The Nurse Anesthesia Program has been established in conformance with all standards and criteria of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The focus of the program is on excellence in clinical performance and evidence based practice. The 36-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 intensive simulation experience. The second year incorporates clinical experiences in the Portland metropolitan area, including OHSU Hospital, Portland, Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, and Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

The third year begins a four-quarter sequence of clinical rotations designed to provide opportunity to integrate advanced evidence-based nurse anesthesia content into clinical practice. Clinical experiences will be obtained at outstanding anesthesia sites that provide diverse experiences and specialty rotations. Some locations are in or near Portland, Ore. including OHSU Hospital, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital and Willamette Valley Medical Center (McMinnville, Ore). Students may travel to sites outside of the area including Hillcrest Medical Center (Tulsa, OK) and Saint Alphonsus Medical Center (Boise, ID). Some students will also have the opportunity to rotate to enrichment sites at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle, Wash.), Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital (Hood River, Ore.), Legacy Silverton Hospital (Silverton, Ore.), Samaritan Pacific Community Hospital (Newport, Ore.), Prosser Memorial Hospital (Prosser, Wash.), Henderson Hospital (Las Vegas, NV), Sunrise Medical Center (Las Vegas, NV) and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center (Vancouver, WA). Expenses associated with travel, housing and living at distant sites are the student’s responsibility.

Applicants are required to have a minimum of one year of full-time critical care experience as an RN. Critical care experience refers to adult, pediatric or neonatal intensive care (such as medical, surgical, combined, neurological or cardiovascular). Applicants with only emergency room, recovery room or operating room experience will not be admitted. The most competitive candidates will be selected for a required on-campus interview.

Upon completion of the Nurse Anesthesia program of study the graduate will have achieved the required didactic and clinical requirements to be eligible to apply for the National Certification Exam administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. At the completion of the OHSU School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia program, the graduates will demonstrate the following competencies in addition to the DNP program student learning outcomes:

1. Exhibit and appraise safe, vigilant care to patients across the lifespan, with an emphasis on continual quality improvement throughout the perianesthetic period.
2. Provide patient-centered, culturally sensitive perianesthetic care based upon performance of a systematic assessment of the patient’s condition, and formulation of a comprehensive anesthesia plan.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking throughout the perianesthetic period, with an emphasis on the anticipation of and response to varying clinical conditions.
4. Facilitate collaborative relationships with patients, families, healthcare partners, and the community to promote effective communication of information and enhance patient safety.
5. Conduct a systematic evaluation of evidence from current scientific literature as a basis for informed nurse anesthesia practice.
6. Display a commitment to professionalism by exemplifying personal integrity, adherence to ethical standards, humility, accountability and compassion in all professional activities.