[babynursewannab]

I'm a lowly undergrad (hope to go onto CRNA later), but I'm in a nursing perspectives class that is requiring I ask you fine folks a question or two. As this is an online course, I have been given the generous deadline of TOMORROW! *sigh*

Anyhoo. Etiher a CRNA or a student in a CRNA program can answer these. Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me out. If you're in school...I would, personally, be interested where.

Here goes:

1) What are your views on joing a professional organization?

2) What are your views on continuing education?

-and-

3) Do you feel the advanced practice certification gives you more opportunities or restricts you more?

Thank you, thank you for your time.

[CRNA, DNSc]

1. Joining the AANA is a no-brainer. It is THE organization dedicated to the advancement of the profession of Nurse Anesthesia. I am proud to belong and obviously others are too since more than 93% of the practicing CRNAs in the United States belong to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). The motto says it all "Members are our only business and our members only business is patient safety".

2. The AANA led the way by instituting voluntary continuing education requirements in 1969 and mandatory requirements in 1977- long before the rest of nursing. We are required to have 40 CEU every two years to continue our certification. With the rapid changes in drugs, equipment, and techniques continuing education is a must!

3. While Advanced Practice nursing in anesthesia may seem to "restrict" us to a single "area" in reality it doesn't. There are CRNAs in administration up to and including CEO of hospitals, CRNAs in business- providing staffing and CE credits, consulting etc., there are CRNAs in research and in Higher Education up to and including Dean of a School of Nursing. There are CRNAs that are self-employed-providing anethesia services in physician, dental, and podiatric clinics. If you can think of it there is probably a CRNA somewhere already doing it!!!!!

[babynursewannab]

Thank you, thank you!!!


I was worried I wouldn't get any responses in time. You made a very good point about the lack of restriction.