DNAP Inaugural Cohort Earns 100% NCE Success Rate

The University of South Dakota’s inaugural Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice class has achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Certification Examination within 30 days of program completion, including an exceptional 89% first-time pass rate.

“These students’ success reflects the rigor of the curriculum, the dedication of USD’s faculty and the resilience and excellence of the students themselves,” said Program Director Shauna Rich Jacobson, DNAP. “Their achievements speak to their character, their commitment to patient safety and the heart of service that guides their practice.”

All nine of December’s graduates will go on to provide high-quality anesthesia care for patients in rural, urban and underserved areas as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

USD’s DNAP program is a 36-month, full-time, intensive doctoral program launched in 2023 to help meet the continued need of growing and building South Dakota’s health care workforce. Nurse anesthetists are the sole provider of anesthesia care in 83% of South Dakota counties, demonstrating the need to elevate the quality of care in the emerging health care systems and to strengthen CRNA leadership skills. USD is the only public university in the state to offer the DNAP degree.

To learn more, visit usd.edu/DNAP.