Advance Your Patient Care-Oriented Career
Build on your knowledge with graduate-level education at Webster University. Gain advanced clinical skills, theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills through our degree programs. The Department of Advanced Clinical Sciences provides a scientific and dynamic approach to advanced clinical professions so you can assist your patients in their return to health.
Collaborative Study and Resources
Small class sizes create an ideal learning environment of collaboration and discovery. Webster also offers exceptional on-campus library services with a reference librarian assigned to the Nurse Anesthesia program.
Raising the Quality of Global Health Care
As part of the DNAP program, students must engage in a research project. Three Cameroonian students proposed one that would help nurse anesthetists in their home country.
Transcript
[Subtle piano music plays]
[Footage of Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia simulation lab footage]
Text on screen: Raising the Quality of Global Healthcare – Nurse Anesthesia Cameroon Trip
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: Part of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program here at Webster University, each student has to complete a research project.
[Footage of Nurse Anesthesia students originally from Cameroon, Africa]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: We were fortunate enough to have three Cameroonian students in one of my courses. These guys approached me with, “We would really like to do something for Cameroon, give back to our country and really help the health care status there.”
[Footage of graphic of Cameroon, Africa, students in Cameroon being mentored by Webster students, Cameroon city shot]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: And through nine weeks of education online, we're able to send videos, both in English and French, to describe lifesaving techniques that currently may not be available in Cameroon.
[Footage of Webster students in videos teaching with English and French subtitles]
Maria, DNAP Student: And then we finally had the opportunity to go to Cameroon in May of 2022. And that's where we did the hands-on experience.
[Footage of Maria talking]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: All the participants were there in person for lectures as well as hands on, actually utilizing some of the technology that we're bringing with us.
[Footage of Webster students and professors around tables teaching different skills to Cameroon students, footage of some of the medical supplies Webster took to Cameroon.]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: Their conditions for practicing is much different than the U.S. It allows for us to share our knowledge and our equipment to really close those gaps of education and resources so we’re real time raising the level of care for folks in Cameroon.
[Footage of the medical facilities in Cameroon, showing the sparse, outdated equipment]
[Footage of Dr. Burns and students showing Cameroon students how to provide care with equipment they brought from the U.S.]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: That was how it started. 1.0 was, basically three years ago - and here we are today, Cameroon 4.0.
Farrah, DNAP Student: We were able to teach the nurse anesthetist there about peripheral nerve blocks. It was such a fulfilling experience.
[Footage of Farrah teaching Cameroon students]
Farrah, DNAP Student: When we looked at our studies and research, we saw that mortality rates are higher with general anesthesia versus regional anesthesia.
And so, we were able to go and teach them about the regional anesthesia. And I loved that we had a shared goal of taking care of the patient.
[Footage of Dr. Burns and Farrah teaching Cameroon students, students use iPhones to help view the airway]
Farrah, DNAP Student: And for me, it's so amazing to be able to see the continuity of that project and to have those lasting relationships. And where the nurse anesthetist in Cameroon, Africa have reached out to us and said, thank you so much. I've already applied what we've learned, and they sent us pictures and just are excited for whenever we're able to continue to return.
[Footage of Cameroon and Webster students posing for photos, photos that Cameroon students sent to the US students, and of Farrah speaking in Cameroon.]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: One of the more sustainable projects that we can do is to help them make their own advanced airway equipment, where they can raise the quality of anesthesia care in the country themselves.
[Footage of Michael Burns talking]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: We're currently using a 3D printer and we're going to make video laryngoscopy, which is the type of equipment that allows us to visualize the anatomy via a camera versus trying to move those structures out of the way. We can see that for intubations, which is, basically securing their airway.
[Footage of a 3D printer printing a video laryngoscopy, professor connects it to an iPhone then shows how to put it in place so the tube can safely go down into airway]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: We're in the process of developing a much cheaper version of that. Instead of a few thousand dollars, we were able to do it for less than 7 USD.
[Footage of several printed laryngoscopies next to an expensive version]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: We're in the process of also obtaining a 3D printer and the necessary equipment and the program for them to do that in Cameroon.
[Footage of a 3D printer printing and showing the professor programming the 3D printer with his iPhone.]
