Nurse Anesthetists: Will they phase out?

RedCell · Aug 31, 2009

Nurses have been providing anesthesia for over 100 years. There is nothing to suggest that nurses will not be providing anesthesia 100 years from now. Lots of gomers are getting older each day in the United States. Lots of those old gomers will fall down and go boom, some of them will have big coronary occlusions that a cath just can't fix, many of them will want their breasts to look more like they did when they were 18, a few of them will require a bowel run from the Gods...... All of these surgical adventures require the expertise of a CRNA, Anesthesiologist and/or AA. There is currently a shortage of anesthesia providers and there will continue to be a shortage of us well into the future. The good doctor you spoke with is wrong.

oneLcrna · Aug 31, 2009

In light of health care reform initiatives and the drive to save money, I think CRNAs will be positioned well for the future.

Rose10 · Aug 31, 2009

I did hear that these positions may require a doctorate degree in the future.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2009

Nope. I think they will not only utilize them more, but NPs for general practice as well. The only problem is getting everyone on board with the same amount of clinical practice.

I wish more of the CRNA schools asked for more than one year of experience. I notice the lack of holistic care of tunnel vision that happens with CRNAS who have minimally met the requirements to practice. They do not get the whole picture and it becomes very obvious early in their practice what they DO NOT know.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 1, 2009

I think the cardiologist is dead wrong - with the huge drive for healthcare reform and decreasing spending CRNAs will be in the forefront of this as will the rest of us APNs.

DoGoodThenGo · Sep 1, 2009

Hi All,
I am a pre-nursing student and not too long ago I was speaking with a cardiologist about the role of nurse anesthetists in the health care system. I realize that they currently make a very good income because of the skill needed to monitor the patients. the doctor was telling me that he thinks that that sector will phase out in the long run? do any of you believe this to be true/ false? thanks for the info.

CRNAs aren't going anywhere anytime soon. If anything their services will be more in demad due to changes in the US healthcare system.

Perhaps the good doctor was thinking of the movement regarding phasing out master degree nurses in favour of doctorate. IIRC, the ANA (surprise, surprise) and others are pushing for a phasing out of master nursing programs in favour of doctorate. Graduates of such programs would be entitled to use "Dr.", so instead of "nurse anesthetist", one may have "Dr. Robin Windsor, RN CRNA"

As one may imagine the medical community is not happy about this little movement, and if you thought allowing nurses to write scrips caused a furore in doctor's lounges and offices, this isn't going down well in certian quarters either. *LOL*

ICU11 · Sep 1, 2009

I think it is strange that some people want them to have a doctorate...won't that be really confusing for everyone? If they need more education fine, but why call them doctor?

NeecyBSN_RN · Sep 1, 2009

The same reason my English, Math, History professor get the title Doctor...they worked for it!

DoGoodThenGo · Sep 1, 2009

I think it is strange that some people want them to have a doctorate...won't that be really confusing for everyone? If they need more education fine, but why call them doctor?

Dr. Bill Cosby to my knowledge outside of his televison show has nothing to do with being a "doctor" either, but yet he has the right to use "Dr", and thus he does.If one wants to get really technical simply refer to physicans as "M.D." instead of the generic doctor, which means that a person has been awarded a doctorate degree.Suppose some will accuse nurses of having "doctor envy", but many of these same comments came when nurses moved out of starched whites and caps into scrubs, started writing scrips, and began independent practice (as NPs), and so forth.If history is any guide, am quite sure the matter will or is being addresses as far as hospitals and clincial settings are concerned. Rest assured nurse practice acts in such places will be revised on just whom is allowed to introduce themselves as "doctor"! *LOL*

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2009

I think it is strange that some people want them to have a doctorate...won't that be really confusing for everyone? If they need more education fine, but why call them doctor?

"Doctor" does not denote "medical doctor" - it is a title that denotes a specific level of advanced education. PhD's are "doctor", DNPs are "doctor", and technically speaking, now pharmacists and physical therapists are "doctors" (PharmDs and DPT - I think I have the PT's degree correct - if not, please someone fix it for me).

The medical doctor community has long thought they own exclusive rights to the title - and they don't - and some of their little egos just aren't equipped to handle it.

Sorry, all, it's a BIG pet peeve of mine - I adore and respect many, many of the physicians I work with, and I respect the investment in time and money MDs have made into their education even if I truly despise the physician who's done it, but they need to realize they don't have some sort of patent on the term.

Doctors seem to have forgotten that only in recent history has their profession become revered - it has been feared, reviled, and even despised at various points in history.

mindlor · Sep 1, 2009

Hmmm,

What no one has mentioned is this....

There is a new kid on the block, the anesthesiologist assistant. Programs are starting to pop up all over the country. Same role as CRNA, less training required. AA's are trained by doctors rather than nurses and thus totally lack all of the nursing training which when one is honest...is not needed to dispense anesthesia.

I am certain that this is what the good doctor was alluding to.

Cheers