Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University School of Nursing plans to establish a CRNA program, welcoming its first student cohort in summer 2026.
The three-year program will be a part of the school’s doctor of nursing practice degree program, according to a May 20 news release sent to Becker’s.
The full-time program will last 36 months with participants completing over 2,800 clinical training hours with VUMC specialists.
The program will be directed by Brent Dunworth, DNP, CRNA, a CRNA and educator, and former associate nurse executive at VUMC.
Currently, Dr. Dunworth holds a joint appointment as VUSN associate professor of nursing and with the School of Medicine as associate professor of clinical anesthesiology.
During his tenure, he has grown VUMC’s CRNA workforce by more than 50%, with CRNAs now providing care 24/7 across the VUMC enterprise, according to the release.
He also collaborated to reengineer anesthesia care to reduce hospital length of stay and opioid consumption among surgical patients.
Vanderbilt’s CRNA program is currently pending review for initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
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