Why no CRNA's in Canada - page 2

1. 
   Nov 22, '10

   In one of our classes we have to write an advocacy letter to lobby for a health care issue. I was thinking about writing about how nurse anaesthetists could shorten surgery wait times etc, but does anyone know who the letter would be addressed to? would it be CNO or the ministry of health?
2. 
   Dec 28, '10

   I was very interested in moving to Canada and working there. Until I found out there are no crna's there. And according to what I could find on the web (I know it may not be too accurate) I make way more than an anesthesiologist there. I would have to pick up another career all together to move there.
   
   To the person asking about US salaries, there is a wide range, and depends on where you work and what kind of patients you take care of. Salaries can range 100,000 to 200,000. I believe the average would be 130,000 for new grads. Wtih experienced being up to 170000. I personally know alot of CRNA's who clear over 300,000--but they work 60 hour work weeks getting locum tenen rates.
   
   I personally find that the salary ranges you find online are several years old and about 20,000 to 30,000 behind current salaries.
3. 
   Jul 7, '11

   I am from Newfoundland and did my undergrad and nursing program there. I now practice as a CRNA in Ohio, USA. In my opinion, there are no CRnAs in Canada due to the socialized medicine system. It does not fit the financial restraints of the govrnment funded health system to enable more access to surgery by using CRNAs!
   
   In Newfoundland especially, the government does not want to pay money on surgeries, as evidenced by the 6 month or more long surgery wait lists. They use the shortage of providers to their advantage. Flood the system with CRNAs, and they will have to pay for more surgeries, and this does not fit there budget. This sounds syndical I know, but it is true!
   
   I too would not go back to practice as a CRNA! The cut in pay would not be worth the move!
4. 
   Aug 9, '12

   Nursx2, very curious as to the difficulty of getting into the US and starting to practice as a canadian graduate. I too have looked at travelling that path, but as a canadian RN, it seems like there are a few roadblocks to overcome. Did you use a company to help you get all the paperwork in order so you could get into the states? Or did you do all the reasearch yourself?
   
   Sorry, it's just hard to find your breed, a recent canadian RN turned CRNA! I am very curious if you would be willing to share any wisdom you may have.
5. 
   Aug 9, '12

   Nursx2 hasn't been on AN for over a year so you may not get an answer.
6. 
   Aug 20, '12

   there is some false information being spread about the delivery of Anesthesia in Canada.
   
   First, it is rare to find an Anesthesiologist earning less than 300K in Canada. The average yearly income is closer to 400K
   
   It is quite rare to find surgeries cancelled as a result of no Anesthesiologist being available. We have dealt with the overall shortage of FRCP Anesthesiologists (board certified) by providing an additional year of training in Anesthesia to Family Doctors in rural areas. This is a superior system compared to the US, as it does not draw nurses out of the general pool of nurses available (because there is a shortage of nurses in Canada), and it allows anesthetics to be delivered by physicians...who know and appreciate when a patient is too high risk for them to give them an anesthetic in a rural community, or when they feel their skill set is not at a level to give an anesthetic to a particular patient.
   
   The only time surgeries are cancelled as a result of no anesthesiologist being available are when a group chooses to limit the number of anesthesiologists because there isn't a need for more on a day to day basis, and one happens to be sick or have an emergency and become unavailable during a day.
7. 
   Aug 21, '12

   Quote from lgher

   there is some false information being spread about the delivery of Anesthesia in Canada.
   
   First, it is rare to find an Anesthesiologist earning less than 300K in Canada. The average yearly income is closer to 400K
   
   It is quite rare to find surgeries cancelled as a result of no Anesthesiologist being available. We have dealt with the overall shortage of FRCP Anesthesiologists (board certified) by providing an additional year of training in Anesthesia to Family Doctors in rural areas. This is a superior system compared to the US, as it does not draw nurses out of the general pool of nurses available (because there is a shortage of nurses in Canada), and it allows anesthetics to be delivered by physicians...who know and appreciate when a patient is too high risk for them to give them an anesthetic in a rural community, or when they feel their skill set is not at a level to give an anesthetic to a particular patient.
   
   The only time surgeries are cancelled as a result of no anesthesiologist being available are when a group chooses to limit the number of anesthesiologists because there isn't a need for more on a day to day basis, and one happens to be sick or have an emergency and become unavailable during a day.

   Newborn died due to staff shortage, anesthesiologist says - British Columbia - CBC News
   
   This doesn't seem to be true in British Columbia.
   
   Where is your research to show that FPs or MDAs are better suited to deliver anesthesia rather than CRNAs in any setting rural or otherwise? An FP with one year of additional training in anesthesia is hardly a substitute for board certified anesthesiologist or a CRNA. CRNAs in the US deliver the majority of anesthesia care, and are the vast majority of rural anesthesia providers in the US.

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