Why Select Pitt?

US News and World Report
Best Graduate Schools 2012


Pitt Nurse Anesthesia Program
Moves up to #3

Nurse Anesthesia program rankings began in 1998 when the program was ranked #2.  In 2004, US Army and Navy Nurse Corps programs were included in the rankings for the first time with Pitt ranked #6.  In 2008 we moved up to #5.  We are very proud that since the rankings began, we are one of only 4 programs to remain within the top ten (University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Commonwealth, Rush University, and Albany Medical College).

  SimplytheBest.net

Certifying Examination pass rates are consistently above the national average. 

 

bullet

  Class of 2011 - Fall:  23 graduate (100%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.

bullet

Class of 2011 - Spring:  20 graduates (95%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt. Retake pass rate is 100%.  

bullet

Class of 2010 - Fall:  23 graduates (100%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.

bullet

Class of 2010 - Spring:  17 graduates (100%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.

bullet

Class of 2009 - Fall:  18 of 19 graduates (95%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.  Retake pass rate is 100%. 

bullet

Class of 2009 - Spring:  19 of 20 graduates (95%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.  Retake pass rate is 100%.  The average score was 561 with a national mean of 504 for that year.

bullet

Class of 2008:  27 of 32 graduates (84%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.  Retake pass rate is 100%.  The average score was 492 with a national mean of 504 for that year.

bullet

Class of 2007:  37 of 39 graduates (95%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.  Retake pass rate is 97%.  The average score was 545 with a national mean of 537 for that year.

bullet

Class of 2006:  All 43 graduates (100%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.  The average score was 565. **

bullet

Class of 2005:  All 29 graduates (100%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt and 43% received a score of 600.  The average score was 564. 

bullet

Class of 2004:  34 of 35 graduates (97%) passed the certifying exam on the first attempt and 60% received a score of 600.  The average score was 575.  One student passed on the first retake.

bullet

Class of 2003:   All 28 graduates passed the certifying exam on the first attempt and all took only 90 questions!  The average score was 585.4 (highest in Program history) and there were 20 scores of 600 (71.4%).

bullet

Class of 2002:   All 27 graduates passed the certifying exam on the first attempt and all took only 90 questions!  The average score was 578 and there were 14 scores of 600 (52%).

bullet

Class of 2001:  All 26 graduates passed the certifying exam on the first attempt, and all took only 90 questions!  The average score was 569 with 8 scores of 600. 

bullet

Class of 2000:  18 of the 19 graduates passed the certifying exam on the first attempt. 1 student passed on the first retake.  There were 6 scores of 600.  11 scores (58%) were greater than 585

bullet

Class of 1999:  14 of the 16 graduates passed the certifying exam on the first attempt.  2 students passed on the first retake. There were 4 scores of 600 and 8 scores of over 580.

bullet Class of 1998:  All 17 graduates passed the certifying exam on the first attempt and there was one score of 600.

2010 AANA National Pass Rate: 
        1st time: 88.9%
         Repeat: 58.4%

National pass rates for first time test takers have ranged from 95% in 2004 to 87% in 2009

 

**NOTE:  A change in exam reporting occurred in 2006.  The exam was previously scaled from 300-600, with 600 as the maximum score.  The new scale ranges from 100-900. 

Passing score - 450

 

From 1998 to 2005, 86 of 197 graduates (44%) received a 600 score!

We offer intensive computerized practice tests and review sessions to prepare graduates for the rigors of the Certifying Examination.

All of the Nurse Anesthesia Program courses and core courses are supported on the Web.

bullet

Students can prepare for classes by downloading and printing course and lecture materials, such as lecture notes, slides and handouts from home or the computer labsFor some courses, a CD-Rom of materials is provided.

bullet

Web Links are provided to essential and supplemental information.

bullet

Falk Library has an extensive database search collection, over 2000 full text journals and over 300 medical textbooks available on-line for students.

bullet Clinical assignments and patient information for primary clinical sites are available on-line.

State-of-the-art on line case record data entry and evaluation system which allows the student the advantage of entering required case data from any computer or device with internet access.

All of our graduating students in the last 10 years have acquired employment promptly.

We are accredited for 10 years through 2020 from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Council on Accreditation (AANA-COA).  The School of Nursing is accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Council on Certification of Nurse Examiners (AACN - CCNE) through 2020.

The School of Nursing has an excellent national reputation in both education and nursing research. The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is currently ranked 5th in number of NIH funded grants.  They have been in the top 10 for the 11th consecutive year.  The Graduate School also moved up to 7th among the nation's top Graduate Schools in Nursing by U.S. News & World Report.  Visit the Center for Nursing Research Website

We have a strong academic curriculum with diverse and extensive clinical experience
bullet

The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh ranked first nationally in the total number of NIH grants and fourth in NIH support in anesthesiology.

bullet

The UPMC Health System is rated #12 for 2011-12 by US News and World Report

bullet The School of Dental Medicine clinical rotation is the only one of it's kind for Nurse Anesthesia Students

Outstanding didactic and clinical faculty  (see the Awards and Publications section)

We provide experiences with a high fidelity Human Simulator that enhance clinical and academic learning.
bullet

We developed the first Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management Course offered to students in the country.

bullet

Human simulator lab in a Mock Operating Room environment in the School of Nursing.

bullet

The School of Nursing is a full partner in the University of Pittsburgh WISER Simulation Center which contains multiple simulators and airway trainers in the largest civilian facility in the country.  The center is located nearby to the School of Nursing.   Link to WISER Center Website

All of the assets and services of a large urban campus with the personal attention of a small program.
bullet

The University provides sports activities, workout facilities, libraries, computer labs, internet access, counseling and testing services.

bullet The recently constructed Peterson Events Center contains an extensive workout facility exclusively for student use and is home to the Pitt Basketball team.