current issues with CRNA's

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2011

I am preparing for my interview into CRNA school. I am trying to read up on some current topics with CRNA's that may be going on. I do know that the current topic of advance practice nurses having to have a PhD in the future is a issue that has been disscused for a few years. I do know that I have hear rumors that they will make it manditory by 2015 or 2016. I am not sure if there is any truth to this or not. I do see how this may bring up some issues with nursing shortage being that some people may not want to obtain a PhD. Also, I am not sure how many current schools are working on their current programs to meet this critera. Is this something that will also decrease the amount of CRNA programs out there?
Any feedback would be wonderful! It can be on any topic that you guys thing is important! Thanks!

There is no talk of getting your PhD. There will be a requirement for future nurse anesthetists graduating in 2025 or later to have either their clinical doctorate (DNP/DNAP a PhD is research degree and the DNP/DNAP is a clinical doctorate).

I would not bring up this topic in your interview unless asked. You can review the DNP position statement from AACN.com and AANA.com. To discuss this topic knowledgeably you need to understand how COA, AANA, and the NBCRNA work along with how the AACN fits into it. You should also know the difference between nurse anesthesia programs associated with schools of nursing and nurse anesthesia programs not associated with schools of nursing.

I doubt the DNP/DNAP change is going to have that much impact on the number of students or number of programs.

snifny1983 · Oct 21, 2011

Thanks!

bookwormom · Oct 21, 2011

Possible Issues (may or may not be relevant in your state):

1) Do CRNAs qualify as Advanced Practice nurses with prescriptive authority ?

2) Do CRNAs earn a Nursing Masters degree or a non nursing Masters degree?

3) Do CRNAs work with "Anesthesia Assistants"? What is the relationship?

4) Does the state medical association support the role of the CRNA?

allnurses Guide · Oct 21, 2011

Possible Issues (may or may not be relevant in your state):
1) Do CRNAs qualify as Advanced Practice nurses with prescriptive authority ?
2) Do CRNAs earn a Nursing Masters degree or a non nursing Masters degree?
3) Do CRNAs work with "Anesthesia Assistants"? What is the relationship?
4) Does the state medical association support the role of the CRNA?

4) NO..... :lol2:

BCRNA · Oct 25, 2011

1) Do CRNAs qualify as Advanced Practice nurses with prescriptive authority ?

2) Do CRNAs earn a Nursing Masters degree or a non nursing Masters degree?

3) Do CRNAs work with "Anesthesia Assistants"? What is the relationship?

4) Does the state medical association support the role of the CRNA?

1) Yes, some states allow CRNA's prescriptive authority for pain managament (not many states right now though). No primary or routine care though. CRNA's don't diagnose and treat illness. The CRNA's I know that do pain managament do blocks and other interventions to relieve pain, and they can write pain presciptions.

2) Depends on where you go to school, can be either.

3) If you are refering to AA's then no, we can work in the same department and help each other out. We do not supervise them though. AA's must be supervised by an anesthesiologist (they are dependant on them and are no autonomous). CRNA's are autonomous and are not required to have an anesthesiologist.

4) No, not really. They support us, but only as "extenders" of anesthesiologists. Physicians won't support CRNA autonomy becuase it would effect their salary. No one would pay for their services if someone who got paid half did the same job (with the same quality).

snifny1983 · Oct 25, 2011

1) Do CRNAs qualify as Advanced Practice nurses with prescriptive authority ?
2) Do CRNAs earn a Nursing Masters degree or a non nursing Masters degree?
3) Do CRNAs work with "Anesthesia Assistants"? What is the relationship?
4) Does the state medical association support the role of the CRNA?
1) Yes, some states allow CRNA's prescriptive authority for pain managament (not many states right now though). No primary or routine care though. CRNA's don't diagnose and treat illness. The CRNA's I know that do pain managament do blocks and other interventions to relieve pain, and they can write pain presciptions.
2) Depends on where you go to school, can be either.
3) If you are refering to AA's then no, we can work in the same department and help each other out. We do not supervise them though. AA's must be supervised by an anesthesiologist (they are dependant on them and are no autonomous). CRNA's are autonomous and are not required to have an anesthesiologist.
4) No, not really. They support us, but only as "extenders" of anesthesiologists. Physicians won't support CRNA autonomy becuase it would effect their salary. No one would pay for their services if someone who got paid half did the same job (with the same quality).

4) I have found this the most interesting question. I have done some research and am finding a lot on AA's and CRNA's. It seems that AA's are a lot like PA's in the fact that they have to work under the anesthesiologist, which I can see why they would like more than the CRNA. At my hospital we do not have AA's, but the anesthesiologist seem very supportive of the CRNA's that they work with. I am finding a lot of information that the number of anesthesia residents are declining because there are not a lot of programs. I have found that there is a prediction of a decline of MDA's and and increase of CRNA's by 2025. That is also why they are looking to make the CRNA education a NDP. Is this another reason there may be lack of support for CRNA's. Do they feel like they are being replace. I know that they will never be able to be replaced, but if a hospital can pay for several CRNA's and just a handful of MDA's they may want to do that. I am just thinking about what I have read online. Let me know your thoughts!