New machine to replace Anesthesiologists!?

[TBLV4]

Hey everyone,

I'm a critical care RN aspiring to start CRNA school within the next couple of years. I read an article this morning that talked of some hospitals using new technologies that would essentially replace anesthesiologists. As one can imagine, this worries me quite a bit because I assume this is going to affect the role of CRNAs as well. Being that most of the people in this section are CRNAs in the field already, I wanted to get a CRNA's point of view about the matter. Is this a threat to the outlook of the profession? The article is by The Washington Post and is titled 'New Machine Could One Day Replace Anesthesiologists' for those that are interested. Thank you!

[delawaremalenurse]

And beep.......beep.......beep.......beep........beep........beep.........beep

more like "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep" :)

[dammydam]

Still beeping !!!

[loveanesthesia]

When dosing anesthetics, I'm always anticipating what's going to be happening in 5 minutes. When you start reacting to VS changes, then you are on the roller coaster going up and down. I consider the patient H&P and the surgeon when I dose. I can't understand how this machine can do this.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

When dosing anesthetics, I'm always anticipating what's going to be happening in 5 minutes. When you start reacting to VS changes, then you are on the roller coaster going up and down. I consider the patient H&P and the surgeon when I dose. I can't understand how this machine can do this.

I think for the average ASA 1/2 patient this machine is probably safe assuming that the H&P is thorough and correct, but difficult airways or difficult to sedate patients can't always be identified by the patient's H&P. This is the same reason that I think it is safe, most of the time, for RNs to give low dose propofol sedation to patients.

In reality this sedation machine and nurse administered propofol sedation isn't about increasing safety it is about decreasing costs and increasing revenue by eliminating anesthesia providers.