About the Nurse Anesthesia Practice

Nurse anesthetists were the first professional group to provide anesthesia services in the United States and they are the oldest recognized group of advanced practice registered nursing specialists. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) work in a variety of practice settings including hospitals, group practice, and as independent contractors. CRNAs administer anesthetics all types of surgical cases in hospitals, clinics and offices, provide coverage for obstetrics, and perform an array of regional anesthesia techniques. Anesthesia care is not only provided during surgery; CRNAs also care for each patient individually before surgery and through the immediate postoperative period. CRNAs can administer regional blocks for the management of acute and chronic pain. The USC Program of Nurse Anesthesia in the Keck School of Medicine/Department of Anesthesia provides its students with an advanced scientific knowledge base, research experience and a comprehensive array of clinical skills that hallmarks the standard of care in anesthesia practice.

Clinical Sites

The major clinical sites of the USC Program of Nurse Anesthesia include: Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, West Los Angeles Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Long Beach Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Center, Hudson Comprehensive Care Center, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, and Hallmark Surgery and Pain Management Center.