DeSales University, St. Luke’s University Health Network Partner on New Nurse Anesthesia Program
DeSales University and St. Luke’s University Health Network have partnered to launch the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia Program, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program designed for experienced nurses seeking to advance their careers.
“We were always looking to have a nurse anesthesia program,” says Jacqueline Ochsenreither, DNP, director of DSU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program. “Discussions started a few years ago with SLUHN on how we could work together to bring it to fruition.”
Under the agreement, DeSales will be the conducting institution, providing the Doctor of Nursing Practice BSN-DNP CRNA track. St. Luke’s University Health Network will be the exclusive clinical affiliate, providing general surgical and subspecialty clinical training and practicum experiences for students.
The program consists of 39 courses over 12 semesters. Classes are a mix of online—synchronous, asynchronous, and in-person—with all anesthesia-related coursework completed in an in-classroom setting. Students will also complete a robust clinical rotation with a minimum of 2,000 hours in the operating room working with patients of all ages and acuity levels.
“The program covers a wide range of specialties—from obstetrics and pediatrics to trauma, cardiac, and more,” says Ochsenreither. “Our students will learn how to safely administer anesthesia for all types of procedures—whether inpatient, outpatient, or emergency."
The first cohort begins this fall. Once students complete the program, they will receive a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from DSU and a certificate in nurse anesthesia from SLUHN.
As advanced practice nurses, CRNAs help to ensure safe, pain-free surgeries and medical procedures. In addition to delivering high-quality, patient-centered anesthetic care, they provide comfort and reassurance to patients before, during, and after medical and/or surgical procedures.
“This is a specialty for nurses with years of critical care experience," says Ochsenreither. "They possess strong critical thinking skills and are highly trained in medications, pain management, and anesthesia. We always say they want to be the last person patients see before they go to sleep and the first they see when they wake up."
“This partnership with DeSales University reflects St. Luke’s commitment to advancing clinical excellence and addressing the growing need for highly-skilled anesthesia providers,” says Daniel Graves, DNP, program administrator. “As the next generation of CRNAs will be trained within network, St. Luke’s is once again demonstrating our commitment to the highest quality patient care and helping to strengthen the local workforce for years to come.”
For more information on the SLUHN/DSU NAP, visit desales.edu/crna.