[jbro]

louisiana is voting on legislation to allow aa's to practice here, if it pass what will be the ramifications; lower pay?, lost jobs? i'm just wondering how real these concerns are, has anyone personally lost a job to, or know someone who lost a job to an aa? i've seen other threads recently where some aa's are making as much money as crna's, so it doesn't seem like they are driving the salary down. i still have another 1.5yrs left of school, i'm just wondering how much i should worry in the event that the law passes, from the way some people talk it sounds like i should drop out of school now

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by jbro

it sounds like i should drop out of school now

Where is your faith in your professional organizations: AANA, and the power of legistlation, etc.? Did you not read in post after post the vast # of CRNAs vs. AAs? You're an RRNA, and this should be a matter of preserving the profession and pushing it forward. Past CRNAs have paved the way, so put the pedal to the metal - and may there be all green lights through your graduation!

[gaspassah]

from my understanding the louisiana asa would not push AA's if the aana didnt push opt out. something must be up. this is the first i heard of it.
d

[loisane]

Originally Posted by ether

You're an RRNA, and this should be a matter of preserving the profession and pushing it forward. Past CRNAs have paved the way, so put the pedal to the metal - and may there be all green lights through your graduation!

AMEN, that's the attitude, Ether!!!!!

loisane crna

[KSCRNA]

Unfortunately, as with most organizations the AANA and most state organizations are ruled by the 90-10 rule. That is 90% of the work is done by 10% of the membership. The remaining 90% of the population then acts unhappy with the outcome and blames the leadership of the state or national organization. To become unified only at the time of a crisis is too late. It is more important than ever that ALL AANA members (including students) become active on the state and national level and become advocates for the patients and the profession. Run for office, become a state or national committee member, learn the FACTS of the issue and then lobby for those issues to the appropriate people. We are at a crossroads in our profession where we are developing a better relationship with the ASA but that does not mean we stop advocating the issues of patient safety and our role in it.

Don't be fence sitter, become active. This applies to students as well as graduates. Students, don't complain because you have to give up a weekend to go to the state meeting. It should be an honor to be there and to be welcomed into the profession. It is part of your professional development.

It is NEVER too late to become a good member of your organization. The AANA does a lot for you, help it out.

[Sheri257]

Actually, I've had a chance to learn a little more about the Washington D.C. issue, where they are also considering AA legislation. AA's already practice there, but CRNA's claim they're not doing so legally.

Instead of trying to ban AA's altogether, the local CRNA chapter is trying to convince the city council to require that they become PA's first, then AA's, i.e. obtain more training.

Who knows if that will fly, but it's interesting that they're trying a different approach.

[jbro]

ok, back to my original question, please. i am doing my part and getting involved, i've only been aware of all the issues for a few months, as i've only been in school for two semesters, i'm not asking what i can do to get involved, i'm asking what happens if i get involved and it doesn't work.

[gaspassah]

well my opinion specifically,
there wont be much of an issue at first. there are not enough aa's to make a difference right now.
however, a$a has big bucks, can start training aa's at places where a$a trains mda's. thusly increase output exponentially.
many facilities in louisiana are old boy, old school networks. administrators have long standing contracts with mda run groups.
many have long standing relationships with private practice surgeons.
they have much of the anesthesia work "locked" up.
if they bring in aa's in increasing numbers then obviously the pay will decrease for crna's. that is if aa's are paid substantially less.
this leaves the rural jobs mostly for crna. so you can go to abbeville, clinton etc to find decent work.
the point the others were making is, get involved now before it;s too late. head them off at the pass so to speak.
if we can block aa's from practicing in la. its a non issue. but you have to do your part.
even with 1.5 years left you have invested too much to look back now.
my 0.02

[jbro]

check out www.lanacrna.com, the bill has already passed the house, they are urging everyone to contact legislators now.

[Sheri257]

If I'm reading the document correctly, it looks like the bill did get out of committee, but it hasn't passed the House yet.

I only mentioned the D.C. issue because I'm wondering if trying to require more training, rather than elininating AA's completely, might be a better political strategy, since the ASA seems to be gaining some momentum on this issue.

Are you planning to work in Louisiana jbro? Just wondering since your location is listed in Texas and AA's already practice in that state.

Just FYI: Legislators tend to only care about constituents who actually live in their districts and vote for them. Correspondence from anyone else tends to be ignored. That's how they prioritize and weed out all of the correspondence they receive.