How can I become a nurse anesthetist if I have a bachelors degree in biology?

Josh L.Ac. · Nov 1, 2008

So it is cheaper for 4 rooms to be run by individual CRNA's and anesthesiologists than it is for one anesthesiologist to supervise 4 rooms run by midlevel's that are paid 1/2 to 1/3 their salary? It might be cheaper if all the rooms are run by CRNA's that are paid 1/2 what an anesthesiologist makes and no anesthesiologists are used...

Hey wait, there it is.

loveanesthesia · Nov 3, 2008

So it is cheaper for 4 rooms to be run by individual CRNA's and anesthesiologists than it is for one anesthesiologist to supervise 4 rooms run by CRNAs?

Yes, and you don't need to worry about billing issues, or holding up induction or emergence to wait for the anesthesiologist. With the decentralization of the delivery of anesthesia, it is very difficult to maintain the supervision ratios with any efficiency. This model eliminates those issues. A 'floating' anesthesiologist to facilitate turn over times by trouble shooting pre-op issues, and possibly placing lines and blocks improves the service to the facility and patient. Many hospitals are willing the pay for that, because it adds to their efficiency.

Josh L.Ac. · Nov 6, 2008

So is there any research showing decentralized anesthesia is more cost-effective and as safe as anesthesia delivered by the ACT model?

Happy Halothane · Nov 6, 2008

So is there any research showing decentralized anesthesia is more cost-effective and as safe as anesthesia delivered by the ACT model?

Josh, did you thoroughly read the comment above? "With the decentralization of the delivery of anesthesia, it is very difficult to maintain the supervision ratios with any efficiency."

The reality is that CRNA's do not need to rely on anethesiologists. AA's do require their presence. There are different levels of ACT. Cost-effectiveness and safety depends on the surgical acuity and caseload of the anesthesia group.

This doesn't mean that a well-trained AA wouldn't be able to administer great anesthetic technique. However, if AA's were that much more cost-effective than CRNA's, there would be a higher demand than there currently is.

Josh L.Ac. · Nov 7, 2008

Josh, did you thoroughly read the comment above? "With the decentralization of the delivery of anesthesia, it is very difficult to maintain the supervision ratios with any efficiency."
The reality is that CRNA's do not need to rely on anethesiologists. AA's do require their presence. There are different levels of ACT. Cost-effectiveness and safety depends on the surgical acuity and caseload of the anesthesia group.
This doesn't mean that a well-trained AA wouldn't be able to administer great anesthetic technique. However, if AA's were that much more cost-effective than CRNA's, there would be a higher demand than there currently is.

While CRNA's can practice independently in some locations, in the metro center I live the only place CRNA's function in that manner is outside of hospitals or out in the rural areas. In order for decentralized anesthesia to replace the ACT model in the hospitals here, there would have to be evidence of benefit (in terms of cost and safety) versus the status quo.

In addition, with the large midlevel anesthesia provider deficit, I doubt AA's will have to worry about getting jobs in the near or distant future...despite the wishes and advertising of the AANA.

loveanesthesia · Nov 8, 2008

So is there any research showing decentralized anesthesia is more cost-effective and as safe as anesthesia delivered by the ACT model?

What I meant by decentralized is that the location of anesthetizing locations is being scattered physically across a much wider area. For example 15 years ago we ran 16 OR's down one hallway in one location. There was never more than 16 rooms to cover and they were almost always full, occasionally it may be a light day with a room or two without cases. That's the way it was most places, and made it easy to staff the ACT.

Now it has evolved into covering between 12-14 rooms in OR #1, 1-3 in OR #2, and 6-9 in OR #3 in three different buildings from 1 block to 2 miles apart in distance. Also there are 3 physician owned surgicenters that are covered that are 1-5 miles for the main campus. The number of rooms to cover can vary from 19 to 30, and that number can vary within one day. Then if you are doing the ACT, you have to have the proper ratio in each of the sites. If you don't maintain the ratio's, it could be billing fraud. Is it more cost effective? absolutely not, but it is out of our control, and we just have to deal with it. One way to deal with it is the have everyone bill independently which allows the greatest flexibility in the moment to moment staffing changes. I've been to 3 different sites in one day, although we try to limit it to 2. The ACT is a billing arrangement, it's never been anything but that.

Trying to get back to the original question, many individuals with Bio degrees have taken the paths described in the thread to become CRNAs.

focker-male nurse · Nov 12, 2008

I am going to assume that you, the original poster, are already an RN with a previous degree in Biology. In this case UAB (Birmingham, Alabama) accepts degrees other than BSN's. The school I am going to attend (Samford University) only accepts BSN's. My first degree was a Liberal Arts degree and UAB told me my chances of getting in without a science based degree would be minimal. With a degree in Biology, you should be in good position.

Good Luck!