Do crnas deserve that much salary?

[jasy]

Don't take me wrong, in Houston, Texas CRNAs stock their rooms, prepare the meds, MDAs see the patients sometimes. CRNAs are told by MDAs that they don't have to see the patient, so you bring the patient to their room. CRNAs hand the drugs to MDAs, they push the drugs, MDAs let them intubate and then leave. CRNAs manage take vitals do the paperwork MDAs come for emergencies, if there is something wrong MDAs take over. Any nurse can do what CRNAs do with the exception of intubation that can be learned by a nurse. My questions do CRNAs have to go to school for 3 years and get a masters degree for this? Do they deserve 220k salary when they don't do anything autonomously? I see a flawed system any thoughts??!!!!

[guest769224]

Why is it flawed?

Shouldn't a rigorous education and the responsibility of the CRNA to keep your life safe deserve a handsome salary?

[jasy]

you dont need rigorous education to do that job, because crnas dont do anything without anesthesiologists, guess you didnt read my post or you didnt understand it

[guest769224]

you dont need rigorous education to do that job, because crnas dont do anything without anesthesiologists, guess you didnt read my post or you didnt understand it

Apparently, you seem to think all anesthesia practices operate the same as yours does universally.

CRNAs are often solo providers, especially in rural settings, and are fully capable of functioning independently without an MDA. They can do everything without the anesthesiologist and are fully trained for it.

[alohalife]

In my state and in some of our rural hospitals all they have on staff are the CRNA's at certain times. Many of our hospitals use them just as they would anesthesiologist's. They have full responsibility of the patient from start to finish with no anesthesiologist in sight

[jasy]

guess houston texas is different

[Cook26]

You have a very flawed understanding of what CRNAs actually do. If that is truly the role in Houston, I am glad I am not there.

[jasy]

Yes sir

[BigPappaCRNA]

CRNAs can and do work in all 50 states. Completely independently of any MDA. I have simply NEVER heard of any ACT practice as you describe. If true, it is indeed the outlier. I haven't seen an MDA in over 10 years.

[chare]

...mdas let them intubate and then leave crnas manage take vitals do the paperwork mdas come for emergence if there is something wrong mdas take over...

Not a CRNA, but I don't think you fully understand what this entails.

[offlabel]

They can do everything without the anesthesiologist and are fully trained for it.

While I agree that the OP is breathtakingly naïve about how the anesthesia business works, this statement is demonstrably not true. Some are that capable, but many if not most are not. Most CRNA's that work in solo/indy positions or do more advanced type cases such as cardiac with echocardiogram, or even advanced peripheral blocks were not trained to that level on leaving school. Those skills came afterward with a few rare exceptions.

That there are training programs that will train to that level is true. What is also true is that anesthesia residencies are far more homogeneous across the country in terms of what skills and cases their trainees get. CRNA schools, while there are standardized requirements for cases and skills, what actually passes for what fulfills the requirement varies considerably between programs. The real training happens with the first job, IMO

Oh, BTW, to the OP, no that salary is not deserved. It ought to be higher.

[guest769224]

were not trained to that level on leaving school. Those skills came afterward with a few rare exceptions.

What difference does it make when or where they were trained for it? I was implying they are competent to perform without MDA supervision.