Students rotate through a variety of clinical experiences as they progress through the program.  The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health System is a very large hospital network with over 20 clinical facilities in the urban and tri-state area.  Many of our clinical rotations are in UPMC facilities, and we also utilize other area hospitals to provide a wide variety of unique experiences.

External links to each hospital website (click picture) will appear in a separate browser window. 

Required Rotations

Urban

Community
(at least one)

Additional Sites

UPMC McKeesport

UPMC Passavant
UPMC Cranberry

UPMC St. Margaret

Butler Memorial Hospital

Jefferson Regional Medical Center

The Washington Hospital

Affinity Medical Center in Massillon, Ohio

Altoona Hospital

Clarion Hospital

Conemaugh Health System in Johnstown, PA

DNA Health Systems (Pain Service)

Highland District Hospital in Hillsboro, Ohio

University of Washington in Seattle, WA

UPMC Bedford

Weirton Medical Center in West Virginia

West Virginia University Hospitals - Ruby Memorial in Morgantown, WV

Students are assigned to all of the required rotations, at least one or more community sites, and other rotations as requested or needed to meet case/program requirements.  Students may be assigned to rotate to sites outside the area and requests are accepted.  Every attempt is made to assign students to those sites that meet their geographic or travel needs. 

Over 150,000 anesthetics are administered annually among these clinical institutions.  Throughout the program students administer an average of 850-900 anesthetics.  The variety of clinical affiliations expose the student to anesthesia practice in an array of environments with highly qualified Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Anesthesiologist faculty.  Throughout the program students receive guided instruction and gain experiences in preoperative assessment, formulation and implementation of in-depth anesthesia management plans, as well as postoperative patient care. 

UPMC Presbyterian is adjacent to the School of Nursing in Oakland and includes operating room locations at UPMC East (Presbyterian University Hospital), UPMC West  (formerly the Eye & Ear Hospital), and Surgicenter (Montefiore University Hospital).  The main in-patient operating rooms at UPMC East and West provide students with exposure to a wide range of pathologies and surgical interventions involving all surgical disciplines.  The organ transplant program has gained world wide acclaim.  In addition to routine adult surgery, students will provide a variety of anesthetic techniques for cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, organ transplantation, interventional radiology, extensive plastic/reconstructive surgery, maxillo-facial, and head and neck procedures. The student gains experience in management of a wide range of airway disorders in patients of all ages.    Students are assigned a concentrated rotation in cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, and neurosurgery, as well as in-house call opportunities in this level one trauma center.  Students also participate in the administration of general anesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy for patients at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

The Surgicenter in Montefiore University Hospital provides the nurse anesthesia student with a wide variety of cases in a fast-paced short stay environment.  Considerable experience is available for orthopedic, plastics, urology, dental, ENT, and ophthalmology procedures.  Additional experiences include the anesthetic management for renal lithotripsy and total joint replacements. 

Opportunities abound to participate in activities which are on the forefront of nursing, medical, surgical, and anesthesia science.
UPMC Shadyside is a large tertiary care facility located within three miles of the School of Nursing.  This facility provides the opportunity for a wide array of clinical experiences including anesthesia for cardiac surgery.  Because of the diversity of available experiences, the site will accommodate all levels of learners. 
UPMC St. Margaret offers a community setting with a large geriatric patient population for all types of surgery with emphasis on orthopedic and vascular cases using regional anesthesia. 

