My wife's physiology professor who is also a chiropracter...

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told her that CRNA's were not considered to be nurse practitioners. He went on to say that NP's were much more respected by doctors, and valuable to the health care profession urging her to consider becoming an NP rather than a CRNA. Now I thought that CRNA's were merely a subclassification of NP's not unlike a "pediatric NP". What's the real scoop?

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More valuable? Now there's a value judgement. Ask Dr's what they think of chiropractors. Also research the number of NPs working in bedside positions because they can't find an interesting NP job. Also ask that proffessor about the numbers of NPs being churned out versus the small numbers of CRNAs coming out of programs. Finally, discuss salary for the average CRNA vs the average NP. More valuable - ha. Similar in value I'll buy that.

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I probably would ask the professor what do Dr.s think of chiropractors. i was having a discussion with a nephrologist recently who wanted a nurse practitioner for his practice. he went on to mention that he would pay her about $65000 a year, and that having her would definitely lighten his load. I told him that for many of us working full time without overtime where I work, this would constitute a cut in pay, especially for the baylor staff.

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In most states CRNA's are licensed as nurse practitioners with certification in anesthesia.

I imagine that the chiropractor has no interaction with CRNA's, versus quite a bit with general nurse practitioners. Therefore, his knowledge base is deficiant.

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I think there is some confusion here regarding advanced practice nurses.

There are four categories of advanced practice-nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, clinical specialist, and CRNA. Some states issue a special advanced practice license to an RN who is one of these APNs.

CRNAs are in no way classified as NPs, other than the fact that they are both APNs.

Chiropractors are in some way allies of CRNAs. We are both battling the "non physician clinician" label. Our associations have lobbied on some of the same issues, I believe.

Some have proposed greater utilization of NPs to make some improvement in health care delivery in our country. An option I am highly in favor of. What is good for some APNs is good for us all, I say.

But to say there is a bigger need for NPs than CRNAs? Come on, anybody in health care would have to know nothing could be farther from the truth, given the huge anesthesia provider shortage!

loisane crna

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first off, as a physician i find chiropractors to be valuable assets as healthcare providers. Unfortunately, they have a skewed perspective of medicine - as they practice office- based alternative medicine, and therefore have no clue regarding hospital-based medicine... i find that NPs and CRNAs are equally excellent at what they do, and both are respected by my physician colleagues...in our current healthcare system, they are both just as valuable....

now as far as pay goes, any nursing specialty that is heavily bent towards procedures will have a higher compensation

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loisane,

Your right, I was lumping nurse practioner and advanced practice nurse together, as the license in this state is advanced registered nurse practioner. I did not mean to imply that we were nurse practioners but that we were ARNP's. Came out wrong, thanks for pointing that out.

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Tenesma,

I think you are also overlooking the fact that a far greater number of CRNAs are male compared to nursing in general, including NPs. This gender balance has been a strong factor in increasing the compensation for CRNAs. The female domination of nursing and society's marginalization of "women's work" continues to keep nursing pay low.

You might also argue that my current job as a critical care nurse, is also heavily bent toward procedures. Despite this, I did not receive any increase in monetary compensation. I am paid the same as all other nurses in the facility.

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Okay, how are ARNPs and NPs different? Reading some of these posts got me pretty confused.

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I would have immediately jumped in to say YES, CRNA's ARE NP's!. But apparently not in all states. I have three licenses from the State of Kansas: A license as an RN, a license as a CRNA, and a license as an ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner). Tell this bozo (chiropractor, no less) that CRNA's are just as respected as NP's, and right now have a much easier time finding a job. You can even say I called him a bozo, and snickered at him being a chiropractor. Probably want to wait for the semester to end, though.

Kevin McHugh

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I don't believe that chiropracters even USE anesthesia in their practice. So, a chiropracter would feel that way due to lack of exposure to the field.

I say ignore the comment due to its source.

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I agree with you guys totally-----however, my brother-in-law is a new chiropractor graduate from an ACCREDITED school (Palmer). I have learned that most other chiros are indeed quacks from unaccredited programs. Too bad they all get such a bad rap, but wanted you guys to know there are some intelligent ones out their.

PS--I saw his program's course's and required clinical experience--believe me it is as tough or tougher than some medical schools!!

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