Nurse anesthetists interview and assess their patients and then formulate a plan of care individualized to best meet the needs of each patient. Throughout the preoperative period, nurse anesthetists serve as patient advocates, provide emotional support, and collaborate with other health care practitioners to provide the optimum anesthetic experience. 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 and the surrounding region.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center 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, 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.