This February, Rockhurst University announced a partnership with Saint Louis University (SLU) to develop a joint Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program. The collaboration aims to address the growing demand for CRNAs, who play a critical role in healthcare by administering anesthesia in surgical and procedural settings. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed, and the search for a founding program director is underway.
The joint CRNA program will provide students with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, a requirement for CRNA certification. Students must first obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and complete at least two years of critical care experience before applying. The program itself will take three years to complete. Rockhurst and SLU plan to admit 15 students per campus, though final enrollment numbers will be determined by accrediting bodies.
Kristina Henry, associate dean of nursing and chief academic administrator, emphasized the rigorous accreditation process required to establish the program.
“It is a long process to start a CRNA program because the accreditation is very extensive. We currently need a program director, and we are actively searching to fill that position,” said Henry. “The program director will focus on the accreditation process, and we will start enrolling students once complete.”
The university aims to welcome its first cohort of students by fall 2027, though this timeline depends on hiring a program director and securing accreditation.
“We were hoping to hire a program director by Christmas, but we haven’t been able to find one yet. It may take a bit longer, but we’re still aiming for a fall 2027 start,” Henry said.
In preparation for the program, Rockhurst plans to enhance its facilities, converting an empty room in Sedgwick Hall into an operating room-style simulation suite.
The partnership with SLU aligns with Rockhurst’s Jesuit values and aims to address the growing demand for CRNAs.
“There is a strong community need for CRNAs. Existing CRNA programs do a great job but are limited in the number of students they can accept due to clinical site availability,” said Henry. “With our partnerships with St. Luke’s, Children’s Mercy and other major Kansas City health systems, we have great clinical partners to support this program.”
The addition of this program will impact healthcare in both Kansas City and St. Louis, helping alleviate the projected shortage of anesthesiology providers. More than 50 million patients in the U.S. receive anesthesia from a CRNA each year, and by 2033, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology expects that a shortfall of 12,500 anesthesiology providers could leave nearly 22% of the workforce unfilled.
The collaboration with SLU also brings a strong academic advantage. SLU’s established doctoral programs provide additional resources and expertise to streamline the accreditation process. Additionally, Rockhurst and SLU have consulted with other Jesuit universities with successful CRNA programs to learn from their experiences.
Henry remains optimistic about the program’s future.
“We are committed to making this happen because we know the need is there,” said Henry. “We want to provide our students with the best possible education and clinical experiences so they can excel in this high-demand field.”
Prospective students and healthcare professionals interested in the CRNA program can expect further updates as Rockhurst and SLU finalize key milestones in the development process.
