Nurse Anesthesia Education

Updated January 2008 Listed by State / University
I have been asked many times about a U.S. News report ranking the top five nurse anesthesia programs. Please be aware that not all programs may cooperate with the surveys. Here is the 2003 report:
1. Virginia Commonwealth University
2. U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Texas
3. Navy Nurse Corps
3 (tie). Rush University
Here is the list from a few years ago:
1. Rush University
2. Case Western Reserve University
3. University of Pittsburgh Main Campus
4. Columbia University
5. University of Tennessee, Memphis

"The First Nurse Anesthetist School"
Alabama
Samford University: Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing, Department of Nurse Anesthesia, Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham: Nurse Anesthetist Program, Birmingham
Arizona
Midwestern University: Fairly new program in Glendale
Arkansas
Arkansas State University: College of Nursing and Health Professions, Master of Science in Nursing-Nurse Anesthesia
California
California State University, Fullerton: Academic site for the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia For Nurses; Also check out Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia official web site
Samuel Merritt College: Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia, Oakland. The college has an entry level MSN program to prepare nurse anesthetists, and also a totally online MSN completion program for CRNAs and other advanced practice nurses
University of Southern California: Program of nurse anesthesia, Los Angeles
Colorado
Sumner College of Health Sciences: A new program of nurse anesthesia Denver, with emphasis on distant learning
Connecticut
Central Connecticut State University: This university is affiliated with New Britain General Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, New Britain; and the Hospital of St. Raphael School of Nurse Anesthesia, New Haven
Southern Connecticut State University: Bridgeport Hospital Nurse Anesthesia Program, Bridgeport.; Students receive a Masters in Biology and a Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia
District of Columbia
Georgetown University: School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program
Florida
Barry University: School of Natural & Health Sciences, Anesthesiology Program, Miami Shores
Florida Gulf Coast University: New univeristy based program
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences Nurse Anesthesia Program: Proposed new college based program
Florida International University: FIU School of Nursing in North Miami
Gooding Institute of Nurse Anesthesia: Bay Medical Center, Panama City
University of Miami: School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program, Coral Gables, Jackson Health System
University of North Florida: New univeristy based program
University of South Florida: New univeristy based program
Wolford College: Program in Naples directed by Dr. Norman Wolford, CRNA.
Georgia
Medical College of Georgia: Nurse Anesthesia Program, Augusta
Mercer University’s School of Medicine: New nurse anesthesia program affiliated with the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon
Illinois
Rush University: College of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Chicago; They also have a post certificate masters program and a doctorate program
Bradley University: Affiliated with Decatur Memorial Hospital Nurse Anesthesia Program
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare School of Anesthesia: For 76 years, it operated at Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center in Chicago. In 2001, it transferred to Evanston Northwestern Healthcare. The School is located at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare's Evanston Hospital, in Evanston. They also have a post certificate masters program. It's university affiliate is DePaul University.
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science College of Health Professions: New program in North Chicago
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville: School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Specialization, Edwardsville
Iowa
University of Iowa: College of Nursing, Anesthesia Nursing Program, Iowa City
Kansas
Newman University: Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program in Wichita.
University of Kansas Medical Center: Program of Nurse Anesthesia Education, Kansas City, and also has a Masters Degree "outreach" program for nurse anesthetists
Kentucky
Murry State University: Trover Clinic Foundation Program of Anesthesia, Madisonville
Louisiana
Louisiana State Universtiy Health Sciences Center School of Nursing: Nurse Anesthesia Option, New Orleans
Our Lady of the Lake College: New Nurse Anesthesia program in development in Baton Rouge
Maine
University of New England School of Nurse Anesthesia, Portland: An important purpose of their (UNE) program is to provide a path for currently practicing Baccalaureate-Level CRNA's to complete their academic MS Degree
Maryland
Navy Nurse Anesthesia: Naval School of Health Sciences, Bethesda
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences: Graduate School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Silver Springs
University of Maryland: Nursing Master of Science Nurse Anesthesia, Baltimore
Massachusetts
Boston College: The William F. Connell School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
Northeastern University: Bouve College of Health Sciences School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program
Michigan
Oakland University: Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia, Royal Oak
Michigan State University: A new nurse anesthesia program in East Lansing
University of Detroit Mercy: An academic program offering a Master of Science degree through the College of Health Professions, University of Detroit Mercy
University of Michigan-Flint / Hurley Medical Center: Master of Science in Anesthesia Program, Flint; Has a CRNA to Masters completion program
Wayne State University: College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Detroit
Minnesota
Mayo School of Health-Related Sciences: Nurse Anesthesia Program, Rochester
University of Minnesota: They have a partnership with Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: They have developed a cooperative program with Minneapolis School of Anesthesia, located in St. Louis Park.
Missouri
Barnes Jewish College: The Nurse Anesthesia Program at Barnes-Jewish College in St. Louis
Missouri State University: The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (M.S.N.A.) program is a cooperative program with Southwest Missouri School of Anesthesia (SMSA) of St. John's Regional Health Center.
Webster University, Science Department, St. Louis: This nurse anesthesia program also includes a CRNA Master of Science Completion Program.
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri: Academic site for the Truman Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia
Nebraska
BryanLGH Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia: BryanLGH Medical Center, in cooperation with the BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, offers a 33-month program for registered nurses leading to a Master of Science degree in Nurse Anesthesia

