s Nurse Anesthesia program has a proven record of fostering competent CRNAs.
Clear Path to Degree
When enrolling in the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program, you receive a detailed plan for three academic years of study clearly mapping your path to degree completion. The program’s design allows you to maintain employment as a registered nurse in year one with the flexibility to attend didactic courses in blended online and in-person formats. However, due to the course load and clinical hours in years two and three, it’s recommended to relinquish your full-time employment following year one.
Interactive Learning Environment
UM-Flint’s DNAP program provides you with individualized attention and support from our outstanding faculty and staff. You learn in small classes where you are encouraged to collaborate with your peers and instructors.
The program utilizes low- and high-fidelity simulation to prepare you for clinical practicum courses and specialty clinical rotations. This engaging learning environment encourages investigation, innovation, and problem-solving. You can develop the skills to think critically, assess patients quickly, communicate effectively, and be a valued asset to your healthcare team.
Affiliate Clinical Sites
With over 30 clinical sites throughout Michigan, UM-Flint’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree program has a reputation for producing excellent clinical CRNAs prepared to enter practice in all anesthetic settings. The DNAP degree program empowers you to gain experience in Nurse Anesthesia practice in diverse healthcare institutions, including rural and independent CRNA settings.
UM-Flint’s DNAP program pushes students to be the best. We have clinical sites all over the state, and each site provides us with a vast array of clinical experiences. We receive the skill of practice, autonomy, and independence to develop our own anesthesia practice. I am now a doctorally prepared nurse anesthetist. A title I wear proudly. Continuing my educational journey was very important to me. I built on the information I obtained in nursing school while continuing to work closely with patients. I have proudly taken my place at the head of the bed in the OR and collaborated closely with other members of the OR team.”
Bryanna Williams
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice 2021
Nurse Anesthesia Program Curriculum
The University of Michigan-Flint’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program employs an in-depth curriculum that includes 46 courses (92 credits). Integrating intensive classroom instruction with practical clinical experience, the DNAP degree program curriculum exceeds requirements set by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
The didactic courses and clinical practicum are completed in36 months in the program’s cohort-based plan of study. Students are prepared for successful completion of the NBCRNA National Certification Examination throughout the curriculum and engage in a designated Comprehensive Anesthesia Review course in the last semester of the program.
Review the DNAP program curriculum.
DNAP/MBA Dual Degree option
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice/Master of Business Administration is designed for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) with an interest in business or health care administration. The curriculum allows students to apply up to 12 specified credits of the DNAP degree to their MBA degree with a concentration in Health Care Management. The degrees are awarded independently and students matriculate into the MBA program after completing their DNAP degree. The MBA program courses are offered in a variety of formats; online, hybrid online courses or on-campus class/online class from week to week with hyperflex courses.
Jennifer A.
[email protected]
Educational Background: I have my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Valley State University
What are some of the best qualities of your program? As a first-year student in the DNAP program, my favorite quality so far is how open communication is between students and professors. All expectations are communicated clearly and effectively. If I need to clarify something or have a question, I know I can contact them directly and am comfortable doing so.
CRNA Career Outlook
- The overall employment of CRNAs is expected to grow by 13% through 2030.
- The mean wage for CRNAs is $205,770 in the United States and $199,690 in Michigan.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Do you know that nearly 54,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) deliver over 45 million anesthetics annually in the United States, providing patients access to affordable, quality healthcare? CRNAs are sole anesthesia providers for two-thirds of rural hospitals in the United States and deliver safe, efficient anesthesia services to people of all races, ethnicities, ages, and income levels.
As 40% of the current CRNA are projected to retire within the next 10 years and the elderly population is growing, the need for anesthesia services increases. The current graduation rate of approximately 2,500 CRNAs annually does not keep up with the projected demand.
The University of Michigan-Flint’s DNAP degree program is designed to help you embark on this meaningful career as a nurse anesthetist and serve the community with your expertise.
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Admission Requirements
Program enrollment is limited. Admission is very competitive and highly selective. The Anesthesia Program Admissions Committee uses a holistic process to evaluate applications and gives preference to applicants judged best qualified to succeed. You must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:
DNAP Degree Prerequisite Courses
Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 from a regionally accredited institution for each of the following prerequisite courses.
All prerequisite courses for application must be 3 credits or more.
(UM-Flint equivalents in parentheses); refer to the Transfer Equivalency Guide for non-UM course equivalencies:
- College Algebra, one of the following: Completion of MTH 111 with a grade of B (3.0) or better, documentation of successful completion of AP Algebra with a score of 3 or better, successful completion of AP Calculus with a score of 3 or better, or successful completion of Algebra CLEP exam with a minimum score of 63.
- Statistics – graduate or undergraduate level
- General Chemistry for Health Sciences (CHM 150) or Principles of Chemistry I (CHM 260)
- General Chemistry for Health Sciences Lab (CHM 151) or General Chemistry Lab (CHM 261) — strongly recommended
- Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (CHM 220) or Biological Chemistry for Health Sciences (CHM 252)
- Pathophysiology (NSC 207)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I* (BIO 167) and Human Anatomy & Physiology II* (BIO 168)
* Single semester Anatomy & Physiology courses must be 5 or more credit hours.
Recent repeats of the following courses are required if taken more than ten years prior to application to the program:
- Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (CHM 220) or Biologic Chemistry for Health Sciences (CHM 252)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 167) or Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 168)
Applicants presently enrolled in a single final prerequisite course may apply for admission consideration only if all other prerequisite course requirements have been met. Applications otherwise incomplete will not be reviewed. Documentation of enrollment in prerequisite course must be included at the time of application.
