Â鶹ӰÒô announced in January that it will help meet a critical need for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in Colorado through its Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program — the first program authorized by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to offer classroom, simulation and clinical nurse anesthesia training in the state.

Colorado faces an anticipated shortage of 10,000 registered nurses by 2026, according to a 2021 analysis by the consulting firm Mercer. Population growth in the state, an aging demographic and increased demand for surgical care are driving the need for CRNAs.

“Â鶹ӰÒô is expanding access to education and training for the diverse, highly skilled nursing workforce our nation needs,” said Â鶹ӰÒô College of Nursing Dean Sandra Larson, PhD, CRNA, APRN, FAANA, FNAP. “By taking the educational experience to the nurses in Colorado, we enhance the likelihood they will stay in Colorado following graduation, working at sites where they trained.”

The program taps into a subset of nurses with a minimum of one year of critical care experience. Classroom and simulation space is provided by the University of Colorado — Colorado Springs.

“Colorado-based Â鶹ӰÒô students stay connected to their North Chicago classmates throughout the didactic phase,” said Lori Anderson, DNP, CRNA, APRN, director of the Nurse Anesthesia program. “They then engage in full-time residency training, rotating through seven clinical sites throughout Colorado — and we plan to add more.”