Nurse Anesthetists: Will they phase out?

DoGoodThenGo · Sep 1, 2009

Anesthesiologist assistants are not new, and only a handful of states even allow them. Even where permitted AAs cannot work independent of a MD who must be present at all times. CRNAs OTHO can and often do work independently and can even bill directly for their services.

Anesthesiologist assistantants also do not have the Med/Surg component that a seasoned RN brings to the table.

mindlor · Sep 1, 2009

not gonna argue, laws are changing, let google be your guide.

aa's can in many states and soon will be able in all states to function in replacement of crna's.

they typically earn less than crna and that is the driving force.

a good place to begin your research is here...and yes i realize its biased....

http://www.anesthesiaassistant.com/

[color=#ffffff] sthesiologist assistants are highly skilled, knowledgeable,

master degree earning members of the anesthesia care team who

with their impeccable safety records work side by side with certified

registered nurse anesthetist's ( [color=#ffffff]crna's[color=#ffffff]).[color=#ffffff] the anesthesiologist

assistant functions as a specialty physician assistant under the

direction of a licensed anesthesiologist. the anesthesiologist

assistant's responsibilities, in the hospital setting are identical to the

crna. the boards of medicine and osteopathic medicine approved

the first anesthesiologist assistant license in florida at their recent

meeting, held march 31, 2005. the 2004 legislature passed[color=#ffffff] senate

[color=#ffffff]bill 626[color=#ffffff] and was signed by governor bush in june 2004. the bill

creates[color=#ffffff] the [color=#ffffff]licensing of [color=#ffffff]anesthesiologist [color=#ffffff]assistants [color=#ffffff]in [color=#ffffff]florida. [color=#ffffff]

[color=#ffffff]florida is considered a key state in regards to the licensing of

anesthesiologist assistants throughout the country. due to this recent

approval from the boards of medicine and osteopathic medicine the

doors are now open for the remaining states to follow suit.

CRNA2007 · Sep 1, 2009

Unless you have been to CRNA school you have no clue what you are talking about as far as the training and what a crna should know.

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.

ICU11 · Sep 1, 2009

Sorry guys... I think that it is great to achieve a doctorate as a nurse (or whatever specialty) and I hope to one day... I just don't want to be confused with an MD that's all :) In a hospital I think it would be easier to be confused with an MD. Mostly, I think imposing a doctorate rule would mean less Advanced Practice Nurses and they serve a valuable role.

SO in restrospect, it was a dumb thing to say...

CRNA2007 · Sep 1, 2009

ain't never gonna happen. anesthesiologists are already whining about aa's and are now looking for a replacement such as pas trained in anesthesia.

not gonna argue, laws are changing, let google be your guide.
aa's can in many states and soon will be able in all states to function in replacement of crna's.
they typically earn less than crna and that is the driving force.
a good place to begin your research is here...and yes i realize its biased....
http://www.anesthesiaassistant.com/
[color=#ffffff]sthesiologist assistants are highly skilled, knowledgeable,
[color=#ffffff]master degree earning members of the anesthesia care team who
[color=#ffffff]with their impeccable safety records work side by side with certified
[color=#ffffff]registered nurse anesthetist's ( [color=#ffffff]crna's[color=#ffffff]).[color=#ffffff] the anesthesiologist
[color=#ffffff]assistant functions as a specialty physician assistant under the
[color=#ffffff]direction of a licensed anesthesiologist. the anesthesiologist
[color=#ffffff]assistant's responsibilities, in the hospital setting are identical to the
[color=#ffffff]crna. the boards of medicine and osteopathic medicine approved
[color=#ffffff]the first anesthesiologist assistant license in florida at their recent
[color=#ffffff]meeting, held march 31, 2005. the 2004 legislature passed[color=#ffffff] senate
[color=#ffffff]bill 626[color=#ffffff] and was signed by governor bush in june 2004. the bill
[color=#ffffff]creates[color=#ffffff] the [color=#ffffff]licensing of [color=#ffffff]anesthesiologist [color=#ffffff]assistants [color=#ffffff]in [color=#ffffff]florida.
[color=#ffffff]florida is considered a key state in regards to the licensing of
[color=#ffffff]anesthesiologist assistants throughout the country. due to this recent
[color=#ffffff]approval from the boards of medicine and osteopathic medicine the
[color=#ffffff]doors are now open for the remaining states to follow suit.

Moogie · 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.

My guess is that the cardiologist has a good friend who is an anesthesiologist who worries about nurse anesthetists cutting into his/her profit margin.

I do think the time is coming when advanced practice nurses such as NPs, CRNAs and nurse midwives will require the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree rather than the MSN. I don't think referring to advanced practice nurses with DNPs as "doctors" will be any more confusing than it is to refer to chiropractors, optometrists, and other clinicians as "doctors" as we rightly do today.

It's all a turf war thing---the medical profession is threatened by autonomy in nursing and wants to keep nurses subservient and submissive. I'm all for one person being the leader of the team but times have changed and nurses are far more than merely doctors' handmaidens. It does not surprise me that anesthesiologists would prefer anesthesiology assistants because they would work under the direct orders of the physicians and thus be under physician control---unlike those "uppity" CRNAs who dare think for themselves!

meandragonbrett · 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

1--AA's are not a new player in the anesthesia community

2--You talk as if there is a new program opening up regularly. There are only 7 programs the last time I checked.

3--While it might appear that they FUNCTION in the same role, an AA does NOT=CRNA. AA's CANNOT function independently of anesthesiologist supervision while CRNAs can and do practice independently.

mindlor · Sep 2, 2009

Ok I think I understand better now. I am not a CRNA and I certainly am not going to doubt the word of those that are CRNA's. I appreciate the corrections and will certainly investigate further.

I do know that CRNA's are highly respected and that the education is very difficult and takes an enormous amount of dedication and caring.

Thanks!!