The public says no to low-level anesthesia providers

And only two weeks ago, the ASA came out with this one for Colorado.

Colorado residents do not back independant CRNA practice.

Personally, before I believe either of these opinion polls, I would have to see the questions, and who the target audience was of their calls. A great deal of leading can be accomplished with the right line of questions.

Along with this survey result, the AANA put out a rather slanderous ad about AAs in the stars and stripes. (if you will recall, the AANA was aghast at the ads the ASA was running in New Hampshire centering around Gov. Shaheens campaign) In the ad, there is a confused looking individual administering anesthesia. The patient laying on the table has an unsecured ETT and the provider is not holding it either. The IV bag is unspiked, to me implying no IV running. So, while I would like to believe that the AANA survey is true, I have to hold the results at a distance first, and ask a few questions.

Now, before I get labled as anti AANA, and Pro ASA, I should say that I don't implicitly trust their survey either. I am just pointing out that we are not the only ones using these tactics to defend our case.

Here's something I was thinking about while reading the ASA's article - what affect does the term "Nurse Anesthetist" have on the general public's perception, vs. just using the term "Anesthetist"?

Or even more influential is the way the article worded it: "DENVER-Most Coloradans do not support Governor Bill Owens' announced plan to remove physician supervision of anesthesia nurses during surgery, according to the results of a statewide survey."

What image do you think that this creates in the average person's mind? A nurse doing my anesthesia without a doctor! Nurses change bed pans, and hook up IVs not administer anesthesia! A doctor needs to be present.

Unfortunately the term 'Nurse' in the general public's eye does not hold alot of esteem. I think you further degrade the situation by using the term, "anesthesia nurse" instead of "Nurse Anesthetist."

What if the article would have read, "DENVER-Most Coloradans do not support Governor Bill Owens' announced plan to remove physician supervision of anesthetists during surgery, according to the results of a statewide survey." To the general public it would probably not have the same effect.

Basically, the public needs to be educated on what a CRNA is, schooling etc, before they can make a meaningful decision.

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating dropping the term 'nurse'...but it is important to remember what images or conotations are created by using certain words.

...that AANA ad against AAs seemed overboard and desperate to me.

Warzone, you bring a up a very valid point on the publics perception of nurses. In general they believe nurses are maids or waitresses. Just the other night in the ICU I had the son of a pt come into the unit at 0300 (obviously had been out drinking) telling me he would be sleeping in the waiting room and would be requiring a 0600 wake up call. I usually bend over backwards to accomadate my pts and their family. Well his struck me very wrong and I have to admit I was extremley rude this individual but I did give him the we are not waitresses or maids. We in fact save lives as nurses and have very difficult and demanding jobs. I should have not been rude but he really ticked me off.

You guys are really in your "nurse mode" in being so critical of the AANA's ads and quoting research. Learn to emphasize the points that are most important to you in public. This is a public forum. It is important that you support your national organization and not look for ways to criticize it. By the way the ad is nothing close to slander or libel, so please don't try to practice law; there are plenty of lawyers who can do that. Tell everyone you can that the public doesn't want a lesser educated person doing their anesthesia. I am very supportive of the AANA on this, because this is a move by the A$A to get rid of indpendent CRNAs and replace them with lower paid, less educated, people who they can control. I know I am being hard on you guys, but if you don't support our profession who do you think will? Let the flames begin!!
Yoga

Yoga

What exactly do you consider being in the "nurse mode?"

Yoga,

I am very glad to hear your voice on supporting AANA and on the AA issue. I think these are points we cannot emphasize enough.

When we have discussed AAs here recently, I got an overall impression that many here are not overly bothered by the entire debate. Which I guess is not too surprising, since many practicing CRNAs feel the same way.

But you and I know such apathy is dead wrong. These issues are incredibly important to our future. And you and I are much closer to retirement (no matter how long off that is, for us) than those on this board who have not even been certified yet, and have their entire career ahead of them. They are the ones this should matter to the most!

I applaud the SRNAs here that are knowledgable on these issues. Keep it up, and spread the word.

loisane crna

I thought these two paragraphs told the whole story:


It’s really quite amazing that the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has been pushing in recent years for AAs to be recognized in more states and in the military," said Lester. "The ASA has been telling the public for years that patient safety is its number one priority, and then the ASA goes out and extols the virtues of AAs whose safety record has never been studied, and whose educational background pales in comparison to that of anesthesiologists and CRNAs.

"The real reasons why the ASA is promoting AAs are obvious: control and money," said Lester. "AAs have to work with anesthesiologists, and anesthesiologists can bill for supervising them, even if that means ‘supervising’ them from the break room. It’s a way for the ASA to control the anesthesia marketplace. That is definitely not in the best interests of our public or military patients."



This is so typical of the hypocrisy that physicians exhibit in regards to non-physician providers of care, screaming to the public that it's about safety when it is really all about money and control.

oh boy, this is gettin hot.
like nilepoc I have to belive that every one has there own angle. but like yoga I have to champion ours no matter what it is.
so in my mind it will be this. " yeah, you go aana (this is probably some weird research) but never-the-less yeah, go team."
does that make any sense.
p.s. EVEN CANNONFODDER SERVES A PURPOSE