Photograph of nurses from around the nation at the St. Frances Hospital, Peoria, Ill., circa 1940 or 1941.

Administering the anesthetic is Sister Mary Borromea Suplicka, chief of the department. She initiated the first Assembly of Instructors in Schools of Anesthesia in 1939, and served as AANA Vice-President in 1939. Looking over her right shoulder is Anna Willenborg (b.1883), who served as AANA Executive Secretary 1937 to 1941, becoming the first full-time salaried AANA executive officer, and in circa 1914, started an anesthesia school at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Chicago.
New Jersey
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey: This program operates in collaboration with University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, and also has a MSN completion program designed for CRNAs and other NPs
Drexel University: Affiliated with Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia
New York
Albany Medical College: Graduate Studies Program, Nurse Anesthesiology Program, Albany
Columbia University: School of Nursing Program in Nurse Anesthesia, New York
State University of New York (SUNY), Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn: Clinical sites are Kings County Hospital and Harlem Hospital Center.
State University of New York at Buffalo: School of Nursing Nurse Anesthetist Program, Buffalo
North Carolina
Duke University: Anesthesia program at the School of Nursing, Durham
East Carolina University: Nurse anesthesia program at the School of Nursing, Greenville
University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Carolina HealthCare System Nurse Anesthesia Program. A collaborative endeavor of UNC Charlotte and Carolinas HealthCare System.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro: The University serves as the academic site for two programs, Wake Forest University School of Medicine/North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, and the Raleigh School of Anesthesia in Raleigh.
Western Carolina University Nurse Anesthesia Program: A new program in Candler
North Dakota
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks: Graduate program in nurse anesthesia, College of Nursing
Ohio
Captial University: New program in Columbus
Case Western Reserve University: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Cleveland; This program also serves as the academic site for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation School of Nurse Anesthesia
Youngstown State University Bitonte College of Health and Human Services: Academic site for the St. Elizabeth Health Center School for Nurse Anesthetists, Youngstown
University of Akron: College of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program, Akron. Has CRNA Graduate degree completion program
University of Cincinnati: College of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Major, Cincinnati. Also has a CRNA MSN degree completion option.
Oregon
Oregon Health and Science University: OHSU in Portland
Pennsylvania
Drexel University Nurse Anesthesia Program: College of Nursing and Health Professions, Philadelphia
Excela Health School of Anesthesia: The school of anesthesia in conjunction with St. Vincent College in Latrobe offers a Masters Degree in Health Science in Nurse Anesthesia
Gannon University: Academic site for the Hamot Medical Center School of Anesthesia, Erie
LaRoche College: LaRoche College is an affordable, private college in western Pennsylvania. The college serves as the academic center for Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia in Natrona Heights
La Salle University, Philadelphia: Academic site for the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia at Montgomery Hospital, Norristown, PA.
Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia's Jesuit University: The University serves as the academic center for the Nazareth Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesiology, Philadelphia
Thomas Jefferson University: New program in development at the School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Philadelphia
University of Pennsylvania: School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Philadelphia
Villanova University: The University serves as the academic center for the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland. They also have a post-masters CRNA completion program.
University of Pittsburgh: School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program
University of Scranton School of Nurse Anesthesia: Wyoming Valley Health Care System, Wilkes-Barre
York College of Pennsylvania / WellSpan Health (YCP/WH) Nurse Anesthetists Program: A new program designed to meet the needs of South Central Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico: Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesiology Nursing Department, Arecibo. The site is in spanish, but here is a link directly to the anesthesia section.
Rhode Island
Central Connecticut State University: This university is affiliated with the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island School of Nurse Anesthesia, Pawtucket
University of New England School of Nurse Anesthesia, Portland, Maine: This university services as the academic center for St. Joseph Hospital School of Anesthesia for Nurses, North Providence
South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina: Anesthesia for Nurses Program, Charleston
