Nurse Anesthesia Program

Course Information

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An Immersive Experience

The USC Program of Nurse Anesthesia is a full-time, 36-month curriculum leading to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP) degree and eligibility for the National Certification Exam and state licensure as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. The program requires 81 units for completion and degree conferral. Graduates become experts in anesthesiology, perioperative care, and pain management.

Students and instructor work on a medical dummy

In May every year, first-year nurse anesthesia trainee participate in a three-day on-campus orientation. The remainder of the first summer session is a blend of remote and in-person learning (up to 1 or 2 times per week). Doctoral students complete anesthesiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology coursework in the fall and spring semesters.

An intense two-year clinical training period begins in the second year. High fidelity simulation enhances clinical learning, skill acquisition, and high-performance team development. Nurse anesthesia trainee critically-appraise and translate research into clinical practice and demonstrate proficiency in a scholarly capstone project. In addition, health care policy, leadership, and technology coursework prepare the nurse anesthesia trainee to evolve into an industry leader.

The USC Program of Nurse Anesthesia transitioned to the DNAP degree in June 2017. USC and the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs approved all curriculum requirements. The program follows the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and the COA’s Standards for Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

DNAP Curriculum

Effective May 2022

  • Summer
    ANST 608 (H): Advanced Clinical Anatomy | 2 units
    ANST 610 (H): Advanced Physiology for Nurse Anesthetists | 4 units
    ANST 691 (H): Doctoral Capstone Proposal | 2 units

    8 units

    Fall
    ANST 508: Research: Investigative Inquiry | 3 units
    ANST 602 (H): Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 units
    ANST 604: Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care | 3 units
    ANST 609: Advanced Health Assessment | 3 units
    ANST 651: PeriOperative Evaluation and Management I | 3 units

    15 units

    Spring
    ANST 501: Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 units
    ANST 502: Principles of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 units
    ANST 601: Professional Integration to the Clinical Environment | 2 units
    ANST 652: PeriOperative Evaluation and Management II | 3 units
    ANST 694a: Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project | 2 units

    15 units

    (H) = Hybrid

  • Summer
    ANST 503: Advanced Pharmacology of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 units
    ANST 504: Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology in Nurse Anesthesia Practice | 4 units
    ANST 614: Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia I | 2 units

    10 units

    Fall
    ANST 506: Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Practice | 4 units
    ANST 611: Leadership and Collaborative Practice | 3 units
    ANST 615: Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia | 2 units
    ANST 631: Clinical Synthesis II | 2 units
    ANST 694b: Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project | 2 units

    13 units

    Spring
    ANST 616: Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia I | 2 units
    ANST 632: Clinical Synthesis II | 2 units
    ANST 694c: Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project | 2 units

    6 units

  • Summer
    ANST 613: Clinician Technology Interface| 3 units
    ANST 617: Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia II | 2 units
    ANST 633: Clinical Synthesis IIa | 2 units

    7 units

    Fall
    ANST 618: Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia III | 2 units
    ANST 634: Clinical Synthesis IIb | 2 units

    4 units

    Spring
    ANST 619: Advanced Clinical Practice in Nurse Anesthesia IV | 3 units
    ANST 694d: Doctoral Scholarship Capstone Project (if needed) | 2 units

    3-5 units

  • 81-82 units