AA-C Bridge to DNAP
The TCU School of Nurse Anesthesia offers an AA-C to DNAP program for certified anesthesiology assistants (AAs) who desire to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The program of study is essentially the same as the existing BSN to DNAP program, although the total length of the bridge program for AAs may vary from 29-36 months. This will be dependent on an individual’s progression during the clinical residency and the number of courses the AA-C is able to earn credit by examination. The AA-C may receive credit by examination for a maximum of 40 credit hours. Eligibility is determined by the AA-C’s Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) results. The SEE must be taken in the first 8 months of the program. A SEE score of 450 or higher is required in order to receive approval to then test out of the didactic courses in the second 12 months of the program. See AA-C Bridge to DNAP curriculum for full details.
Admission
The AA-C Bridge to DNAP degree plan is essentially the same as the the BSN to DNAP program, although the total length may vary from 29-36 months, depending on the individual’s progression during the clinical residency and the number of courses the AA-C is able to earn credit by examination. This will be dependent on an individual’s progression during the clinical residency and the number of courses the AA-C is able to earn credit by examination. The AA-C may receive credit by examination for a maximum of 40 credit hours. Eligibility is determined by the AA-C’s Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) results. The SEE must be taken in the first 8 months of the program. A SEE score of 450 or higher is required in order to receive approval to then test out of the didactic courses in the second 12 months of the program. Course faculty approval is also required.
The curriculum is as follows. Note the asterisks and descriptions following the curriculum.
Year I
Spring Semester – 6 credit hours
NRAN 60113 Research and Theory in Nurse Anesthesia*
NRAN 81123 Biostatistics for the Advanced Health Practitioner*
Summer Semester – 6 credit hours
NRAN 81153 Emerging Sciences, Complexity and Innovation in Health Care*
NRAN 81233 Decision Science and Informatics*
Fall Semester – 16 credit hours
NRAN 81243 Translational Research*
NRAN 60123 Physical Science in Nurse Anesthesia***
NRAN 60134 Advanced Pharmacology***
NRAN 60146 Advanced Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I***
Year II
Spring Semester – 15 credit hours
NRAN 81443 Advanced Health Assessment: Anesthesia Focus*
NRAN 60235 Advanced Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology II***
NRAN 60213 Advanced Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology III***
NRAN 60224 Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents***
Summer Semester – 15 credit hours
NRAN 81353 Healthcare Policy and Politics
NRAN60316 Principles of Anesthesia Practice I***
NRAN60416 Principles of Anesthesia Practice II***
Fall Semester – 8 credit hours
NRAN 60572 Advanced Pathophysiology and Clinical Management I
NRAN 60583 Clinical Residency I
NRAN 88080 Advanced Clinical Project**
Year III
Spring Semester – 8 credit hours
NRAN 60672 Advanced Pathophysiology and Clinical Management II
NRAN 60683 Clinical Residency II
NRAN 88080 Advanced Clinical Project**
The requirement for the following two semesters is dependent on the individual’s progression in the Clinical Residency. A minimum of 900 cases are required (300 may be documented by transcript from their Anesthesiologist Assistant Master Degree program).
Summer Semester – 5 credit hours
NRAN 60782 Clinical Residency III
NRAN 88083 Advanced Clinical Project**
Fall Semester – 8 credit hours
NRAN 60972 Clinical Concepts****
NRAN 60983 Clinical Residency IV
NRAN 88080 Advanced Clinical Project**
*Online course
**Each Advanced Clinical Project course is for three (3) credit hours. A minimum of two must be taken.
***These courses may be taken face-to-face in our TCU classroom or synchronously via Zoom technology. The AA-C may receive credit by examination for a maximum of 40 credit hours. Eligibility is determined by the AA-C’s SEE results. A score of 450 or higher is required, as is approval by course faculty.
****Not required if case requirement is met (900 cases).