I know this is a controversial proposition, so please, don't @ me...
Given that so many elective and non-urgent procedures have been cancelled, bringing surgical cases to an all-time low....
...And that CRNAs have both a) several years of ICU nursing experience and b) an expert understanding of airways, pressors, paralytics, etc...
...Has there been any push to recruit CRNAs to come staff ICUs (either as bedside nurses or to assist intensivists)?
I read a few NYT articles claiming that there are New York hospitals where OB-GYNs, dermatologists, ortho surgeons and radiologists are rounding on ED and ICU patients; surely CRNAs would be better qualified. I don't have any idea how that would work in terms of scope of practice limitations as a provider, but I'm guessing that a CRNA could still legally work as a bedside RN (even if that may put them into a murky situation).
For reference, here's one of the NYT articles stating that physicians of all specialties have been given the ultimatum to either staff for acute COVID patients or go without pay:
It's common knowledge that CRNAs are very well paid, but I'm sure that their revenue streams have all but dried up due to the moratorium on non-urgent procedures. Given the huge crises pay bonuses being offered to travelers (and the very lax recruitment requirements), I wonder if there are any CRNAs out there considering doing temporary COVID work.
