Nurse Anesthesia, D.N.A.P.

The nurse anesthetist is a highly trained medical care specialist who is responsible for the anesthesia requirements of patients in all areas of surgery. The nurse anesthetist develops, implements, and evaluates the anesthetic plan of care for individual patients and is a vital part of the anesthesia and health care teams. The nurse anesthesia program at the University of South Carolina is an accredited program by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs and prides itself on a very high graduation rate and excellent pass success on the certification exam. Through careful selection of applicants, quality instruction, and supportive environment, 95% of our admitted students succeed in completing the program and earning their anesthesia degree. All of the program graduates have passed the National Certification Examination of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists and have consistently scored at or above the national average. The first-time rate for passing the Certification Exam remains significantly above the national average. To date all graduates have found appropriate employment as Nurse Anesthetists.

The Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program is a cooperative program between the School of Medicine Columbia and its clinical training partner institutions, Prisma Health Richland (PHR) in Columbia, SC and Prisma Health Greenville Memorial (PHGM) in Greenville, SC. PHR began training nurse anesthetists in 1969 at the School of Nurse Anesthesia with involvement of School of Medicine (Columbia) faculty since 1986. A program leading to the Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice from University of South Carolina was accredited in 1993, and in 2010 Greenville was approved as an additional required (primary) clinical site. Students may complete their entire educational program either in Columbia or Greenville sites (as per seat availability), with didactic educational content shared by two-way synchronous interactive videoconferencing between Columbia and Greenville classrooms.

Learning Outcomes

• Integrate understanding of concepts in human anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology to clinical practice.
• Exhibit evidence of knowledge of all the indications, contraindications, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of currently available anesthetic agents and drugs.
• Utilize knowledge of the anesthetic related indications in the care of specialties such as neurosurgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, and cardio-thoracic anesthesia.
• Develop an evidence based project that demonstrates clinical scholarship supporting translation of knowledge into practice.

Admissions

Prerequisites must be met prior to an offer for an interview. Admission is competitive and students are chosen on the basis of their academic record, employment history and performance, character, and general fitness for the study of nurse anesthesia. To be accepted, the applicant must interview and demonstrate evidence of good physical health, emotional stability, and personality considered necessary for successful performance as a nurse anesthetist. Applicants to the Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia are recommended by an interview admissions committee composed of faculty from the USC School of Medicine, clinical coordinators, and nurse anesthesia students.

Final decision for admission is made by program faculty in conjunction with the University of South Carolina Graduate School.  

Applicants whose native language is not English must: 

1. Submit a satisfactory score on an English proficiency test. 

2. Take a diagnostic test in English when they arrive at the university.