USD doctor of nurse anesthesia practice program receives full accreditation
The University of South Dakota announced Monday that its doctor of nurse anesthesia practice program has received full accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education.
In a press release, the university said this demonstrates its readiness to deliver the degree preparing registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).
Gaining official accreditation is the culmination of months of preparation, program director Shauna Rich Jacobson said in a press release.
“This initial accreditation signifies that our doctor of nurse anesthesia practice program has met or exceeded the established national standards for nurse anesthesia educational quality,” she said. “The curriculum incorporates simulation experiences in our state-of-the-art simulation lab designed with the students in mind. This enables students to practice skills, develop competencies and reinforce didactic knowledge in a safe and controlled environment.”
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Nurse anesthetists are the sole provider of anesthesia care in 83% of South Dakota counties, demonstrating the need to elevate the quality of care in the emerging health care systems and to strengthen CRNA leadership skills, according to the release.
USD is the only public university in the state to offer the DNAP degree. The program’s first classes will start in spring 2023. The initial accreditation period is for five years, with reaccreditation in 2028 for 10 more years.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: USD program has full accreditation. What it means for South Dakota
