CRNA Doctorate??

[Brenna's Dad]

After reading the new AANA educational program policies and hearing about the renewed interest in increasing doctorate prepared nurse anesthetists (both clinical and PhD), I am curious what doctorate options for nurse anesthetists are currently available.

Are there any doctorate programs that focus specifically on anesthesia, pharmacology, biology etc, or must you participate in a more generalized nursing science program.?

[MmacFN]

Nitecap

Well said.

Nah I dont think they would. Listen nobody likes change but when its for the overall advancement or protection of the profession. The CRNA's that dont want to go ack that extra 6 months to the the DNP can keep practicing as they are. Those that wish to go back will go back. This move is all about the future not the present. Eventually al the masters prepared CRNA's and those with only certificates that were gradfathered in will retire and the entire CRNA work force will have the DNP.

I dont think its a move to knock on any CRNA's that dont want the DNP. Its merely a move to ensure advancement ect.

Listen nobody knows what the future holds for CRNA's and allied hlth practitioners in general. Even if its just a move to have a better title its a good idea. As professionals we deliver a needed service to the public. The public then judges us on our reputation, practice, research, documentation of safetey and excellence. To the public and lawmakers Joe Blow CRNA, DNP sounds way better and more credible than Hairy Back CRNA, MS or Wing Nut CRNA, cetificate practitioner. Support from the uniformed public is what keeps the profession at the status it is. If 6months of extra schooling and and a title change can help elevate that status than im all for it. This profession is alive and strong today largely due to proactice moves by its leadership to actualy implement changes to advance the profession before the time came the it was dire to change it. By staying ahead of the game we will continue the legacy of excellence no doubt.

[Jengirl18]

It's funny that all the classes mentioned above are ones I have already had in my PA education so far

[MmacFN]

Jen

They are MSN classes not DNP classes. However, in anycase they are not used past the final exam.

It's funny that all the classes mentioned above are ones I have already had in my PA education so far

[WVUturtle514]

If you are telling me that these classes are not "fluff" then you need to explain their relevance.

Health Policy, Legal & Ethical Dimensions of Practice

Epidemiology for the Health Professions

Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice

I disagree with you. While these classes may not help me "practice" anesthesia any better, I do think they serve a beneficial purpose. If I were going to school only to be trained in the technical aspects of my profession, then I guess that's what I would be.....a tech. These classes are included in the cirriculum of most programs, not because they help me perform better anesthesia, but because they make me a more well-rounded, educated professional. And if you think that ethics and health policy do not impact your practice on some level, I think you are sorely mistaken. Just my two cents!!!

[yoga crna]

I disagree with you. While these classes may not help me "practice" anesthesia any better, I do think they serve a beneficial purpose. If I were going to school only to be trained in the technical aspects of my profession, then I guess that's what I would be.....a tech. These classes are included in the cirriculum of most programs, not because they help me perform better anesthesia, but because they make me a more well-rounded, educated professional. And if you think that ethics and health policy do not impact your practice on some level, I think you are sorely mistaken. Just my two cents!!!

I agree with turtle. First of all, there are more legal and ethical situations than you can imagine in the nurse anesthetist profession. The astute practitioner needs to know how to practice within the legal and ethical framework and to handle those issues on a daily basis. While I am in favor of an emphasis on the hard sciences, an intellectually and socially well rounded person does better in this high stress profession. The only course in current masters programs that I think is fairly useless is Nursing Theory.

Yoga CRNA

[MmacFN]

well im not arguing with yoga

I understand what your saying, i just think that your either ethical or you are not, it isnt taught.

Good post turtle and you are right! Thanks !

[rayman]

Well said,turtle.

Mike I think you looking at things far too simplistically. Ethics for the most part isn't so much black and white but many shades of gray. Being a professional, especially at the na level, requires one to think more globally at times and this requires a fairly rounded education and world experience. Sure one can be a geek and concentrate solely on the hard sciences, but ethical considerations require more than science. Granted, the thought of more nursing theory, etc. is a bit nauseated and I am sure in a year or so I'll be eating these words, but I do have some appreciation of why I have to take them and although they may not have any immediate impact on my daily practice, at some point in time I will go "oh yeah, I remember....". No such thing as a wasted class...something can be used somewhere at some time.

[MmacFN]

ray

well ill be taking them so it will be interesting to see what they can teach me that i havent already encountered about ethics in the last 10 years.

Its a req. for the MSN so it has to be done. There were similar classes in the BScN which were reqs. but happened to be exactly what i expected, useless past the final exam. Maybe the grad classes with almost identicle names will be different. Only time will tell!

[UTBME]

Just so i get this straight...

Does this proposal mean that current CRNAs would have to go back and get a DNP or just those seeking a CRNA degree after 2015?