Nurse Anesthesia
The Program
The Nurse Anesthesia Program prepares Registered Nurses to become Advanced Practitioners in the field of anesthesia where they administer general and regional anesthesia to surgical and obstetric patients. Students earn a Master of Nursing degree upon completion of the 27 month program.
The OHSU Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) recognizes the growing community health needs within Oregon, the Northwest, and across the United States. The program at Oregon Health & Science University strives to maintain high standards in educating qualified Registered Nurses at the graduate level in the domain of nurse anesthesia. The program endeavors to provide the Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNA) with a solid foundation of scientific knowledge, clinical skills, and accountability, with a progressive understanding of the components of clinical judgment.
Goals of the Nurse Anesthesia Program:
- Provide a positive and supportive learning environment with a focus on meeting the needs of adult learners.
- Prepare the professional nurse in the art and science of anesthesia.
- Meet the societal need for safe and competent anesthesia care.
Upon completion of the M.N. degree, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge and specialized practice in the nursing care of individuals, families, or communities.
- Use the research process to investigate clinical problems and to improve clinical practice.
- Advance nursing through leadership in practice and professional activity.
The 27 month program of study is rigorous and highly clinically focused. In the first year, students receive a firm foundation in relevant basic and anesthesia science along with weekly lab sessions in our state-of the-art clinical simulation center. The second year begins a five quarter sequence of clinical rotations designed to expose the student to a variety of anesthesia experiences. Throughout the second year students attend seminars to foster the integration of advanced evidence-based nurse anesthesia content into their clinical practice.
The nurse anesthesia program of study includes 7 advanced practice nursing courses (22 credits) with the remainder of the graduate curriculum comprised of 7 nurse anesthesia theory courses (25 credits) and 9 lab and/or clinical practica courses (59 credits). Upon completion of the M.N. curriculum in nurse anesthesia, graduates will be able to:
Demonstrate safe patient care throughout the perianesthetic period.
- Provide individualized, safe, culturally sensitive perianesthetic care for patients across the life span.
- Apply critical thinking skills during the perianesthetic period to ensure high quality, safe and cost effective patient care.
- Utilize effective communication skills in the provision of collaborative perianesthetic care to patients across the life span.
- Integrate professional leadership skills in the delivery of perianesthetic care to patients across the life span.
At the completion of the NAP, the graduate will demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and competencies in the areas of patient safety, perianesthetic management, critical thinking, communication, and the professional role.