UPMC McKeesport is a community hospital serving an area with a large geriatric population. 
UPMC Passavant provides the student nurse anesthetist experience working in a community setting providing anesthesia to patients across the life span.  A wide variety of clinical experiences are available including thoracic, open heart, and major oncology procedures.  Students are also assigned to rotate to UPMC Cranberry.
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (UPMC) provides specialized care for pediatric patients from birth to the teen years.  Pediatric patients are anesthetized for a variety of procedures including general, cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, and organ transplant surgery.  The nurse anesthesia student will provide anesthesia services for this population and will function as an integral component of the anesthesia care team in the child's overall management. The hospital was moved to a new state-of-the-art facility in Lawrenceville on May 1, 2009.
Magee-Womens Hospital (UPMC) is an opportunity for students to provide anesthesia care for a variety of obstetrical, gynecological, and high risk oncology procedures.  The nurse anesthesia student is an active participant in the anesthetic management of routine and emergency procedures.  Magee-Womens Hospital offers valuable experience in providing anesthesia services for the parturient during labor and delivery, maternal and infant/neonatal care, surgical outpatients, and for routine general surgical procedures.
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center offers the nurse anesthesia student the opportunity to participate in the administration of anesthesia to geriatric patients as well as those with advanced pathophysiologic disease processes.  Anesthesia services are provided for a variety of routine general, cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, and vascular surgical procedures.  The facility is equipped with state of the art computerized record keeping equipment and students have the opportunity to develop proficiency with this advanced technology. 
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine provides the nurse anesthesia student with a one-of-a-kind clinical experience providing anesthesia for patients undergoing a variety of dental procedures in a setting outside the traditional surgical theater.  The patient population spans the life range with a large representation from the economically disadvantaged as well as mentally and physically challenged communities in a newly designed special needs area.  Anesthetic techniques include general anesthesia, and intravenous and nitrous oxide monitored anesthesia care.
UPMC Mercy was acquired as a clinical site in the Fall of 2002.  It is a tertiary, level 1 trauma center performing over 15,000 surgical procedures annually. The students assigned to this facility gain experience administering anesthesia to patients presenting for all types of cases and procedures including neuro, trauma, cardiac,  burns and outpatient services. Students work a variety of shifts and gain on-call experiences.
The Washington Hospital is a community hospital located south of Pittsburgh in adjacent Washington County.  Students began clinical experiences in this facility in the Fall of 2002.  The hospital provides a wide range of services. Students at all levels of the program are eligible for assignment to Washington Hospital. The students gain a well rounded community hospital experience during a rotation to this facility where the student anesthetist may administer anesthesia for cardiothoracic, general, vascular, urology, ENT, gynecology, ophthalmology, obstetrics and/or pediatric procedures. In addition the student is usually assigned to provide services at the free standing ambulatory surgery center adjacent to the hospital one day each week.
Butler Memorial Hospital provides nurse anesthesia student with the opportunity to practice in a community hospital setting.  Experiences include a wide variety of cases including open heart surgery.  Students utilize all anesthetic techniques to care for patients across the life span.
Jefferson Regional Medical Center which was added as a clinical affiliate in March 2004 is located in the South Hills section of Pittsburgh. A rotation at this facility provides the anesthesia student with experiences for patients across the life span.  A wide variety of clinical experiences are available in this community setting including thoracic, cardiac, neurosurgical and regional anesthesia.

Additional Sites 

Altoona Hospital, acquired as an affiliate site in 2004 is located approximately 100 miles east of Pittsburgh. It offers a community practice setting for the anesthesia student. The population served at the facility ranges in age from infant to geriatric and all types of surgical procedures are performed at the facility including cardiothoracic and neurosurgery.   

Clarion Hospital is a modern 96-bed community hospital offering family centered healthcare located about 80 miles north of Pittsburgh.  Students are afforded the opportunity to provide all types of anesthesia in a small team practice.

Conemaugh Health System is a large community hospital with a level one trauma center located in Johnstown, PA.  This site offers the student experiences in all types of anesthesia and surgery including thoracic, open heart and vascular cases.     

Weirton Medical Center is a community hospital located about 35 miles from campus near the Ohio border in West Virginia.  This site offers diverse clinical experiences, robust regional exposure, and the opportunity to perform central line insertions. 

West Virginia University - Ruby Memorial Hospital is located in Morgantown and provides students with a wide variety of cases.
University of Washington in Seattle, Washington was utilized in the Fall of 2002 and again in 2007.  Presently a rotation to this facility would only be feasible during the final term of the program. The University of Washington administers over 20,000 anesthetics/year and is a designated Level I Trauma facility. In addition to all types of anesthesia for all types of patients including those with  multi system failure, the student is afforded the opportunity to perfect his/her regional, invasive monitoring and fiberoptic techniques.
DNA Health Systems DNA Health Systems is a multidisciplinary pain management service utilizing a wide variety of resources including individualized rehabilitation, psychological and interventional therapies to treat chronic pain conditions.  Student will be involved with office services and in-hospital procedures.
UPMC Bedford Memorial is an acute care general hospital located about 110 miles from Pittsburgh. The hospital has units for medical, surgical, obstetrical, intensive care, coronary care, and telemetry services, and offers a variety of diagnostic capabilities. This site offers students a more rural community setting.
Affinity Medical Center is a is a 266 bed hospital located 80 miles west of Pittsburgh in Massillon Ohio and offers students a wide variety of experiences, including regional.

Highland District Hospital is located 60 miles north of  Cincinnati Ohio and 250 miles from Pittsburgh in Hillsboro Ohio.  It is a critical access designated, 25-bed acute care facility affording students a unique experience.