Just "knocking people out"?

Salus · Apr 8, 2004

The question was not meant to be dismissive of the profession.

hitechlvn · Apr 8, 2004

Can you elaborate on the question? I would like to know the tie in from your title to your question. Does it involve using chemical restraints or sedation? Or are you saying "why not just knock people out to keep them quiet"?

Salus · Apr 8, 2004

From an uninformed observer ( myself), it seems that CRNA's just give people some gas and they wake up later. My question is that it must be more demanding that than that due to the high renumeration of the job.

What makes the job so demanding? Dangerous? Why the super training? What makes a CRNA worthy of their pay? What in being done besides "just" puting people to sleep?

I hope this clarifies it.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 8, 2004

From an uninformed observer ( myself), it seems that CRNA's just give people some gas and they wake up later. My question is that it must be more demanding that than that due to the high renumeration of the job.
What makes the job so demanding? Dangerous? Why the super training? What makes a CRNA worthy of their pay? What in being done besides "just" puting people to sleep?
I hope this clarifies it.

Before you do any more asking, I think that you seriously need to research what a CRNA does. They do not just give a patient some gas and the patient wakes up later. There is much more involved to make their salary even on the low side for the responsibility that they take on..............

Please take it upon yourself to do some research since you know how to use a computer before you ask such "stupid" questions. For better lack of the word. We are more than happy to be helpful, but your questions are totally

beyond giving any educated answer, let alone with this reply of yours. :uhoh21:

sweetdreams · Apr 8, 2004

Salus 69

Summing the CRNA proffession up by saying "CRNA's just give people some gas and they wake up later." is like saying why do airline pilots require extensive training...they just take the plane off, then it lands.

There are a myriad of possible complications that can happen during a surgery. These complications must be addressed quickly and correctly by the CRNA to prevent serious injury to or the death of the patient.

I notice from your other posts that you are considering a career in nursing. I recommend that you visit a nursing program and try to arrange an observation day with a clinically practicing nurse. By doing this you will be able to get an idea of what is truely involved in nursing practice.

Dave

Salus · Apr 8, 2004

To Suzanne4,

If you had read the second post here it is stated that it was not meant to be dismissive of the profession. The reason I posted the second post was to avoid such a supercilious reponse as your given above.

The inference that you failed to grasp in my post was that I was asking the question lightly.

I do not think that you are acerebral for missing the levity in my post however since this is a written medium and the non written communicative contexts are absent I will remind myself to use emoticon to avoid misunderstandings as you have done.

For my part I take no offense at your reply .

To both suzanne4 and sweetdreams,

It is not that I have not done any research, I was in fact expanding my research by posting here. To get answers from those in the field.

sweetdreams,

Your analogy is right on target as in what I was attempting to get at. As that I work overseas I can not get to English speaking program until I back stateside.

It is the this statement :''There are a myriad of possible complications that can happen during a surgery. These complications must be addressed quickly and correctly by the CRNA to prevent serious injury to or the death of the patient. ''

That was what I was attempting to elicit.

Is it possible to elaborate on some of this complications that may arise during surgery.

Thank you.

athomas91 · Apr 8, 2004

first of all you need to know your patient..his/her history/problems to even determine what meds the pt would most benefit from - and which ones could be detrimental to their health - then you need to determine what procedure is being done and tailor your regimen for that - and you never know how an individual's system will react to the numerous meds they are given - you must quickly treat them (again knowing which/how much and when to use them - or when to ride it out and see if they accomodate on their own) - then you have to remember you are the airway guru....you have to assess the airway - and maintain it for them when you render them unconscious - not always are you "knocking" people out...many procedures are done under MAC where you are responsible for keeping them asleep and comfortable yet allowing them to breath on their own and respond if needed.... there is so much more - i really can't tell you all the things a CRNA is responsible for - but pretty much i can sum it up with this.......

when you use anesthesia - you render someone unable to care for themselves - and it becomes your duty - how much more responsiblility could one have?

Salus · Apr 8, 2004

Thank you athomas91.

smiling_ru · Apr 8, 2004

One of my intructors described it in a somewhat dramatic, but possibly apt statement. "You guys will be bringing somebody to the brink of death and then bringing them back, you better know your stuff". If you think about all of the things that can possibly go wrong with the human body, then those are the CRNA's responsibility during surgery. During the surgery the surgeon is focused on only the surgery, as are the rest of the OR staff, the CRNA or Anesthesiologist is focused on the entire patient, every system, every minute of the surgery. If you look at the thread that is entitled dumb doctor, you will see a terrible example of what can happen.

yoga crna · Apr 8, 2004

i would like to suggest that you go to a medical bookstore or library and read though a basic anesthesia textbook. Read the chapters on anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology (especially pharmacology) and complications and you will get a good idea of what we do. Also, remember that most of the information in that textbook is in our head to pull up when we need it in the operating room on a moment's notice.

We are underpaid. We just make it look easy.

YogaCRNA

Salus · Apr 8, 2004

Thank you for your answers.