CRNAs and Medical Service Missions

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I was wondering if anyone knows if it is possible for CRNAs to do Medical or Surgical humanitarian service missions to third world countries due to licensing issues. I know that Anesthesiologists are able to go but I wasn't sure what the issues would be for CRNAs. Do they have to be accompanied by an Anesthesiologist or could they perform on their own?

I completed a medical service mission as an RN and didn't have any problems and I would love to be able to do surgical missions as a CRNA but wasn't sure if it was possible. Any help? Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in ICU-CVICU.

Great question! I want to know too!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Many CRNAs serve on many missions with many various groups. Consult aana.com for more info, and the stickies up top, as well as

http://www.gaspasser.com/BudBusby.html

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I know CRNAs from my hospital go on these missions, so it is possible. I am just not sure about the legal part if they have to be supervised by an MD

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I have gone on numerous missoins in the past: Haiti x10, Guyana for three months and Equador for a short stint. The folks I found most helpful were the Catholic Medical Mission Board on 17th. St. in NYC. They were any easy pick for me as they were 15min walk from home. I think their wbsite is CMMB.com or something to that effect. It's a great experience and reminds me of how lucky I was to be born here. Ed

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I've found a couple of groups that I know utilize CRNAs:

http://www.mercyships.org/

http://ismission.org/

http://www.paxjoliet.org/missions/Medical.html

http://www.ima-missions.org/

I'm sure there are many more - so if anybody know of them, please feel free to post. Thanks.

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*knows - oops!

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Specializes in ICU.

It depends on which country that you would like to work in as a CRNA. I've volunteered as an RN in Ecuador for 5months and have been to Haiti also. For example, Ecuador does not allow CRNA's to practice there (mainly because I think it takes away business from Ecuadorian anesthesiologists). A Haitian would let anyone do anesthesia on them. Cure International usually has openings for CRNA's. They have hospitals throughout Africa, Latin America, and Afghanistan. A general rule would be- the richer the country will have more regulations regarding how and if a CRNA can practice.

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Hi:

I'm a new CRNA (graduated last Fall) who is also in the Army. I accompanied a church medical mission group from my former hometown in Alabama to the Dominican Republic right after graduation. It was a very interesting/rewarding experience. I don't speak Spanish, but they had interpreters for us. The website for the clinic is www.solidrockmissions.org .

The clinic has 2 ORs, and there are approximately 30-40 surgeries for the week. It was me and another very experienced CRNA with 2 surgeons (one general and one for ENT). I gave anesthesia for the general surgeon. The anesthesia machine didn't have a ventilator. One of the ORs had a sevo vaporizer (reserved for the ENT peds patients), and I had a choice of forane or halothane. I spent time organizing all the supplies left from the previous medical missions when we weren't in surgery. Several small trips to the local market, Christian school and hospitals were organized. It was a very pleasant experience.

Unfortunately, I can't go this year because the group will be leaving on October 4th. I'm deploying for Iraq on that day so I was wondering if anyone is free and willing to go or knows of someone who would consider it. It's last minute, but they had cancelled the trip earlier this year, and it's on again. The church volunteers are so friendly and make you feel right at home, and the patients are very appreciative of anything you do.

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