About
Anna Critser serves as the assistant program director of the nurse anesthesia DNP program. In this role, she is deeply committed to supporting, motivating and guiding students throughout the rigorous journey of nurse anesthesia education.
Critser brings more than a decade of clinical experience as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, with practice experience spanning all anesthesia care team models, including level I trauma centers, academic medical centers and rural independent practice environments. She continues to maintain active clinical practice at OU Health as well as in rural independent practice settings, allowing her to bring contemporary clinical insight directly into the classroom.
Since joining the program as adjunct faculty in 2023 and transitioning to full-time faculty in 2024, Critser has rapidly emerged as a key academic leader within the program. She has played a central role in the development and instruction of nearly every didactic course within the curriculum and currently serves as the program’s lead didactic faculty. Her dedication to educational excellence is further reflected through advanced training in course design, curriculum development and examination construction, strengthening the program’s commitment to rigorous and effective nurse anesthesia education.
In addition to her instructional leadership, Critser actively contributes to academic scholarship and faculty advancement initiatives throughout the university. She participates in interdisciplinary research groups within the university and serves on the Research and Faculty Development Committee for the Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences.
Critser works closely with both students and faculty from the beginning of the admissions process through graduation, helping ensure that each graduate is prepared to provide safe, competent and compassionate anesthesia care to communities across Oklahoma and beyond. Her passion for teaching is grounded in her love for the profession of nurse anesthesia and her commitment to strengthening healthcare through the preparation of exceptional future CRNAs.
Education
- DMPNA, Marshall University & CAMC School of Nurse Anesthesia
- BSN, University of Central Oklahoma
Research interests and areas of expertise
- Nurse Anesthesia Education
- Anesthesia nursing
- Mindfulness and Resilience in Nurse Anesthesia Students
- ASC anesthesia