University of California, Davis has earned accreditation for its Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia program, the first of its kind within the University of California system. Photo courtesy of Pixaby

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis has earned accreditation for its Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia degree program by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

This significant milestone marks the first Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia program within the University of California system and only the sixth of its kind in California. The program is set to welcome its inaugural cohort of students in June.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia program is an integrated, full-time, three-year curriculum designed to equip experienced critical-care registered nurses with the knowledge and hands-on training required to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

The program blends rigorous online coursework with in-person simulation training and extensive clinical experience, ensuring students receive a comprehensive and immersive education.

“Earning COA accreditation validates the quality of our curriculum and faculty and highlights the caliber of the dedicated and supportive staff here at the School of Nursing,” said Program Director Jakkarin “Jake” Sareerak. “As a new program, we prioritized hiring the highest caliber of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists faculty, many of whom have served in program administrator roles and bring extensive experience in both education and clinical practice.”

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists programs have transitioned from the master’s degree to the Doctor of Nursing Practice level to better prepare clinicians for the increased complexity of patient care and to equip them with advanced leadership and quality improvement skills. This change, supported by accrediting bodies, ensures that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are ready to meet modern health care challenges and effectively lead interdisciplinary teams. 

Applicants must hold either a bachelor’s degree in nursing science or an equivalent major or a bachelor’s degree in another specialty in addition to a Master of Science in Nursing or an equivalent graduate degree.

Graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia program will be fully prepared to take on leadership roles in anesthesia care, Sareerak said, which addresses critical gaps in health care access across California.                                                                       

Addressing the shortage

The demand for anesthesia providers continues to outpace supply nationwide. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology reports that by 2033, the anesthesiology workforce could experience a shortage of approximately 12,500 providers. That is further exacerbated in California’s rural and underserved areas.

With 40-million residents, the state has a growing need for anesthesia services, especially as its aging population requires more procedures. In addition, non-operating-room anesthesia sites are increasing due to technological advancements, which require more anesthesia care beyond traditional surgical settings.

By expanding nurse anesthesia education, the School of Nursing is actively addressing this workforce challenge and strengthening the future of anesthesia care in California.

“With the growing shortage of anesthesiologists and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists across the nation, this program is poised to help bridge the gap by preparing highly-skilled nurse anesthetists to serve diverse patient populations,” said Dean Stephen Cavanagh.

UC Davis Health is also meeting this need head-on by partnering with the School of Nursing through its expansion efforts. A key milestone in this expansion is the integration of the 48X Complex as part of the program's primary clinical training site.

Expected to open for patients in July, the four-story, 268,228-square-foot complex will feature 14 operating rooms. The large facility is ideal for presenting learning opportunities for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist students and addressing the shortage of ambulatory operating room capacity at the main hospital.

“This initiative will provide invaluable hands-on experience for future Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists while ensuring a steady pipeline of highly trained anesthesia providers within UC Davis Health. We hope to retain many of the graduates which will help us reinforce our commitment to delivering safe, high-quality anesthesia services and shaping the future of health care excellence,” said Kimberly Beres, the health system’s chief nurse anesthetist.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice -Nurse Anesthesia program is the latest offering from the Top 25 15-year-old nursing school. The school already offers a popular Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner program that is helping to fulfill California’s shortage of primary care providers, along with master’s degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies, a Doctor of Philosophy program and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate program.