Doctorate for Entry into Nurse Anesthesia by 2025

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

Specializes in Anesthesia, CCRN, SRNA.

I saw today that the AANA is requiring all entrants into nurse anesthesia practice to have a doctorate by 2025.

How do you think this will affect those of us who plan to enter CRNA school within the next 5 years?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.

I would think that if you earned your CRNA prior to 2025, you 'd be grandfathered in. Did the article say that all CRNA's no matter when your degree was earned had to have a doctorate by 2025, do you have a link to the article, I would be interested in checking it out myself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
I saw today that the AANA is requiring all entrants into nurse anesthesia practice to have a doctorate by 2025.

How do you think this will affect those of us who plan to enter CRNA school within the next 5 years?

Not at all... All those with Master's degrees will be grandfathered in just like the Bachelor degree CRNAs were.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, currently in Anesthesia School.

The DNP is the natural extension of the current curricula for CRNA's. All programs will phase it in, some slower than others. I think it will involve the Council on recertification requiring applicants to document progress toward a DNP in order to recertify. My program is trying to get the DNP up and running for my class and then every class after ours will have to get the DNP prior to graduation. If the DNP is not in place for us, then we will have the option of returning after graduation, and obtaining it part time (and finally able to work!!)

Trust me-within the next 5 years, any program that can start the DNP, will.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not sure! This is a very big deal. I wonder if CRNA programs will start to reform their degrees from MSN to DNP, or is the DNP something that must be done after obtaining the MSN in Nurse Anesthesia? I read over the whole report by the "Doctoral Task Force" that the AANA appointed. It was very vague. They basically gathered from surveys of administrators, practicioners, and members that the DNP might be a good idea, but discovered many questions and pros and cons about it. They originally hope for 2015, but gained little support for that timeline. Gained much more support for 2025. Nonetheless, they still have a lot more details to work out, and I will be interested to see how this pans out.

MORAL OF THE STORY: the AANA wants a doctoral degree by 2025, but still trying to figure out who, what, where, how, when, and why.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia, CCRN, SRNA.

AANA Announces Support of Doctorate for Entry into Nurse Anesthesia Practice by 2025

http://aana.com/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=9678

Here is the link from the aana website

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.

We will be no doubt grandfathered in .... however grandfathering varies from state to state already. This already affects CRNAs that do not have a masters degree today. Some states will grandfather their own residents but if you try to move into that state you will need a master's to practice. For those of us that like to move around the country (and assuming this DNP thing really happens) we will have no choice.

-S

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The operative here is "entrance" into the profession. So, as things are going, nurses entering anesthesia in 2025 will have a doctorate to begin practice. The title of CRNA is a matter of licensure, so those who are practicing nurse anesthetists in 2025 will not have licensure revoked should they not be doctorate-prepared (just as there are diploma- and baccalaureate-prepared nurse anesthetists practicing today). As a matter of entrance into the profession, however, a doctorate will be required by 2025. I hope this clarifies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm glad to see the date has been moved farther into the future -I hope it stays there! I have always planned on a doctorate anyway, but I would really like to begin my career after a master's program, since I am still working on my BSN!

My understanding of the pieces I read was that programs currently granting a master's in nurse anesthesia will switch. I guess those that are prepared to make that change sooner, will. Might make things hard on those of us planning to enter CRNA school within that time frame, though. :o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, CVICU, IR Radiology, PICC.

Funny this should get brought up. I am studying for my first "Professional Aspects" test now. Gotta love all those dates, as if I dont have enough else to study already. DNP's for CRNA's according to my lecture notes will be in place by 2015 as mandated by nursing. It is on a ppt, i didnt write it down. I saw where everyone was saying 2025. Either my professor put it in wrong or the time frame changed? Those of us already in school or who are fortunate enough to be working will be grandfathered and wont have to worry with it. Our dean told us that some programs would end up being 36 months long once the DNP was in place. You cant work until you have completed the entire program. We have two anesthesia schools here, UAB and Samford. Both are already gearing up for the DNP. I dont want one. I had initially thought I would just get my doctorate just b/c. During my interview process I discussed it with one of the faculty and was told there was no reason to get one. I'd still be a nurse (he has a point), its costly and wont give me a pay raise! I'm glad I wont have to worry about it. I'm not really sure it would be a natural progression either. Most people I know think its insane.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia, CCRN, SRNA.

Any guess as to how many programs will require the DNP within the next 3 years? I'm sure I won't be the only prospective SRNA looking for a program that will let me graduate with just a MSN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.

Your professor got it dead wrong if he/she in any way presented this story as a fact. It is very much up in the air. The AACN is saying 2015 and the AANA is saying 2025. Our Dean considers the DNP requirement to be completely unnecessary where our program director is all for it. I'm sure there are others schools with internal philosophical disagreements as well. I've heard it would take anywhere from 1 extra semester to the ridiculous 4 extra semesters to complete the DNP as compared to the MSN. I highly doubt that there is any consensus on what the required curriculum and practical would be from an accreditation point of view. In other words, nobody is on the same page on this. There are many mountains to climb to get this thing on its feet.

-S

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment