The University of Pittsburgh Nurse Anesthesia Program is a full-time, doctoral-level track designed to prepare nurses for advanced anesthesia practice within one of the nation’s largest academic health systems. Delivered in close collaboration with UPMC, the program provides early and progressive clinical immersion across a wide range of settings, including high-acuity tertiary care hospitals, specialty surgical centers, and community facilities. Students receive extensive training in general, regional, obstetric, pediatric, and complex anesthesia care while completing a rigorous curriculum grounded in advanced physiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, and leadership. The program’s integration within a major research university and health system supports strong clinical preparation and readiness for national certification.

Degree Type

DNP in Anesthesia

Program Length

28 months, full time

Credit Hours

52 credits

Starting Month

January and August

Application Deadline

January

Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing is required.

Current registered nursing license. Need a Pennsylvania license upon admission to the program.

Minimum of 1 year of full time critical care experience within the past 5 years. Critical care experience should involve the following: Assessment of the critically ill and unstable patients, Invasive hemodynamic monitoring, Basic EKG interpretation, Management of vasoactive infusions, and Care of ventilator dependent patients. Not acceptable as primary experience: Telemetry, Neonatal ICU, Operating Room, *Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU or RR), or *Emergency Room. *Exceptions can be considered if the PACU unit is also ICU overflow on a regular basis or has the patient acuity of an ICU, or if the ER is part of an integrated level one shock/trauma OR and ICU system.

Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher

GRE must be taken within the last 10 years, but last 5 years is preferred.

Required Certifications: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Basic Life Support (BLS).

Must have taken a Statistics (3 credits) course.

Contact

ph: (412) 624-4860
email: [email protected]
web: www.pitt.edu