
Nurse Anesthesia D.N.P.
Nurse Anesthetists play a crucial role in a wide range of settings and procedures, ensuring safe administration of anesthesia and caring for patients when they are quite vulnerable. At UND, we are committed to providing excellent classroom and clinical instruction as nurses travel the challenging and rewarding road to a career as a nurse anesthetist.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program
- 97 credit hour, 9 semester curriculum beginning in August each year
- Integrated courses in evidence-based practice, leadership, healthcare economics, collaboration, informatics, knowledge of systems and healthcare policy
- Low student to faculty ratios
- Specialized nurse anesthesia practice education
- Coursework utilizes face-to-face, online and clinical practicum learning
- Clinical experiences in anesthesia practice provided at several urban and rural facilities (requires travel within North Dakota and Minnesota)
Accredited by COA
UND is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) through 2021.
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
222 S Prospect Ave
Park Ridge, IL 60068
P 847.655.1160
accreditation@coacrna.org
Nurse Anesthesia Outcomes and Objectives
Graduates earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree and are eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam (NCE), administered by the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). After successful completion of the NCE, the student is certified as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and will be eligible to apply for state licensure.
Nurse Anesthetist Outcomes
You will demonstrate the ability to:
- Integrate nursing science with knowledge of ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical and organizational science as a basis for practice and inquiry.
- Lead systems level quality improvement and safety initiatives to enhance patient outcomes.
- Evaluate evidence-based processes that address practice patterns and healthcare organizations in order to promote safe, equitable, and patient-centered care.
- Apply relevant evidence-based findings to develop practice guidelines that improve population health, the practice environment and promote safe, equitable and patient-centered care.
- Integrate technology and information systems with advanced nursing practice to improve patient care and outcomes.
- Demonstrate expertise in the analysis, formulation, and implementation process of healthcare policy.
- Collaborate effectively as a member and leader of interprofessional teams.
- Employ clinical prevention and health promotion strategies to improve population health with an emphasis on rural, diverse and vulnerable populations.
- Demonstrate advanced levels of nursing practice, clinical judgment and accountability to deliver optimal patient care with an emphasis on rural communities.
Program Objectives
In addition to the D.N.P. outcomes, Nurse Anesthesia Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to:
- Formulate an individualized, physiologically sound, evidence based and culturally competent anesthesia plan of care for patients from diverse populations across the lifespan, while taking into account the surgical procedures and comorbid conditions.
- Implement a formulated anesthesia plan of care in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner to ensure the best possible patient outcome.
- Analyze physiologic responses to the anesthetic and implement scientifically sound interventions.
- Evaluate nurse anesthesia care to positively impact patient outcomes, reduce complications, and improve the safety and quality of nurse anesthesia care.
- Demonstrate the highest legal, ethical, and practice standards for nurse anesthesia while accepting responsibility and accountability for one’s own actions as a healthcare professional.
- Demonstrate personal and professional excellence by working to advance the profession of nurse anesthesia and recognizing the importance of remaining a life-long learner.
How to Apply - School of Graduate StudiesApplication open from April 1 to September 1 for the following fall admission
Costs & Requirements
Subject to Change
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and mandatory university fees for graduate students may be found at UND One Stop.
Financial Assistance
Nurse Anesthesia Traineeships may be available to full-time Nurse Anesthesia students during their program. This traineeship is funded by the Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) of the federal government.
Textbooks
Students will be required to purchase textbooks for the Nurse Anesthesia Program. The average cost of these textbooks is approximately $1500.
AANA Student Associate Membership
Students are required to become an associate member of the AANA (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists). The current cost for membership is $100 and includes a subscription to the AANA Journal and AANA News Bulletin. Costs are subject to change.
Certification Examination
Program graduates are required to write a Certification Examination administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. This exam is required for all graduates to enter practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, regardless of which nurse anesthesia program you attend. The current exam cost is $995 and is subject to change.
Anesthesia Review Courses
The UND Nurse Anesthesia Program provides a review course as part of the curriculum to help students prepare for the Certification examination. Often students will attend an additional review course that is not associated with the University of North Dakota. All expenses incurred for additional review courses are optional and at the expense of the student.
Certification Exam Review Software
Students will be required to purchase the Prodigy Anesthesia certification examination review software. This software will be utilized throughout the nurse anesthesia program. The regular price for this software is $449.99, but often is less due to group discounts offered by the company. This cost is subject to change.
Precordial Stethoscope
Students will be required to pay for a precordial stethoscope that will be utilized during the program. The current cost for the stethoscope is $75. This cost is subject to change.
Professional R.N. Licensure
Students are required to obtain and maintain current R.N. licensure. Costs may vary by state. The student is responsible for these costs.
Health Insurance
Students are required to maintain and provide proof of health insurance coverage. The student is responsible for these costs.
Educational Meetings
Students are required to attend one state anesthesia meeting per year. Financial support may be available to students from the North Dakota Association of Nurse Anesthetists as well as from the University Nurse Anesthesia program. Additional expenses may be incurred by students.
Clinical Rotation Expenses
Students will rotate to 5-6 clinical affiliate sites for the clinical component of their education. Relocation expenses, living expenses, and travel expenses will be incurred by the student. Students often share information regarding housing opportunities at these various sites. A few sites offer discounted housing or meal rates.
Clinical Data Tracking System
A web-based clinical case tracking system is utilized for case entry, evaluations, and care plans. Students are responsible for a $100 one-time fee to utilize this system for the entirety of the program.
Post-Baccalaureate D.N.P. Graduation Requirements
- Completion of all course work with GPA of at least 3.0.
- Satisfactory completion of all designated clinical hours.
- Satisfactory completion of a D.N.P. project.
- Satisfactory completion of the D.N.P. project paper.
- Satisfactory completion of an on‐campus oral presentation and defense of the D.N.P. project.
- Compose an abstract/manuscript for presentation and/or publication.
In addition, students in the Nurse Anesthesia Program must:
- Provide forwarding contact information to the program.
- Complete the program exit interview.
- Complete all required program and clinical evaluations.
- Submit all care plans and daily clinical evaluations
- Possess current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications.
- Possess a current and unencumbered RN license.
- Submit final clinical case record totals, which show completion of all requirements for the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
- Complete and submit the NBCRNA National Certification Examination application.
Nurse Anesthesia Faculty

- james.sperle@UND.edu
- 701.777.4521
- CNPD/Nursing 352

- amber.johnson.5@UND.edu
- 701.777.4742
- CNPD/Nursing 343

- kevin.buettner@UND.edu
- 701.777.4509
- CNPD/Nursing 349

- jennifer.harrison@UND.edu
- 701.777.4557
- CNPD/Nursing 349
Certification, Employment and Attrition Rates
The data in the following table is for graduates of our Master of Science degree program. The first cohort for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program began in August 2018.
Class of (Year) | UND graduates NCE First Time Pass Rate | National NCE First Time Pass Rate (all US graduates) | Overall UND NCE Pass Rate | Employment Rate Within 6 Months of Graduation | Cohort Attrition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 100% (15/15) | pending | 100% | 100% | 0/15 |
2018 | 100% (15/15) | 84% | 100% | 100% | 0/15 |
2017 | 100% (11/11) | 83% | 100% | 100% | 1/12 |
2016 | 92% (11/12) | 85% | 100% | 100% | 0/12 |
2015 | 92% (11/12) | 85% | 100% | 92% | 0/12 |
5 Year Average | 96.9% (63/65) | 85% | 100% | 98.4% | 1.5% (1/65) |