Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program

Program Description

Florida State University Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program is a comprehensive, 36-month doctoral curriculum designed to prepare future nurse anesthesiologists for advanced clinical practice and leadership in anesthesia care. Rooted in evidence-based practice, professionalism, and critical decision-making, the program equips students with the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to safely deliver anesthesia across a wide range of surgical and procedural settings.

Students are immersed in an integrated curriculum that balances advanced didactic coursework with high-fidelity simulation and robust clinical training. From day one, the focus is on developing sound clinical judgment, effective communication, and the ability to manage anesthesia care independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.

With access to over 40 clinical sites across Florida and the Southeast, students gain diverse experiences in a variety of healthcare systems—from major academic medical centers to rural hospitals. This ensures well-rounded exposure to all patient populations, case complexities, and anesthesia techniques.

The program also includes a Scholarly Inquiry Project, where students investigate relevant clinical or quality improvement topics and present their work at local or national professional meetings—reinforcing lifelong learning and contribution to the profession.

Graduates of the DNAP program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination and consistently achieve a 100% first-time pass rate and 100% employment within six months of graduation. With the support of a dedicated, nationally recognized faculty, access to a state-of-the-art simulation center, and a beautiful waterfront campus, students thrive in an environment that fosters academic excellence and personal growth.

Tuition is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students, making this high-quality program both accessible and competitive.

The Nurse Anesthesia Program admits 34-36 students once a year. The application deadline for consideration of a spot in the DNAP cohort commencing Summer 2026 is January 15, 2026.

Please note that you will need to apply for the Summer 2026 term which will open August 1, 2025.

Summer 2026 Applicant Interview Dates: TBD

Accreditation

Initial program accreditation was granted January 21, 2015, by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). This agency is identified by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for the accreditation of institutions and programs of nurse anesthesia at the certificate, master’s, or doctoral degree levels in the United States, its territories, and protectorates.
 
In June 2015, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees approved the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia degree and was included in the scope of the university’s accreditation. The program was granted approval by the COA and SACSCOC to offer the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) as the entry level degree in February 2021, and  the last masters cohort graduated in 2022.  The program was granted the maximum 10 year accreditation from the COA in May 2021.  The program will be scheduled for the next consideration of continued accreditation in Spring 2031.

The Council on Accreditation’s contact information is as follows:

• 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
• Rosemont, IL  60018-5603
• Phone: (224) 275-9130, Fax: (847) 692-7137
• Email: Accreditation@coa.us.com