Nurse Anesthetist

Overview

Nurse anesthetist programs include topics such as:

• Biochemistry and physics of anesthesia
• Advanced anatomy and physiology
• Pain management
• Acute care and operating room practice
• Patient assessment and education
• Emergency intervention

Schools

Many universities and nursing schools offer graduate-level nurse anesthetist programs. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program usually requires two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

Many schools are phasing out the master's degree as preparation for nurse anesthetists. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is becoming the most common level of preparation.

See schools that offer this program.

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree in nursing, good grades, and good test scores.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
• Letters of recommendation
• Undergraduate course work in statistics
• One year or more of nursing experience in adult critical care

Typical Course Work

Graduate Program Courses

This graduate program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

• Advanced Practical Nursing
• Anesthesia Principles of Practice
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Clinical Pharmacology
• Endocrine and Renal Physiology
• Health Assessment
• Neurophysiology
• Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology of Anesthesia
• Physics of Anesthesia
• Physiology
• Respiratory Physiology

Nurse anesthetist programs require you to participate in a clinical residency. This means that you work and study in hospitals and medical centers under the supervision of nurse anesthetists and professors. Students continue learning about the principles of anesthesia through observation. At the same time, they also practice the skills and techniques of administering anesthesia and patient care acquired through classroom training.

Clinical residencies allow students to apply their course work to real-life situations. They also give students valuable experience that they can apply to their work after they complete their degree. Clinical residencies usually take one year to complete.

Things to Know

Some schools offer a doctoral (PhD) degree in nursing. This degree is more focused on nursing research.

After you graduate from an accredited program you need to pass an exam to become certified.

Schools

Spokane Area

Gonzaga University

• Nursing--Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice