Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s nurse anesthesia program has received accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The three-year program of study will be part of the school’s doctor of nursing practice degree program.
“We’re pleased to receive accreditation to establish a nurse anesthesia program at Vanderbilt, an important step in addressing the nation’s evolving health care needs, including the growing demand for anesthesia services,” said Pamela Jeffries, PhD, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH, VUSN dean and Valere Potter Distinguished Professor of Nursing. “Graduating highly qualified nurse anesthetists is critical to ensuring safe, essential patient care and we look forward to welcoming our first students in April.”
Brent Dunworth, DNP, MBA, CRNA, NEA-BC, FAANA, heads up the new program.
“This program is designed to exceed expectations and deliver a rigorous, best-in-class experience for our students, as it prepares them to deliver high-quality care to the patients they serve throughout their careers,” Dunworth said. “The applicant pool has been very strong. Our first cohort will bring extremely bright minds to Vanderbilt to begin an educational journey that will be simultaneously challenging and rewarding. Our faculty and staff are ready to provide the support needed for the students’ collective success and the success of the program.”
The in-person program spans 36 months (nine semesters), and will combine intensive, comprehensive coursework, technology-enhanced simulations, and more than 2,800 hours of extensive clinical training from experts at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, one of the nation’s top academic medical centers. Graduates will be eligible to take the national certification exam to become certified registered nurse anesthetists.
The COA is a nationally recognized accrediting agency for institutions and programs of nurse anesthesia at the post-doctoral certificate, master’s or doctoral degree levels in the United States and its territories, including programs offering distance education. It is nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as an accrediting agency.
Demand for nurse anesthetists has increased due to provider retirements and the growing health care needs of an aging population. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology reports that CRNAs comprise over half of the nation’s anesthesia workforce and administer more than 50 million anesthetics annually. In many rural hospitals, CRNAs serve as the primary or sole anesthesia providers and practice in a wide range of settings, including hospital operating rooms, emergency departments, outpatient surgical centers, dental offices and labor and delivery units.
Vanderbilt’s inaugural cohort of nurse anesthesia students started submitting applications in summer 2025, with interviews conducted in early 2026. Classes will begin April 27, 2026.
For more information on the program, visit https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/programs/dnp/nurse-anesthesia-dnp-crna/