Today's nurse anesthetists need advanced theoretical knowledge and extensive clinical experience to meet the critical demands of their profession. La Roche College's graduate program in health sciences offers an integrated approach to nurse anesthesia education: a valuable blend of theoretical classroom learning and clinical practice and research that's geared to a complex and rapidly changing field.
Baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses pursuing a master's degree full-time combine theoretical course work at La Roche College with clinical-based education and practicum at Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Anesthesia, located at Allegheny General Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center.
Current Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) can supplement their clinical expertise and earn advanced degrees with part-time, graduate-level study.
By developing a broad base of knowledge in the biophysical sciences, both non-CRNA and CRNA students can gain the expertise necessary for comprehensive anesthesia management of patients. You'll learn to develop management strategies for patients of various age groups with different co-existing disease processes by applying the theoretical concepts studied in the classroom. You'll also develop the research skills necessary to solve complex problems on the job, and to evaluate current anesthesia literature. Development of leadership skills essential for managing patients within a multidisciplinary framework is an essential component of our program.
La Roche College has been a leader in nurse anesthesia education for over 25 years. After a decade of offering a bachelor's degree in the field, the College moved its curriculum to the graduate level in 1987, following a mandate by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) that anesthesia education be offered at the graduate level by the late 1990s.
The strong reputations of La Roche College's health sciences program and Pittsburgh's health care arena have attracted students from across the country and around the world to pursue advanced specialty education in nurse anesthesia. In turn, health sciences graduates are highly sought for positions nationwide.
One of the program's greatest strengths is its faculty. Dedicated, full-time professors hold doctorates and are recognized in their areas of expertise. Experienced adjunct faculty are highly respected professionals from La Roche College's affiliated school of anesthesia and Pittsburgh's health care community. Together, they provide a unique blend of theory and practical application leading to a challenging education that prepares qualified nurses to meet the changing demands of the anesthesia profession.
Anesthesia School Accreditation Status
The Allegheny Valley Hospital/La Roche College School of Nurse Anesthesia is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), 222 S. Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Phone: 847-655-1160. The next scheduled review by COA is May 2015.
Class of 2012: Attrition rate: 23.5% (4/17)
Employment rate: 100%
NCE Pass rate for 1st time takers: 85%
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Website
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Entrance Requirements:
To be considered for admission into Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Anesthesia, the applicant must fulfill the following prerequisites: |
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An appropriate baccalaureate degree (B.S.N., B.S., B.A.) |
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Current licensure as a registered nurse |
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Grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the undergraduate level |
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Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogy Test |
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Minimum of one year of nursing experience in an adult critical care setting |
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Current BCLS, ACLS and PALS certification |
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Grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the undergraduate level in the following areas: |
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Chemistry |
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Human Anatomy & Physiology |
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Pharmacology |
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d. |
Physics |
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If any of these courses were taken more than ten years ago, applicants may be required to verify competency in these areas. |
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Three approved references/recommendations from: |
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Immediate Nurse Manager in current position |
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Individual familiar with applicant's competency in present position |
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Nursing Supervisor |
| To begin the admissions process CLICK HERE. (Graduate Admissions Letter in PDF Format)
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Graduate Health Science Curriculum
The graduate program in nurse anesthesia consists of two parts: a La Roche College portion, and a clinical-based portion taught at Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Anesthesia. A student seeking to become a CRNA must complete both parts of the curriculum successfully in order to be granted the Master of Science in Health Science from La Roche College. Students who already possess the CRNA credential (but wish to earn the Master's degree) are required to complete only the La Roche College portion of the curriculum.
The graduate program is a full-time program. Incoming students officially begin in the fall semester, and take five consecutive semesters of courses at La Roche College. For first year students, La Roche courses are taught on Thursdays and Fridays, and professional preparation in the hospital is scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Summer session classes at the end of year one are offered during the late afternoon and early evening. For second year students, the La Roche courses are taught on Mondays, with clinical work scheduled for the remainder of the week. The remaining time is spent entirely at the program's affiliated clinical sites: Allegheny General Hospital, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Forbes Regional Hospital, Alle-Kiski Medical Center, Butler Memorial Hospital, Passavant Hospital, Sewickley Valley Hospital, St. Clair Memorial Hospital and The Beaver Medical Center.
The La Roche College portion of the graduate program consists of three components:
The first component provides students with a broad base of knowledge in the biophysical sciences, through which they can develop expertise in the anesthesia management of patients in the perioperative, resuscitative and ventilatory support phases of care. This part of the curriculum includes courses in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology; organic, medicinal and biological chemistry; pharmacology; and medical physics.The second component is designed to introduce students to the methodology of research including the nature of scientific thinking, selection of research techniques, analysis and interpretation of data and formulations of conclusions. As part of this component, students are required to design and present a project in anesthesia education or anesthesia research. The goal of the research component is to establish the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate medical reserach and to provide an understanding of research methodology. Students also have the option of writing and defending a Master's thesis.The third component consists of advanced theory courses in anesthesia. Students are presented with principles and techniques involved in anesthesia management of patients of varying ages and health conditions.Curriculum Goals and Objectives:
to prepare practitioners in the area of anesthesiato develop nurse anesthetists as consumers of and contributors to anesthesia researchto prepare nurse anesthetists to serve as leaders, educators and role models in anesthesia and health care delivery systemsto prepare specialists who are able to facilitate managerial improvement in the delivery of anesthesia serviceto provide nurse anesthesia students with a sound foundation for entry into doctoral study.Upon completion of the master's level nurse anesthesia program, the students will be able to:
demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the fundamental sciences to ensure greater competence in anesthesia practice, as well as teaching in a nurse anesthesia programengage in collateral reading in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical subjects related to the field of anesthesiaconduct research and evaluate current literature in order to initiate and provide improved anesthesia and acute patient careassume a leadership role in collaboration with health care team members and serve as a role model for future health care providersfunction as a resource person for nursing staff/other learnersapply principles of research to the clinical anesthesia settingdesign, implement,evaluate and revise an anesthetic care plan for assigned patientsutilize appropriate scientific principles related to asepsis, anesthesia and respiratory techniquesapply knowledge of nursing theories and models in advanced nursing and specialty areas of nurse anesthesia practice.Course Sequence
The La Roche College requirements include 49 credits of courses, taken in the sequence shown below.
Note: courses in the summer of Year One are offered in six-week blocks. HSCG5012 is scheduled in session 6A (the first block) and HSCG5010 follows in the second block (session 6B).
In addition, all students are required to register for two additional 6-credit courses which are taught at Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Anesthesia: HSCG5030 (Anesthesia Didactics I) and HSCG6030 (Anesthesia Didactics II).
Students at Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Anesthesia take HSCG5030 (Didactics I) in Year One and HSCG6030 (Didactics II) in Year Two
The total credits for this graduate program, including HSCG5030 and 6030, is 49.
Note: students who already possess the CRNA credential are exempt from taking HSCG5030 and 6030. Your total credit requirement for the Master of Science degree is 37.
