The Nurse Anesthesia Educator Program is a post-doctoral program designed to prepare Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for academic and clinical nurse anesthesia educator roles. The 12-month course of study develops the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies required to design, deliver, assess, and continuously improve high-quality educational experiences across classroom, clinical, simulation, and online learning environments.
Grounded in evidence-based educational practices, adult learning theory, instructional design, competency-based assessment, and curriculum development, the program prepares graduates to facilitate learner-centered education that promotes critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and professional socialization. Students develop expertise in educational leadership, quality improvement, scholarship, mentorship, and academic service while applying ethical, legal, regulatory, and professional standards that guide nurse anesthesia education.
The curriculum intentionally integrates didactic coursework with progressive practicum experiences, enabling learners to apply educational theory through authentic teaching, learner assessment, curriculum development, and reflective practice under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors. Throughout the program, students develop a Professional Nurse Educator Portfolio (PNEP) that documents progressive achievement of educator competencies and readiness for academic practice.
Graduates are prepared to serve as effective nurse anesthesia educators in academic, clinical, and simulation settings, contribute to continuous program improvement and educational scholarship, and meet the educational preparation recommended for certification as an Academic Nurse Educator (CNE) through the National League for Nursing (NLN).