Michael Burns, DNAP, CRNA: Probably the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my career. And it really aligns with Webster's international footprint. We really want to increase education globally and teach nurse anesthetists, in Cameroon, necessary, vital education to raise the quality of health care in Cameroon.
[Footage of closeup of equipment and people working as well as a group photo of Webster and Cameroon students]
Farrah, DNAP Student: It prepared me for my ultimate mission was to continue to serve the underserved, both here in the United States and abroad.
[Footage of Farrah celebrating with others on stage]
Graduate Degree Programs
Webster University is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) for the following degree offerings:
- Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice — Entry Level, program length of 36 months.
- Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice — Completion, program length of 15 months.
The program's next review by the COA is scheduled for May 2030.
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
10275 W. Higgins Road, Suite 906
Rosemont, IL 60018-5603
Phone: 224-275-9130
Email: accreditation@coacrna.org
Webster University's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) entry degree program is a full-time, 36-month program. Admitted students begin in the Summer term at the end of May and graduate in mid-May, three years later. This degree includes an Emphasis in Health Administration, preparing the doctoral graduate for leadership roles within the profession. Continue reading for more information about our DNAP entry into practice program.
The DNAP with an Emphasis in Health Administration completion degree assists masters-prepared, practicing CRNAs with the opportunity to bridge their degree to the practice doctorate. The degree is offered in a 100% online platform to accommodate work schedules of practicing CRNAs. Consistent with the AACN guidelines and approval by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, the DNAP completion degree focuses on equipping the nurse anesthetist with content areas that emphasize the clinical practice-oriented leadership through evidence-based research, quality improvement, intradepartmental collaboration and health care advocacy, policy, law, ethics and financial management.
Program Spotlight: Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program
Experience learning tailored to you with small class sizes featuring high faculty-student engagement and a breadth of clinical experience opportunities.
Transcript
Text on screen: Webster University Doctorate Spotlight, Austin Black | Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)
Text on screen: Austin Black, Nurse Anesthesia Student
[Black sits in a laboratory classroom speaking to audience.]
Black: My name is Austin Black, and I am a first-year student at Webster University in the Nurse Anesthesia program.
[A variety of videos and photos of Webster classrooms; auditoriums; lots of students doing a variety of exercises; laboratory settings; professors interacting with students; students working and training with nurse anesthesia equipment, devices and manikins; campus buildings; etc.]
Black: I chose Webster University because of the smaller class sizes and the engagement that faculty has with the students. The experience with the labs that I've had is that it's been an extremely small class size. So, for instance, in our simulation lab, it's one instructor to three students. It's tailored toward us individually. We have time to ask questions, walk through things.
In addition, we have a cadaver lab. I think that a highlight of the Nurse Anesthesia program is the ability to go to different clinical sites and experience either rural community or a larger hospital setting and could set you apart from other potential applicants in the future.
[A shot of Webster Hall.]
Text on screen: Learn more at webster.edu
Nurse Anesthesia All-Class Conference
Many students are interested in learning more about our Nurse Anesthesia program and the field in general. To that end, we offer prospective students the opportunity to attend our All-Class Conference (ACC). This conference is held regularly during the spring and fall from 2-4 p.m. on Thursdays in the Browning Hall, Interdisciplinary Science Building auditorium (ISB 160) located on our Webster Groves main campus. A pre-conference session is offered prior to the ACC for potential candidates to meet with program faculty. Please RSVP to your admissions counselor or directly to the Department of Advanced Clinical Sciences at 314-246-5927.
Location
Webster University Main Campus
Browning Hall, ISB 160
(Location may vary)
8274 Big Bend Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
Time
- 1–2 p.m. Pre All-Class Conference (Q&A session for prospective students)
- 2–4 p.m. All-Class Conference
Dates (subject to change)
- Feb. 20, 2025
- April 10, 2025
For more information about the All-Class Conference, please contact the Department of Advanced Clinical Sciences at 314-246-5927.
Browning Hall
Browning Hall is located next to Pearson House off of Big Bend Boulevard at the northeast corner of the Webster Groves campus.
8274 Big Bend Blvd.
Webster Groves, MO 63119
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