The nurse anesthetist is a highly trained medical care specialist who, under the supervision of a physician, 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 health care team. The nurse anesthesia program at the University of South Carolina is accredited for the maximum 10-year period 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 Master’s degree. All of the program graduates have passed the National Certification Examination of the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists and have scored at or above the national average. The first-time rate for passing the Certification Exam has been 92% for the past five years. To date all graduates have found appropriate employment as Nurse Anesthetists. The Masters of Nurse Anesthesia program is a cooperative program between the School of Medicine and its clinical training partner institutions, Palmetto Richland Hospital (PRH) in Columbia, SC and Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHSUMC) in Greenville, SC. PRH began training nurse anesthetists in 1969 at the School of Nurse Anesthesia with involvement of School of Medicine faculty since 1986. A program leading to a Master of Nurse Anesthesia from University of South Carolina was accredited in 1993, and in 2010 GHSUMC was approved as an additional primary clinical site. Students may now complete their entire educational program either in Columbia or Greenville, with didactic educational content shared by two-way interactive videoconferencing between Columbia and Greenville classrooms.

* Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology. * Demonstrate knowledge of all the indications, contraindications, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of currently available anesthetic agents and drugs. * Demonstrate knowledge of the anesthetic related indications in the care of specialties (Advanced Principles of Anesthesia) such as neurosurgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, and cardio-thoracic anesthesia.