humor me fellas

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I think we have talked about this a little bit before but I am showing a friend how this site works. so here is the question.

so there you are in an interview for school, both MDA's and CRNA's are on the panal.

they ask, " What is the diffrence between an MDA and CRNA?"

matt

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The safe answer:

"I'm not sure of the answer to that question. That's why I want to go to your school. I want that knowledge."

(A less flip answer will follow later.)

Kevin McHugh

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with extensive additional training that pertains to anesthesia AND who have a license to practice medicine. This is contrasted with CRNA's who are highly trained clinical specialists who usually practice under the supervision of a doctor (but not necessarily an MDA).

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthetist.

Actually, CRNAs do not necessarily practice under the supervision of a MD. California does not require this.

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New hamshire, Oregon and several other states have varying degrees of supervision requirement as well.

Craig

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IMHO, if you know the answer to the questions, give the answers in an intelligent manner. And if you don't know the answer to any question, give the fine answer Kevin provided.

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good. good , hmmm.

this is a hard one isnt' it. because you know exactly what you would say if the panal were all MDA's or all CRNA's. I think I know what each one wants to hear.

but how do I balance them.

How do you keep the commandments without offending the devil. if you get what that means.

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Well I was asked a similar question in front of a panel of Docs and nurses. "Why a CRNA and not a MD (or DO)? 2 things came to mind, first, I chose to be a nurse, not because it is almost a Doc (as Bill Cosby said) but because I wanted to be a nurse and that is who I am and will be. Second, I was at a interview for CRNA school and the Docs were there to look for good candidates for that, not residency. So I responded using the first. Used that answer for 3 out of 5 interviews and got accepted to all.

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regarding california... that sounds very odd that CRNAs can practice without an MD?! who prescribes the narcotics/volatiles etc...?? those need prescriptions for them to be dispensed then administered. I am assuming that the surgeon therefore takes responsibility for those drugs and therefore is according to the law the supervising physician.... correct me if i am wrong, i am very curious...

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Actually, there have been lawsuits regarding the questions you have Tenesma. The decisions of which have been that being a CRNA is not akin to practicing Medicine without a license. Two states allow actual independent practice in many arenas, Oregon, and New Hampshire.

I recently wrote a paper on a related issue, the CMS medicare optout legislation passed last year. You can find my paper at http://homepage.mac.com/nilepoc look under the shared files section. I am putting it up, so that you cannot so much read my opinions, but read the referenced articles in the bibliography. I think they will answer the question you are asking.

Anyway I hope it helps, I just don't have the time to summarize whats in those articles.

Craig

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I don't really know anything about this, but I thought CRNAs practiced akin to NPs in many states and thus had a similar presciprion authority in relation to anesthetics.

Am I wrong in assuming this? I don't know how CRNAs could practice independently if it were otherwise.

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