Ok peeps listen up, I am an SRNA now finally and am pumped. Im not sure how much CRNA politics you guys are farmiliar with but I encourage you whether you are a CRNA, SRNA or future SRNA to learn as much about this as possible. Legislation in Florida and other states is ongoing that may one day effect you and your dreams.
I am a regular on this board as well as the studentdoctor.net Anesthesia forum. I encourage you to visit this board freq and at least read the posts. I often debate with Anesthesia residents and fellows. These residents claims that the mentality of CRNA's is changing and that now CRNA's are more aggressive and proactice than ever before which I do believe to most likely be the case.
By reading on studentdoctor.net forum you can see how the mentality of current Anesthesia residents has changed to feeling real threatened by us. Once CRNA's were loved by MDA's so they can cash out but now that the ASA feels even more threatened by the AANA it seems that these residents are brought thru their programs with negative attitudes instilled in them before they even work with a CRNA. These neagative attitudes by most anesthesia residents makes me nervous because these MDA's will most likely be willing to bolster lobbying efforts in attempt to strip us of future practice rights. The future MDA's will not take a lassie fair mentality toward CRNA's, I predict that it will get ugly in the future.
I ask that all you CRNA's, SRNA's , RN's or students who want to enter the field to farmiliarized yourself with these ongoing issues because they will not all of a sudden go away believe me. I talk to many SRNA's that have no clue what AA's, or that legislation is ongoing attempting to limit CRNA scopes of practice. This is simply absurd. The bottom line is that our present CRNA's have developed a strong professional org. as well as strong lobbying efforts but soon it will be up to us. I predict that what we will be lobbying against a stronger MDA and ASA base in the future to protect our profession compared to what we are faced with presently. Though I know the 2 professions will continue to coexist hopefully in harmony these MDA residents seem really threatend and motivated to bring down CRNA's. Again I challenge you to get involved and at least know whats going on in your profession.
I have read many of the posts for some time now and yes the general attitude is one that is not favorable to CRNAs and while I have said some things on there that I might want to take back, a great deal of them have also made very rude comments towards nursing and CRNAs.
I guess I can't say that I've tracked these two forums as well as you have. I do have this one question, though. When you say that the attitude is not favorable to CRNAs, what exactly do you mean? That is, do you feel they do not appreciate CRNAs for their contributions? Or, is it because of their beliefs and views (e.g. "CRNAs are not physicians, therefore they are not as well-trained") which affects their political stance?
I will preface this by saying I am not a SRNA or CRNA yet, however, I work very closely with both CRNAs, anethesia residents and attendings in my role as an RN.
I can only speak from what I have seen - but they all function as a team. The attendings are more of the "supervisory/educator role". The residents, CRNAs, and SRNAs give the gas. I have never sensed a disregard for CRNAs. In fact, where I am - they are highly valued and respected and often can teach both the SRNAs and residents a thing or two. I have never sensed any conflict with regard to the actual role a person plays.
It isn't nurses vs docs. We need to work as a team. Of course we should keep abreast of current issues and lobby as much as we can for our own practice. However, if you can walk the walk and not just talk the talk - you will be respected regardless of the initials behind your name.
There are stupid things that are said on the student doctor net thing. There are also stupid things said about docs on this website. Keep in mind that the majority of the posters on the student doc sites are exactly that - students. They have not been in the real world and have alot left to learn. Let them have their sour attitudes if that is what they want to have. Who knows how many of the naysayers actually ever make it to being a resident. :chuckle
I have strong doubts that the CRNA profession is in any sort of compromise. As CRNAs or future CRNAs we need play our part in protecting our role by educating the public and being great practitioners. Of course economics could change - but considering that CRNAs administer 2/3 of anesthesia - I have strong doubts that any of us would live to see this change.
Florida may have been one step backwards - but within the last two years - ten times the amount of states have passed pro-CRNA laws.
I think you are very wrong in taking these things lightly!!! The ASA has released multiple statements attempting to undermine the practice of CRNAs. In May they are gearing up to lobby Congress to take away the opt-out right sof states...;oh and for those who voted for Bush...Clinton signed away the need for CRNAS to be supervised by MDAs...Bush rejected it when the MDAs from Texas rubbed his b ack....Great. SThis is nothing to take lightly...Read the ASA website...and get fired up.
I think you are very wrong in taking these things lightly!!! The ASA has released multiple statements attempting to undermine the practice of CRNAs. In May they are gearing up to lobby Congress to take away the opt-out right sof states...;oh and for those who voted for Bush...Clinton signed away the need for CRNAS to be supervised by MDAs...Bush rejected it when the MDAs from Texas rubbed his b ack....Great. SThis is nothing to take lightly...Read the ASA website...and get fired up.
The guys who run the ASA are are a pretty mean bunch of physicians who've done and said some nasty things about CRNAs over the years, and they evidently intend to keep trying until they either get full control over the practice of CRNAs or squeeze them out of the picture entirely. Their website is full of anti-CRNA lobbying stuff that goes all the way back to even before the Clinton years. True that not all MDAs are against CRNAs and not all MDAs are members of the ASA. But many of them are, and they totally abhor the idea of nurses practicing anesthesia just a well as they do and making so much money at it, too. I wouldn't put anything past the ASA because they want nothing more than to see the CRNA profession completely destroyed. I hope CRNAs NEVER let up fighting for their right to practice in the state capitals and in courtrooms.
The guys who run the ASA are are a pretty mean bunch of physicians who've done and said some nasty things about CRNAs over the years, and they evidently intend to keep trying until they either get full control over the practice of CRNAs or squeeze them out of the picture entirely. Their website is full of anti-CRNA lobbying stuff that goes all the way back to even before the Clinton years. True that not all MDAs are against CRNAs and not all MDAs are members of the ASA. But many of them are, and they totally abhor the idea of nurses practicing anesthesia just a well as they do and making so much money at it, too. I wouldn't put anything past the ASA because they want nothing more than to see the CRNA profession completely destroyed. I hope CRNAs NEVER let up fighting for their right to practice in the state capitals and in courtrooms.
AWDC
15 Posts
I guess I can't say that I've tracked these two forums as well as you have. I do have this one question, though. When you say that the attitude is not favorable to CRNAs, what exactly do you mean? That is, do you feel they do not appreciate CRNAs for their contributions? Or, is it because of their beliefs and views (e.g. "CRNAs are not physicians, therefore they are not as well-trained") which affects their political stance?