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Ignite Your Career! Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

 
The Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) is a specialization of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) offered by the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) in the Department of Nursing Studies at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

The NAP offers two tracks:
 
BSN-DNP Track which is a 36-month, 106-semester-hour curriculum culminating in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse anesthesia specialization with a population focus of the family/individual across a lifespan.

Post-Master's CRNA Track which offers advanced standing in the DNP Program for master's prepared CRNAs.  With advanced standing, the master's prepared CRNA will complete 37-semester-credits.  The required course work can be completed in six (6) semesters and completely online with no campus attendance required.  Upon completion of the program the graduates are awarded a DNP degree.
 
Graduates are eligible for the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) National Certification Exam (NCE) and to assume the role of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). 
Judy Tenhundfeld

Judy Tenhundfeld, DNAP, APRN-CRNA, MSN

Nurse Anesthesia Program Director

Brett Kendon

Jennifer McLeod, DNAP, APRN-CRNA, MSNA

Assistant Program Director/Nurse Anesthesia Simulation Coordinator

Courtney Hamilton

Courtney Hamilton, DNP, MSN, RN

Didactic Faculty/DNP Project Manager

Brian Kasson

Brian Kasson, DNP, APRN-CRNA

Didactic and Simulation Faculty/NAP Admissions Coordinator

Traci Castelli

Debra Barber, DNP, APRN-CRNA

Didactic Faculty

Traci Castelli

Traci Castelli, DNP, APRN-CRNA

Didactic & Simulation Faculty

Traci Castelli

Charles D Myers III, DNP, APRN-CRNA

Didactic Faculty

Traci Castelli

Billy Sanders, DNP, APRN-CRNA, MSN

Didactic Faculty

Traci Castelli

Amanda Wisecup, DNP, APRN-CRNA

Didactic & Simulation Faculty


 

The NKU Nurse Anesthesia Program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 10275 W. Higgins Rd. Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603; Phone: 224-275-9130. The program's next review by the COA is scheduled for Fall, 2032.

Website:  http://www.coacrna.org

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

 

The Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Northern Kentucky University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

655 K Street NW, Suite 750  Washington DC, 20001                                                   Phone: 202-887-6791


 

The college reserves the right to change the program of study as needed to fulfill state approval, regional and national accreditation, other certification organizations, and/or college requirements.

NKU has one of the only nurse anesthesia programs in the country whose Simulation Center is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare

Simulation Center accreditation

 

Northern Kentucky University is named one of the world's top-tier learning environments for practicing real-life health care situations.  NKU's Center for Simulation Education earned teaching and education accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the Council for Accreditation of Healthcare Simulation Programs. NKU is the Commonwealth's only university to receive full accreditation, a feat accomplished by 183 other simulation centers internationally.

Link to the full article regarding this accreditation.


 

Applications for Summer 2024


The application window for Summer 2024 cohort will be open May 1 through July 31, 2023.

For all admissions questions, please reach out to Adriana Mapp at mappa1@nku.edu or (859)-572-6673.

If you would like more information about the NKU Nurse Anesthesia Program, please join us at NKU for one of our Information Sessions. The 2023 dates are:

May 17, 2023 4pm-6pm (on campus)

June 21, 2023 4pm-6pm (on campus)

July 12, 2023 4pm-6pm (Virtual only)

Please contact Matt Hoctor at hoctorm2@nku.edu to register for one of these sessions.    


 

Click here to request more information about graduate programs at NKU

   

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