Nurse Anesthesia Master's Program
Nurse anesthesia practice is based on a continuum of care beginning with preoperative assessment and culminating with discharge from the recovery area. Nurse anesthetists interview and assess each patient and formulate and implement a plan of care to best meet individual needs. Throughout the perioperative period, nurse anesthetists serve as patient advocates, provide emotional support, and collaborate with other health care practitioners to provide the optimum anesthetic experience.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program prepares registered nurses for entry into anesthesia practice. Graduates are prepared to administer a full range of anesthetics to a wide variety of patients across the lifespan. Through an integrated program of classroom and clinical instruction, students develop the didactic knowledge base and clinical skills necessary for safe and effective practice.
Students rotate through numerous clinical sites in Pittsburgh, the surrounding region, and now more distant sites to enhance clinical experiences. [see clinical sites] The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health System hospitals are world renowned in the areas of surgical innovation, trauma medicine, organ transplantation, research, and biomedical technology. Specialty rotations in cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, dental, organ transplantation, pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatal, burns and electroconvulsive therapy enrich the program. The clinical program also incorporates rotations to community hospitals to more broadly prepare the graduate for practice in diverse settings. Students work directly with nationally and internationally renowned leaders in research, practice, and education. Upon completion of the program, graduates are well prepared to safely manage simple to extremely complex patients.
The program is offered in a full time format over 28 months and classes begin each August and January. Part-time study is also available. The curriculum consists of 52 didactic credits and 60 equivalent credits of clinical practice (students do not pay tuition for the clinical credits). The curriculum design integrates the classroom and clinical courses and consists of 20 core credits and 32 anesthesia specialty credits. Minors are also available in Nursing Education, Research and Administration. [see curriculum] Clinical practice begins as two days/week in the first term and increases in both intensity and frequency throughout the course of study. Clinical in the last term is 5 days/week and is interspersed with clinical conferences and preparation sessions for the Certification Examination.
The program accepts registered nurses with a minimum of 1 year of critical care nursing experience. Academic transcripts, professional references, GRE test results, and an essay must be submitted to be considered for an interview with program faculty. [see Admission section for details about requirements] The Program is accredited through 2009 by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination administered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE ANESTHESIA WEBSITE!