Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Practice Doctorate/DNAP Program

Mission & History

Founded in 1950, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) provides graduate-level education and training of nurse anesthetists in a Christian environment born of its Seventh-day Adventist heritage. MTSA is the only independent, fully accredited anesthesia institution of its kind in the nation, instilling excellence through innovative and diverse clinical experience. A leader in academic, clinical and professional distinction, MTSA is responsive to the needs of its constituents, providing affordable graduate education for students from diverse backgrounds. The campus is located in Madison, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville.

DNAP-PD Program Quick Facts

Degree level Doctoral Degree

Length of the program   36-months

Program Start Date  Spring Semester| January each year

Application Cycle  The application cycle is open January 1 through May 31

Admits per Intake  Up to 72 students

Average Admitted GPA   The average cumulative GPA is 3.4. Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate & graduate required to apply

Accreditation  Accreditation Statement

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

The Profession

Take your nursing career to the next level – the highest domain of nursing. Earn your Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree and begin a career in the challenging and exciting field of nurse anesthesia. The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a recognized, professional occupation continuing to become more and more important in a competitive, high-tech, and demanding medical field.

Many practice settings are available to the CRNA. Options include working in a team approach by joining a group of physicians and other CRNAs which provide anesthesia in several facilities, working solely with CRNAs in more rural settings, being a solo practitioner, or becoming a locum tenens (traveling) CRNA.

The DNAP-PD Program

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree is the highest practice degree in nurse anesthesia. MTSA offers the DNAP Practice Doctorate to registered nurses who have met each of the application requirements for admission. The DNAP Practice Doctorate is a full-time course of study for 36 consecutive months. Following the first online semester all subsequent semesters require Middle Tennessee residency. In the third semester the students begin a rigorous clinical rotation process that offers students a vast array of clinical experiences in the peri-anesthesia setting, which continues throughout the remainder of the program.

The Practice Doctorate curriculum is designed to apply the scholarly process for translating evidenced based research into clinical practice. The scholarly project is a culmination of all course work during the program exemplified in a professional electronic portfolio. As well, students produce a nurse anesthesia quality improvement project in the areas of practice, education, administration or business management.

DNAP-PD Program Admission Requirements

• Current licensure as a Professional Registered Nurse (RN).
• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing or related Science (if not in Nursing, must have additional 15 semester hours of biophysical sciences above Nursing Degree).
• CCRN certification required
• A minimum of one year experience (beyond orientation and completed prior to application deadline) as a registered nurse in an adult critical care area such as SICU, Neuro ICU, CVICU, CCU, MICU or Trauma ICU.
• ACLS Certified, prior to application.
• BLS/PALS Certified, prior to enrollment.
• GRE (no minimum score requirement, but average minimums to be competitive are V150, Q150, A3.5).