CRNA's working with AA's

[OscarRN]

Has any one worked with AA's in an ACT model? How is it? Do MDA's and other health care professionals bunch AA's and CRNA's together? There is a bill in the house of my state to determine if they are going to allow AA's to practice here. I'm nervous this may catch on in other states making it more difficult to find jobs upon graduation.

[chudder]

Nope, the liability insurance are the same whether we/CRNAs work in an ACT or practice independently. There has not been shown to be an increased risk for CRNAs working in an ACT model or independently so the insurance rates would be the same. I haven't surveyed every insurance company out there so you will have to take that with some grain of salt.

Anesthesiologists do not make anesthesia any safer simply by being anesthesiologists and being present/supervising. Technology and modern pharmaceuticals have made the biggest impact on safety in anesthesia.

from what I understand, CRNA malpractice rates actually dropped in the years following passage of the Medicare Opt Out rule.

[jwk]

I've worked with AA's and I wasn't impressed. Most of them have zero experience with patient care, so trivial things like starting an IV or mixing a bag of pressors can turn into a big fiasco. Although there are no current studies stating they provide inferior anesthesia, I do think they're superfluous and unnecessary to the profession. It also seemed they wouldn't do squat without running it by the MDA first...something I'm not used to doing in my experience.

Facts are your friend - you don't have any. Your opinions are laughable since you clearly have not actually worked with AA's.

[RhinoRocketRN]

They were commenting on what they have come across with the AAs they've seen in practice, not ALL AAs. Get your panties unbunched And stop being so defensive :)

[jwk]

They were commenting on what they have come across with the AAs they've seen in practice, not ALL AAs. Get your panties unbunched And stop being so defensive :)

Not defensive at all - I just know total BS when I see it. I can guarantee you - every AA in practice, as well as students, know how to start an IV or mix a bag of pressors.

Many AA's do in fact have patient care experience, just not as nurses.

The comment about "superfluous and unnecessary" speaks volumes to the motivation of the person posting.

[Goose Xx, MSN, RN, EMT-P, CRNA]

I worked with a couple of AAs while finishing my residency. They were very nice to work with and knew their stuff. We got along great. I did not see any of the previously mentioned issues.

[ruler of kolob]

I'm pretty sure if AAs were as bad as many CRNA's wish they were...they would not find jobs. Anecdotally , AA's seem to have more job choices than more than a few new grad CRNA's.