warzone

This includes planning on working in the ICU for the minimum amount of time required by your school's program. Did this 'focus' seem to help you through your BSN program? Do you feel it hindered you in any way? It seems to most on this board that the CRNA was a natural progression, not necessarily the goal from the beginning. From the posts that I have read, the only exceptions seem to be those who are 'older career changers' like myself. And on a side note...did any of you CRNAs take advanced Anatomy classes that focused on Neuroanatomy prior to your CRNA program? If so, do you feel you benefited from doing so? Thanks in advance.

Since I am 'maturely challenged' it struck me funny that poop was telling us that we would have to clean it up! I guess I am just a visual thinker...my bad! :chuckle Ok, I am over it now. :stone

I'm sorry but this is killing me..."as Tenesma said..." Ha! I get the worst visual. Why is poop always so funny - unless you have to clean it up.

Quick background. 30 year old male changing careers from Industrial Design to Nursing. Plan on starting BSN program next Fall. I am finishing up my CNA class here shortly. I plan to work as a CNA while going through the 2 years of the BSN program. Is there a specific area that I should look into working that would benefit my plans to become a CRNA? OR? ICU? Other? Keep in mind that I am totally new to the Health Care Field. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

A special thanks to Tenesma for the differing view point. I think it's very beneficial to have an MDAs persepective in this discussion...however unpopular it may be.

Thanks Loisane for taking the time to see where that QUOTE came from. DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER! LOL!

Thanks Emerald! From that Forum: "Check out http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orla.../17/story6.html . I think it's hilarious that CRNA's, having been made almost totally independent in some states, have failed to actually deliver on anaesthesia care in underserviced areas (surprise! they like to work in cities too)...but are more than willing to fight tooth and nail against other practitioners such as AA's. They have the audacity to argue is that AA's will threaten public safety, and that they don't have rigorous enough training and experience! But they are silent on who's going to provide the care in low-renumeration areas. Give me a break! I'm actually a soon-to-be rads resident in Canada so I don't pretend to know all the issues. (We don't have CRNA legislation here, but resp therapists seem poised to fill the void). However, I think organized anaesthesiology will have to consider carefully which type of non-physician provider to support (not whether ). It seems that AA's want to work with BC'd anesthesiologists -- I think it will be easy to sell this concept to the public and in the long run beneficial for the profession. Thoughts?"

Well then AAs are dead in the water, if it can't be marketed as a viable option. Would the AA profession have been 'created' if there was no viable way to market it? I highly doubt that the role of AAs, if given the right amount of time, will stay stagnant. If they are directly supervised by MDAs, and proven reliable, why would they not be afforded more autonomy?

Well then AAs are dead in the water, if it can't be marketed as a viable option. Would the AA profession have been 'created' if there was no viable way to market it? I highly doubt that the role of AAs, if given the right amount of time, will stay stagnant. If they are directly supervised by MDAs, and proven reliable, why would they not be afforded more autonomy?

I am wondering if MDA's will use their power to push AA's autonomy level up almost on par with CRNAs, while still keeping their leverage over them. MDAs are probably looking at CRNAs, similar to the way CRNAs view AAs. Will patient care suffer? I don't know, but I bet that is not a driving force in this. As far as economics goes. . . what kind of staffing ratios or staffing heirarchy can be achieved by using MDAs, CRNAs, and AAs that still allows for the same patient volume? Which ends up being the most cost effective?

I am wondering if MDA's will use their power to push AA's autonomy level up almost on par with CRNAs, while still keeping their leverage over them. MDAs are probably looking at CRNAs, similar to the way CRNAs view AAs. Will patient care suffer? I don't know, but I bet that is not a driving force in this. As far as economics goes. . . what kind of staffing ratios or staffing heirarchy can be achieved by using MDAs, CRNAs, and AAs that still allows for the same patient volume? Which ends up being the most cost effective?

Here's a "FAQ" from a University with an AA program: Is the job description for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) profession equivalent to that for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)? Yes. When AAs are employed within the same organizations as CRNAs, the job description is usually identical. One fundamental difference is that AAs must work under the medical supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. Conversely, in some unique clinical settings (usually not at tertiary care centers), a CRNA can practice under the medical supervision of any physician (not necessarily an anesthesiologist).

Here's a "FAQ" from a University with an AA program: Is the job description for the Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) profession equivalent to that for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)? Yes. When AAs are employed within the same organizations as CRNAs, the job description is usually identical. One fundamental difference is that AAs must work under the medical supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. Conversely, in some unique clinical settings (usually not at tertiary care centers), a CRNA can practice under the medical supervision of any physician (not necessarily an anesthesiologist).

Here is an AA's description: Anesthesiologist Assistants are highly educated allied heath professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists to develop and implement anesthesia care plans. Anesthesiologist Assistants work exclusively within the Anesthesia Care Team environment as described by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). AA's are trained extensively in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques. Anesthesiologist Assistants educational programs are based on the masters degree model and require at least two full academic years. Programs are required to be co-directed by board certified anesthesiologists. AA educational programs accept students who have prior education in the sciences that would qualify the student to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, or one of the basic medical sciences. Students are taught course work that enhances their basic science knowledge in physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, and biochemistry with special emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, nervous, and neuromuscular systems. Clinical instruction educates students extensively in patient monitoring, anesthesia delivery systems, life support systems, and patient assessment as well and in the skills need to provide compassionate, quality care.

Here is an AA's description: Anesthesiologist Assistants are highly educated allied heath professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists to develop and implement anesthesia care plans. Anesthesiologist Assistants work exclusively within the Anesthesia Care Team environment as described by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). AA's are trained extensively in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques. Anesthesiologist Assistants educational programs are based on the masters degree model and require at least two full academic years. Programs are required to be co-directed by board certified anesthesiologists. AA educational programs accept students who have prior education in the sciences that would qualify the student to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, or one of the basic medical sciences. Students are taught course work that enhances their basic science knowledge in physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, and biochemistry with special emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, nervous, and neuromuscular systems. Clinical instruction educates students extensively in patient monitoring, anesthesia delivery systems, life support systems, and patient assessment as well and in the skills need to provide compassionate, quality care.