| Two major groups of stakeholders, junior anesthesia students and program directors, participated in this study to examine the thoughts, beliefs, and motivations regarding doctoral education for nurse anesthetists. A complete census of 109 Philadelphia junior anesthesia students, Philadelphia program directors, and program directors from across the United States were accessed for this cross sectional, mixed methodological approach. The collection of both quantitative and qualitative data utilizing surveys, a student focus group, and interviews allowed for greater insight into this possible paradigm shift to doctoral education. While the vast majority (93.6%) of junior anesthesia students felt that education was important to them for career advancement, only 16.5% felt that CRNAs should be educated at the doctorate level. In fact, 48.6% of the students would not apply to an anesthesia program if it increased their educational time commitment. A content analysis of data from a student focus group provided supportive evidence regarding the responses obtained from the student survey.;Of the forty-one national program directors who responded, 90.2% supported doctoral education for CRNAs, compared to 48.6% who supported doctoral education as entry into practice for student nurse anesthetists. In contrast, five of the six Philadelphia program directors who responded, four directors supported doctoral education for entry into practice. However, both the national and Philadelphia based program directors agreed that obtaining doctorally prepared faculty was extremely difficult. |
