CRNA Doctorate??

Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA · Mar 18, 2004

I'm not sure about CRNA specific, but all of our instructors at Kaiser are now required to get their doctorate.

Names of instructors edited out....

WntrMute2 · Mar 18, 2004

After reading the new AANA educational program policies and hearing about the renewed interest in increasing doctorate prepared nurse anesthetists (both clinical and PhD), I am curious what doctorate options for nurse anesthetists are currently available.
Are there any doctorate programs that focus specifically on anesthesia, pharmacology, biology etc, or must you participate in a more generalized nursing science program.?

I don't think there is a doctorate in anesthesia available yet. Rush University may offer one. The director of the program I graduated from says that many universities are resistant to starting new PhD programs so most have you get a doctorate in pharm, phys or some related specialty that is somehow related. She also is trying to get something called a Clinical Doctorate through. She claims that the University as a whole doesn't have to get involved that approval is at the College level and so the approval process is easier.

pokey sn · Mar 19, 2004

I don't know if this applies but Columbia University is initiating a doctorate program for advanced practice nurses. The degree would be DrNP doctorate of nursing practice. From I understand, it can included any advance practice. check out the site at:

http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nursing/academics-programs/drnpfaq.htm

calgal · Mar 19, 2004

Check out Virginia Commonwealth University. I believe their CRNA program already offers a doctorate program.

pgreen · Mar 20, 2004

also check out UT Memphis I believe that they have a

CRNA doctorate program

pgreen · Mar 20, 2004

also check out UT Memphis I believe that they have a

CRNA doctorate program

meandragonbrett · Mar 21, 2004

From what I understand...UT Memphis has a PhD and a DNSc. They have several "options" for those who are already APRNs. I'm unsure how the classes differ based on the various APRNs.

Brett

dneill01 · Mar 19, 2006

As a SRNA/RRNA, I fully support the option of acquiring a doctorate degree in anesthesia. I have a problem allowing the AACN dictate how and what degree it will be. I personally do not want to share the same doctorate title with NPs etc. The difference in the educational requirements between a CRNA and a NP are tremendous. CRNAs go through an average of 30 months of FULL TIME SCHOOL, not part time for 18 months. Our credit hours are approx. 75 and a NP averages 50 hours. Clinical requirements: the NP average requirement is 650-700 hours in clinical practicum, ours is 800 hours of actual anesthesia time in cases not time in the clinical setting (which is closer to 2500 hours), with additionally 550 actual cases, this is the Minimums to sit the board exam. We both have lab practicums. All of this is to say that we end up with the same degree level? MSN? The AACN cannot truely consider the same doctorate degree until they bring the NP curriculum to the same level or have additional requirements of NP to achieve the same doctorate degree. This is not to slight the NP education only to bring a point that I feel needs to be considered. I support having separate degrees/titles.

Nitecap · Mar 19, 2006

As a SRNA/RRNA, I fully support the option of acquiring a doctorate degree in anesthesia. I have a problem allowing the AACN dictate how and what degree it will be. I personally do not want to share the same doctorate title with NPs etc. The difference in the educational requirements between a CRNA and a NP are tremendous. CRNAs go through an average of 30 months of FULL TIME SCHOOL, not part time for 18 months. Our credit hours are approx. 75 and a NP averages 50 hours. Clinical requirements: the NP average requirement is 650-700 hours in clinical practicum, ours is 800 hours of actual anesthesia time in cases not time in the clinical setting (which is closer to 2500 hours), with additionally 550 actual cases, this is the Minimums to sit the board exam. We both have lab practicums. All of this is to say that we end up with the same degree level? MSN? The AACN cannot truely consider the same doctorate degree until they bring the NP curriculum to the same level or have additional requirements of NP to achieve the same doctorate degree. This is not to slight the NP education only to bring a point that I feel needs to be considered. I support having separate degrees/titles.

The AACN is not the one calling the shots its the AANA. They proposed the clinical doctorate advancement and the AANA gladly jumped on the bandwagon. Yes I am for the advanced degree. Believe you brought this topic up in the wrong post earlier. We all know we have more intense schooling and training than most NP's no doubt. There is no way to goto CRNA school and work full time as many do that are in NP programs.

They are presently debating a title and hammering out issues regarding MS CRNA programs awarding the degree.

Even if the title includes Nurse Practioner in it we will still retain the CRNA title for differentiation and Im sure most will still refer to themselves as a CRNA so really I dont think it is much to sweat in that regards.

And I dont believe that they are giving away spots just to get numbers as you claimed in another thread. Yes and individual program may who knows but the AANA has no say so in who that school accepts to their program. And you claim you would like to up the minimun requirment. Yes some peeps do get in with just a yr maybe slightly less but the majority has a least a solid 2-3 yrs. The Council on Accreditation sets minimun standards and its up to the individual program to implement them as far as the course work.

Programs will differ some offering more intense didactic than others. As far as the AA programs go they will stay on track with that of CRNA programs I promise you.

ms. vanessa · Mar 19, 2006

many universities offer PhD in Nurse Anesthesia.

SigmaSRNA · Mar 19, 2006

The AACN is not the one calling the shots its the AANA. They proposed the clinical doctorate advancement and the AANA gladly jumped on the bandwagon. Yes I am for the advanced degree. Believe you brought this topic up in the wrong post earlier. We all know we have more intense schooling and training than most NP's no doubt. There is no way to goto CRNA school and work full time as many do that are in NP programs.
They are presently debating a title and hammering out issues regarding MS CRNA programs awarding the degree.
Even if the title includes Nurse Practioner in it we will still retain the CRNA title for differentiation and Im sure most will still refer to themselves as a CRNA so really I dont think it is much to sweat in that regards.
And I dont believe that they are giving away spots just to get numbers as you claimed in another thread. Yes and individual program may who knows but the AANA has no say so in who that school accepts to their program. And you claim you would like to up the minimun requirment. Yes some peeps do get in with just a yr maybe slightly less but the majority has a least a solid 2-3 yrs. The Council on Accreditation sets minimun standards and its up to the individual program to implement them as far as the course work.
Programs will differ some offering more intense didactic than others. As far as the AA programs go they will stay on track with that of CRNA programs I promise you.

I wouldn't say that the AANA was completely for it at first. As a matter of fact, alot of bugs would have to be worked out. Some of the points in the mission statement presented by the AACN concerning the practice doctorate doesn't necessarily apply specifically to nurse anesthesia practice. They had a big discussion about it at the TANA meeting in early march. I personally am thinking about a PhD in neuroscience after CRNA school. I was told by one of the regional directors that if I wanted to teach at a graduate program in anesthesia, I would have to go and get a clinical doctorate in nurse anesthesia or a PhD in nurse anesthesia; meaning a doctorate in neuroscience wouldn't qualify me to teach in a nurse anesthesia program. Crazy