Hospital Primarily Using MDA's Instead of CRNA's?

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I had a clinical rotation in this relatively small hospital, and noticed that they primarily use MDA's. When I asked the OR nurses if there were any CRNA's, they said the hospital only employs two nurse anesthetists. I thought that was odd since I've always read that CRNA's practice more in rural areas, and this hospital is located in a semi-rural area.

I asked the OR nurses why there weren't more CRNA's. They said they didn't understand it because CRNA's are cheaper. If true, that seemed odd since the hospital has replaced surgical nurses with tech's to save money.

I was just wondering what the economics are and, if in fact CRNA's are cheaper, why would a hospital not employ more CRNA's? Unless there aren't any CRNA's available to hire?

Like any hospital, they're always trying to cut costs and are constantly fighting with staff nurses over basic pay raises, benefits, etc. So, if in fact there's a cost savings, why wouldn't they hire more CRNA's ????

:confused:

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I don't know - :)

We employ one CRNA here. No MDA's.

We are very rural.

steph

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one thing to keep in mind when trying to understand hospital policy is that md's usually run the hospitals or the boards of directors are made up primarily by mds. they usually look to take care of their own. even administrators can be confused about medicare reimbursement etc and think they have to have mds on staff. but it can be a myriad of reasons why there arent more crnas there.

d

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I am Going to be a senior next year and want to be a nurse. But i need help about school. I want to go to UT Tyler. but im ot sure how to get info an what it takes to going there. I want to be the nurse that helps deliver the babbies!!!!! that makes me HAPPY!!! if yall have any feed back please write back!!!

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I Want to be a nurse when i graduate. I will be a senior next year and i want to go to UT tyler. BUT i have no idea how to get info. and iv tried there web sites. NO HELP. I want to be the nurse that helps delivers babies! Please write back

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Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

http://www.uttyler.edu, I was thinking about that school, but I decided to began nursing at TWU-Houston center

I am Going to be a senior next year and want to be a nurse. But i need help about school. I want to go to UT Tyler. but im ot sure how to get info an what it takes to going there. I want to be the nurse that helps deliver the babbies!!!!! that makes me HAPPY!!! if yall have any feed back please write back!!!
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Uh ... I think you guys have the wrong thread. This is the CRNA section of the board.

:rolleyes:

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Specializes in MICU, CVICU.

I have rotated to hospitals whose anesthesia groups staff only MDs. No CRNAs at all.

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but it can be a myriad of reasons why there arent more crnas there.

So besides MD favoritism, what could those reasons be? I guess I just don't understand why they would spend more money for the same service under any circumstances.

:confused:

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So besides MD favoritism, what could those reasons be? I guess I just don't understand why they would spend more money for the same service under any circumstances.

:confused:

Remember that most MD's are NOT hospital employees - they're independent members of the staff. CRNA's can be independent, part of an all-CRNA group, a mixed group of MD's and anesthetists, OR hospital employees.

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Remember that most MD's are NOT hospital employees - they're independent members of the staff. CRNA's can be independent, part of an all-CRNA group, a mixed group of MD's and anesthetists, OR hospital employees.

good post

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I always wondered how surgeons treat MDAs and if it is the same as they sometimes try to influence CRNAs by snide comments, about slow turnaround times etc. Take ENT for example. I have seen where the surgeon keeps complaining about turnaround times due to giving the kid narcotics at the beginning of the case for a T&A (agent completely off at end but kid remains narcotized after a usual dose pre-intubation) so the CRNA will run the case with no narcotic until after extubation and on the way to PACU. To me, this is absurd and I wonder if the surgeon would try to bully a MDA around since both of them belong to the "good old boys club" as both being physicians.

I always wanted to see the interatction between MDA only group and surgeon. I've seen this both in private practice and university practice.

Any comments would be appreciated on your experiences..

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