Professional Criteria
The following criteria establish the eligibility baseline for admission consideration:
- Current, unrestricted licensure as a Registered Nurse with no history of an encumbered professional license (RN, LPN, NP, EMT, paramedic, etc.) in Michigan or one of the United States or protectorates
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or an appropriate biological science (with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0) from a regionally accredited institution)
- Entry-to-Practice Nursing grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 from a regionally accredited institution
- GPA of at least 3.0 in required prerequisite courses
- Minimum of one year of experience as a registered nurse in a critical care unit such as SICU, MICU, and CCU. Other critical care units may be considered if the applicant has a working knowledge of mechanical ventilation, invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), and is proficient in vasopressor titration.
- Currently working in a critical care unit
- Evidence of at least eight hours of CRNA shadowing
- Current Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) certification
- Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider (ACLS) certification
- Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider (PALS) certification
Due to the length of time that it may take international applicants to become licensed as a registered nurse in the United States, applicants who are pending receipt of a license will not be considered. CCRN, TNCC, or other specialty certifications are not required but strengthen the application.
The University of Michigan-Flint Anesthesia program encourages all prospective students to read the Prospective Student Guide.
How to Apply to UM-Flint’s DNAP Program
To be considered for admission, submit an online application below. The required documentation can be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library.
- Application for Graduate Admission
- $55 application fee (non-refundable)
- A completed supplemental application to the DNAP located within your Applicant Portal
- DNAP Job Shadow Verification Form
- Résumé or CV
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please read our full transcript policy for more information.
- For any degree completed at a non-US institution, transcripts must be submitted for an internal credential review. Read the following for instructions on how to submit your transcripts for review.
- If English is not your native language, and you are not from an exempt country, you must demonstrate English proficiency.
- Autobiographical Essay of 500 to 1000 words describing professional goals, health care experience, career expectations, and reason for selecting the field of anesthesia. Essays may be submitted online during the application process or emailed to [email protected].
- Three letters of recommendation one from each of the following
- Dean, director, or faculty member of your nursing program
- Present immediate supervisor (the person who performs your annual evaluation)
- A practicing colleague who is familiar with your work as a registered nurse
- Copy of military discharge, if applicable (DD Form 214)
- Copy of current, unrestricted licensure as a Registered Nurse in Michigan or one of the United States or protectorates
- Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate
- Copy of current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certificate
- Copy of current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificate
- Students from abroad must submit additional documentation.
Applicants are welcome to submit additional licenses/certifications/materials to supplement their application (CCRN, TNCC, etc.). However, as these are not required application components for admission, they will not be reflected in your application checklist but will strengthen your application.
This program is an on-campus program with in-person courses. Admitted students can apply for a student (F-1) visa; however you must be a currently licensed Registered Nurse in Michigan or one of the United States or protectorates. Students living abroad are unable to complete this program online in their home country. Other nonimmigrant visa holders currently in the United States please contact the Center for Global Engagement at [email protected].
Interview Process
Applicants selected for further review are required to complete the program interview process to retain eligibility for admission to the relevant cohort.
Transfer Students
The Anesthesia program cannot accept students as transfers. Applicants previously enrolled in other anesthesia programs must apply through the standard application process. Program transcripts, clinical evaluations and a recommendation from the prior program director must be included with the application.
Application Deadlines
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program accepts fall admits only. To be considered for admission, submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Programs on or before one of the following application deadlines:
- August 1 (early review)
- January 15 (regular review)
Academic Advising
At UM-Flint, we are proud to have many dedicated advisors who are the experts students can rely upon to help guide their educational journey. For academic advising, please reach out to Lisa Pagano-Lawrence in the Anesthesia Department at [email protected].
Accreditation
The University of Michigan-Flint is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Nurse Anesthesia Program is further accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603, (224) 275-9130, http://coacrna.org. The next COA accreditation review will occur in May 2024.
Complete Listing of Accredited Anesthesia Programs
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Class of 2022
Certification Examination overall pass rate: 100%
Certification Examination first- and second-attempt pass rate within 60 days of graduation: 96%
Certification Examination first-attempt pass rate: 68%
Attrition (26 admitted, 25 graduated): 4%
Employment within 6 months of graduation: 100%
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Class of 2021
Certification Examination overall pass rate: 100%
Certification Examination first- and second-attempt pass rate within 60 days of graduation: 91%
Certification Examination first-attempt pass rate: 86%
Attrition (22 admitted, 22 graduated): 0%
Employment within 6 months of graduation: 91%
Master of Science in Anesthesia, Class of 2019
Certification Examination overall pass rate: 100%
Certification Examination first- and second-attempt pass rate within 60 days of graduation: 100%
Certification Examination first-attempt pass rate: 90%
Attrition (21 admitted, 20 graduated): 5%
Employment within 6 months of graduation: 100%
NOTE: The program had no graduating cohort in 2020 due to the transition from the Master of Science in Anesthesia to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice; the program’s last MS cohort graduated in 2019 and the first doctoral cohort graduated in 2021.
Learn More about the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Program
The University of Michigan-Flint’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree program equips you with comprehensive knowledge and clinical experience to provide quality anesthesia care. Take your next step toward becoming a CRNA—request information to learn more about our DNAP program, or start your application today!