University of South Carolina: Academic site for the Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia
South Dakota
Mount Marty College: Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesiology, Sioux Falls
Tennessee
Lincoln Memorial University: New program at the Caylor School of Nursing in Harrogate
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia in Madison: "Reflecting Christ in Anesthesia Education"
Union University in Jackson: New program at the Union University School of Nursing
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: Erlanger Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia, Chattanooga
University of Tennessee in Knoxville: College of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Concentration
University of Tennessee College of Nursing, Memphis: Nurse Anesthesia Option
Texas
Army Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia: Affiliated with the University of Texas Houston-Health Science Center School of Nursing; Be, all that you can be!; Walter Reed Anesthesia/Anesthesiology Web phase II site
Baylor College of Medicine Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia in Houston A photograph of a nurse anesthetist administering an anesthetic with the Sanders inhalation apparatus in the late 1920s at Baylor Hospital In 1920 nurse anesthetist Mr. L.A. (Pinkie) Sanders and anesthesiologist Dr. James Granger Poe (1873–1935) developed the Sanders anesthetic machine. It was used extensively throughout Texas and other states, and was very popular for about 20 years. In about 1921, Dr. Poe became the first medical director of anesthesia at Baylor Hospital. In 1922 Dr. Poe established a nurse anesthetist training program within Baylor Hospital, later to be called the Baylor School of Nurse Anesthetists.
Texas Christian University: School of Nurse Anesthesia, Fort Worth
Texas Wesleyan University: Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia, Fort Worth
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: School of Nursing, Program in Nurse Anesthesia, Houston
Utah
Westminster College School of Nursing and Health Professions: A new program in Salt Lake City
Virginia
Old Dominion University: School of Nurse Anesthesia, Old Dominion University, Norfolk
Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia: Department of Nurse Anesthesia, Richmond; Through the School of Allied Health Professions, the Department also offers a unique distance learning Ph.D. program of study in Health Related Sciences for nurse anesthetists
Washington
Gonzaga University: Sacred Heart Medical Center School Master of Anesthsiology Education Program, Spokane
West Virginia
Charleston Area Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia: Offering a masters degree in health care administration
Mountain State University: Mountain State University in Beckley is a CRNA program using an innovative approach that combines on-line instruction & limited residency with clinical experience geographically placed throughout the region.
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse: Academic site for the Franciscan Skemp Healthcare School of Anesthesia, La Crosse. Also, here is the web site for the Franciscan Skemp program.
"First Clinical Trials of Halothane by Anesthesia Students" Early nursing pin from the Grace Hospital School of Anesthesia. I think this pin is from the Grace Hospital program in Detroit, that started in July 1918 under the direction of Dr. Myra Babcock. The anesthesia program merged into the Harper-Grace system in about 1975. In 1981 the administration of Harper-Grace Hospital School of Anesthesia close its program and merge with the Wayne State University Program. Grace Hospital opened for patients in December, 1888. The hospital was torn down in 1979. FYI, Harry Houdini died in room 401, Grace Hospital, on Halloween in 1926. I love the motto - "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Safety" Another early nursing pin from the Creighton Memorial St. Joseph's Hospital of Omaha. I do not have any information about this program. Their motto - "Vita Alitis Vota" This is a ring that says "school of anesthesia." I have no information on the origins of this ring.

Hospital Web
This site is a very large source for links to USA Hospitals on the WWW. Useful when researching anesthesia schools.

Photograph of nurse anesthetist dripping ether onto gauze mask, circa 1919.

NLM, Bethesda - For educational purposes only, no infringement on copyright or ownership implied.

	Early nursing pin from the Grace Hospital School of Anesthesia. I think this pin is from the Grace Hospital program in Detroit, that started in July 1918 under the direction of Dr. Myra Babcock. The anesthesia program merged into the Harper-Grace system in about 1975. In 1981 the administration of Harper-Grace Hospital School of Anesthesia close its program and merge with the Wayne State University Program. Grace Hospital opened for patients in December, 1888. The hospital was torn down in 1979. FYI, Harry Houdini died in room 401, Grace Hospital, on Halloween in 1926. I love the motto - "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Safety"
Another early nursing pin from the Creighton Memorial St. Joseph's Hospital of Omaha. I do not have any information about this program. Their motto - "Vita Alitis Vota"
	This is a ring that says "school of anesthesia." I have no information on the origins of this ring.