CRNA changed to PhD??

aCRNAhopeful · Oct 16, 2008

I'm sure that the title of Dr. So and So CRNA would probably be unsettling to many MD/DO's and I suppose I can understand that, although that's probably mostly driven by pride. For that reason I doubt that we would be refered to as Dr's in the clinical setting, which is fine with me. I didn't choose this career path for the title or respect that comes with "Dr." One thing that does bother me is some of the threads seen on this site and others in which MD's have slammed and mocked the idea of a doctorate prepared nurse. One even referred to it as "bronzing a crushed aluminum can" which I find horribly offensive and ridiculous that someone would say such a thing about someone advancing their education and becoming a better, safer, and more proactive provider. I certainly hope that Dr.'s like that are in the minority on this issue.

sewnew · Oct 16, 2008

At Virginia Commonwealth University, they have one of the few DNAP programs, and it's only an extra semester tacked on to the original 7 for the MSA. We were told that you apply for the DNAP program in your first year of the MSA program and then you can actually work as a CRNA while finishing that last semester distance learning.

University of Maryland SON has a tentative date of fall 2012 to change over to the DNAP for their CRNA program.

loveanesthesia · Oct 18, 2008

MD's have slammed and mocked the idea of a doctorate prepared nurse.... I certainly hope that Dr.'s like that are in the minority on this issue.

I'm afraid they are not in the minority in the anesthesia community, that's something you should realize if you plan to join it. Most of the attitude is driven by fear, their fear that their income is threatened by the fact that nurses can also provide high quality anesthesia. It is not rational, so you can't fight the attitude with a rational argument. In spite of this, I have never regretted becoming a CRNA and you should not either.