Director Named for Future CRNA Program
Rockhurst University and Saint Louis University have named a program director to guide a new Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program expected to launch in 2028 as a partnership between the two institutions.
Nicholas Curdt, DNAP, CRNA, CHSE, will lead the program, design its curriculum and guide it as it undergoes the accreditation process. Curdt will also serve as a point of contact for interested prospective students for what promises to be a high-demand program.
“Highly qualified CRNAs are needed by everyone, everywhere right now,” he said. “My task is to guide our CRNA program through accreditation to ensure it is ready to meet that demand and ready to attract and educate high-caliber students from day one.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CRNA/nurse anesthetist is an occupation that is set to continue growing. In its 2024 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the BLS predicted the nurse anesthesiologist field would grow by 38% by 2032. The average median salary of $212,650 for CRNAs reflects a deep need and integral role for CRNAs in many care settings throughout the United States. A wave of retirements and growing need throughout the country — CRNAs currently represent about 80% of anesthesia providers in rural communities — is driving growth.
“One of the driving forces of our mission at the Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences is to meet the demand for nursing and health science professionals everywhere in our communities — from urban centers in Kansas City and St. Louis, to the rural areas in between,” said Kristina Henry, DNP, interim dean of Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “With his combined experience as a clinician and as a nurse educator, we believe Nick is a perfect choice to spearhead this exciting new program.”
Curdt has 19 years of clinical experience and 17 years of educational experience in nurse anesthesia. He earned his Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice from the University of Michigan in 2019 and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Advanced Pain Management at the University of South Florida. Clinically, Curdt is a staff CRNA at Washington University School of Medicine. He specializes in complex, high-acuity procedures, including cardiothoracic anesthesia, TEE, and regional anesthesia. He also provides chronic pain and diagnostic blocks at Neuropax Clinic.
Students pursuing their CRNA degree through this joint program will study online, with in-person skill immersions on site at either campus. This doctoral program can be completed in three years of full-time enrollment.
“This CRNA program will represent a big step forward in the expansion of our nursing and health sciences programs,” Henry said. “And to be in partnership with Saint Louis University, with our shared Jesuit tradition and proven impact in the health sciences, is a proud moment for us.”
More information about the program can be found at rockhurst.edu/crna or by contacting Nicholas Curdt at CRNA@rockhurst.edu.
