Doctor Frustrations

[Anesthesialovr]

I was recently accepted into CRNA school, and I am quite excited! I was browsing the internet, and found a website (similar to this one) where student MDs can have discussions about practice, etc. I was appauled at what discussions were brought up about Anesthesiologists versus CRNAs. The discussions made CRNAs sound like villians....derogatory terms like "how have we let RNs attain such bloated salaries, with only 2 years of college and a paper certificate...?" "CRNAs are JUST nurses, who think they can safely administer anesthetics....really all they think is they are putting someone to sleep and then waking them up....they don't even hold a candle to the excellent anesthesia in which an MD can administer...." :angryfire

I was just wondering if anyone had some thoughts on this. To me it just validates the fact that physicians (well, these ones) have NO CLUE what RNs do. I guess the gap between MDs and RNs is not near closing....and why? Because of the MDs in my opinion. Most seem so affixiated on this "superiority" complex. Okay! Yay! Good for you! YOU are the "BOSS!" Here's your medal....or should I say your sign...? I suppose if I spent that much time in school I would want recognition for it, but there is no need to sound like ignorant jerks! CRNAs are still nurses, YES! But that in my opinion is what will make us BETTER at administering an anesthetic and really caring for a patient. We know how to talk to the patient! Our model for care is far more holistic than the medical model, which Anesthesia should encorporate, since its also about ensuring patient comfort. AND we are definitely smart enough to safely administer anesthetic to different pt populations with complex disease etiologies.

I work in a large, large teaching institution, where I am constantly feeling as though I am "babysitting" these new residents, who, for example are fresh out of medical school and haven't the slightest idea of what the hell they are doing when placed in the ICU setting. I hate to break it to the self proclaimed "superior/INFALLIBLE" MDs, but we're all human, we all make mistakes.

I just don't get the deal. On many of my CRNA shadowing experiences I was sort of given the impression that there wasn't much tension between the MD anesthesiologists and the CRNAs.

What can I expect here?

[Little Fish]

To firstyearstudent, I understand what you are saying, that there ARE indeed caring physicians out there. But how many, as compared with an RN, have sat with a patient for hours on their dying day, holding their hand, wiping their mouth, making sure there are comfortable, administering pain medicine, keeping them clean, etc.? These tasks may sound small, but most understand it is a huge responsiblility. To some doctors, they are "menial tasks." Where I work, the doctor sweeps by in his clean, crisp, white coat, signs the DNR/DNI form, may have a breif conversation with family, and then leaves. The nurse remains to carry out this patients plan of care, and ensure the patient experiences a comfortable death, not to mention must gain enough personal strength to be a support mode for countless family members? How many physicians do that? Not many. Not because they perhaps would not if given the chance, but they just don't. They don't have time. They have other patients to see, etc. The nurse is one who experiences a bond and a relationship with a patient in which no other member of the health care team experiences.

What chy'all think?

I think you have some misconceptions about docs. When I was in the ICU I had 2 pts to care for. The doc had 16-22 pts. The docs I worked with b/4 anesthesia were very busy but very caring. Come on, as a crna we still look at some of those tasks as menial as well. To say they just come in and sign the DNR/DNI orders and leave is s little shallow wouldn't you say?

I know a few docs with the bedside manner of a hyena. But the vast majority of the docs work with are caring.

I think that when you get into your training and start to work with some of the anesthesiologists you will find that they are overall good folks. The problem as I see it on the website you refer to is the relation between the AANA and the ASA. That is a whole other topic as you will learn.

[Proverbs 16:3]

I had an older doc tell a resident who was grumbling that crna's does a better job at waking the patient up smoothly. Most of the tension is the fact that these residents think CRNA's should make like 50k a year. It's the salary that is driving them nutz.