BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program

The Nurse Anesthesia Program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine is a recognized leader in the field. This program offers a rigorous curriculum, advanced training settings and global health opportunities. The program is one of an elite minority of nurse anesthesia programs that are housed in a school of medicine. Academic degrees are granted by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Our 3-year full-time anesthesia curriculum leading to attainment of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree has been fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation. The curriculum is organized over nine semesters (fall, spring, and summer), offering a balanced progression from foundational knowledge to advanced clinical practice. Our instructional methods include distance learning for core nursing and research courses during the first year, with in-person instruction for clinical skills, simulation labs, and anesthesia-specific content throughout the remainder of the program.

Why Wake Forest?

Both the hospital and our anesthesia program have been rated among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Members of the hospital's medical staff serve as the clinical faculty, with each staff member performing both teaching and clinical service on a regular basis. You’ll receive ample opportunities for clinical experience and consistently exceed the requirements for certification eligibility. Clinical training includes:

• Approximately 800 cases (25 percent greater than the minimum required)
• 2,500 clinical hours (25 percent greater than the minimum required)
• Over 50 clinical sites within and outside of North Carolina representing all anesthesia care delivery models

Our History

Our program was established in 1942 as one of the professional schools of the North Carolina Baptist Hospital (NCBH) and the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Since then, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has served as the program’s sponsor and the main clinical educational site for our residents. For over 80 years, the nurse anesthesia program has been highly regarded for the exceptional quality of graduates, as well as for housing faculty of outstanding achievement and recognition, nationally and internationally.