cessnadriver

My comment was NOT funny but the original one was? Consider yourselves fortunate you do not have a moderator on your forum as the CRNA forum does. I am sure they would not stand for this CRNA hating. I would like to say CRNAs do not think poorly of NPs... We actually do not think of them much at all. I wonder why there is no NP bashing in the CRNA forum?

If the language is Spanish, that can be quite useful. If you speak a language spoken by a population of local immigrant groups such as Vietnamese, Bosnian,Serbian, Pashto, Urdu, Chinese ( both Mandarin and Cantonese), that would be quite useful. We have an entire department at our hospital staffed by people who speak these and other languages. Contrary to what non CRNAs think, not all of our patients are rendered insensate. And we have quite involved conversations with them Pre and post op. When I anesthesia for an awake craniotomy, it is my job to talk to the patient while his brain is exposed and operated on.

Hmmm Nice thread... now for some fireworks.... any CRNAs on the forum ever get involved in NON-BRAIN DEAD organ donation? And I am not talking about living donor organ removals. This may take a while to post as it has to be moderated so the flow of discussion may not be smooth.

No we would not be happy with that reaction.

Yes ALL schools require a certain number of sub arachnoid or spinal blocks. epidural blocks, central venous catheters, arterial catheters not to mention peripheral nerve blocks. You will be sticking needles into someone several times a day.

Compassion? I answered your question. It was of a yes or no nature.... the answer was NO. You might wonder how I came up with this answer? From being a didactic and clinical instructor in a CRNA program who, in addition has sat on more admission boards than I care to remember. So, as you can see I have the bona fides to formulate a well researched answer... and it remains, NO. I am sorry I cannot change reality to suit your perception of it. I also appears I am the ONLY CRNA who answered your question. Please do not take offense at answers you ask for if the answer is not what you want.

Wow, pretty insulting to CRNAs... I would wonder how NP would feel if that same question was asked and the answer was. " If you have mediocre grades and a room temp IQ... NP"? Some of us CRNAs have actually developed quite good personalities.

In a word... NO.

Things do not go wrong very often at all. We do not get paid the big bucks to sit and do eventless anesthesia.. we get paid the big bucks to handle those emergencies. the airway, bp, tempurature, hct, heart rate are all under your control for the most part. Surgical complications are not. No disrespect to the last poster... but this is a CRNA forum, where people come to ask CRNAs questions OR other CRNAs seek information from other CRNAs. 2 weeks in an OR as a nursing student,does not qualify you to answer this question. You do not know enough about anesthesia to have a valid opinnion on this subject.

Negotiating for a salary if you are a hospital employee is difficult as best. The hospital pays what the hospital pay scales says it can pay. These salaries are updated by the hospitals to insure no one in the area is paying more than anyone else.. It is how RN salaries are determined for the most part as well. The compensation comittee of the hospital is usually staffed by some RNs from mgmt who knows nothing of your worth... and HR people who want to keep costs down. Hospital will actually do a survey of nearby institutions to make sure they are not overpaying. How this is not illegal is beyond me. As a hospital employee you will be trated as every other nurse is usually treated..and hospitals are not known to treat nurses of any speciality as adults.. traditionally its a VERY maternalistic culture. If you want to negotiate a bit on salary ,I would suggest you look into any private practice anesthesia groups in the area..Not only will you probably make more.. you will be valued as as asset and not just another nurse employee.

I am not a huge fan of the AANA for reasons I will not go into here, but can be found on other forums. The AA issue is a direct result of the absolute contrarian attitude of the AANA dealing with the ASA. The AANA would not budge an inch... soo the ASA did an end run around them.. viola AAs. The AANA is protecting the rural solo practitioner at the expense of the large hospital ACT " stool monkey". In addition, the AANA is unresponsive to concerns of their members on issues dealing with the image and treatement of CRNAs on the net, again not to be covered here but can be found on other forums.

I have no idea in what alternate universe a CRNA would get yelled at. But, I can tell you it does not happen in my world.. PERIOD. And furthermore, it will not happen to any student I am training. I would disagree with the poster that said it was the second best job after MD. I would not take a cut in pay to be a pediatrician or GP. I think it is the best job in the hospital. If someone will base a decision on what career they will choose based on what they saw in one day.. maybe CRNA is not really for them.. it does not sound like they put much thought into that decision.

I understand reimbursment for CRNAs as I have been a CRNA for many years. My question is now.. WHY are not NPs reimbursed 100% of the physician rate ?.. Are PAs? If not, why not? are not all APNs equal? I was informed in this forum that NPs could practice autonomously. If they can do this I would expect reimbursment to be done on exactly the same model as that used for CRNAs.

RedCell gave EXACTLY the right answers... And I would like to echo the EVILNESS of Demerol. It is an emetic with SOME analgesic properties. In addition who the hell gives IM pre op meds on the floor? In the 21st century???? IN a developed 1st world nation?

There is almost NO reason NOT to use lidocaine before starting an IV.. The lidocaine will accoplish several things. 1. Attenuates the pain of the 18 or 16 Ga catheter or even 20 ga. 2. The patient has no idea how you do anesthesia.. if you are very skilled or not.. the ONLY thing they will actually see YOU do as a CRNA, is start the IV. They will judge your abilities based on that interaction. 3. Vascular tone is determined by innervation... local anesthestic inhibits nerve transmission by its action of ,IIRC , Na channels. You interrupt the nerve transmission and you get vasodiliatation. Remeber the person you are starting the IV on is not only dehydrated... NPO..... and nervous...adrenal output. 4. On the occasional true " difficult stick" if the first one does not hurt.. they are more amenable to letting you try more than one. Not to be rude.. but.. if you do not do anesthesia you should not be giving advice to an SRNA.