"CRNA being told they are "just a nurse"

Princess74 · May 22, 2005

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fergus51 · May 22, 2005

OK, not being a CRNA my 2cents may be unwanted, but you are a nurse too. I never use the word "just", but I don't see why anyone can't wipe a patient for themselves if they aren't already in their sterile gloves. I would have passed the cloth to an md too if I was busy. I don't care if anyone thinks they've "done their share of that".

pricklypear · May 22, 2005

Not that I am above cleaning a patient but I have done my share of that. The way I feel, is I earned my degree and paid for it in more ways than one. I have never seen another crna, pa , md clean a patient so why am I expected by this guy to do it??

I'm sorry, forane. I know this is the CRNA forum - but I just want to give you my perspective. Your statement seems to contradict itself. I sense that you feel you are above doing it. Your degree does not exempt you from having to do anything. My degree does not exempt me from doing "cna tasks." Just re-read your post and tell me if you don't find it a little arrogant. If your behavior reflects this attitude, I'm not surprised that you are feeling some heat from the OR staff. It's wiping goo off someone's back, not licking someone's shoes!

I've seen lots of MDs and CRNAs do things that they didn't have to, because the situation simply unfolded that way.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 22, 2005

There has got to be more to this story than wiping goo off someone's back. And, for the record, what's the big deal with that?

sunnyjohn · May 22, 2005

I'm a surgical technlogist. I respect nurses. I repect doctors. I repsect CRNA's

I don't like being called a "teck"

"...And I thank you for your support."

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 22, 2005

It is unbelievable how the nurses and scrub tecks ( i misspelled on purpose) lol) suck up to the mds.

Maybe i took it the wrong way, but the line i quoted comes across as insulting.

Respect needs to go all around, it is not limited to certain job titles and/or professions.

Cleanining a pt. anywhere is beneath no one.

Trauma Columnist · May 22, 2005

I too have to add that in my ER - doctors, nurses, techs, etc. all help to clean the patient. I will be finished with my MSN in just a few weeks - than do I get to tell the world I won't clean up people? Not if I don't want to be ridiculed publicly.

forane2001 · May 22, 2005

Your right it is a CRNA forum. Would the anesthesiologist been handed the cloth to clean the patient? I think not! That doesnt happen in the real world.

I felt like this situation was an attempt to belittle me in front of the whole OR. I am not above helping a patient as I have done for many years. If he had asked the surgical PA to wipe the patient, he would have been knocked out of the room. Remember all CRNA's have walked in the RN's shoes, but not all RN's have walked in a CRNA's shoes.

I am sorry but CRNA's and RN's have entirely different roles. :)

piper77 · May 22, 2005

Forane, I understand what you mean, though I am sure you didn't mean to offend anyone else with your comments, right? :)

Sometimes you work very hard to achieve a place in life where one would think you deserve a little respect. I know I can feel that way sometimes. The thing is, not everybody thinks the way we do. I did think a lot about this before entering school (am an SRNA), and came to the realization that one of my reasons for wanting to be a CRNA was for a level of respect that...sometimes nurses don't always get. Then I got a little depressed (!) because I knew that the degree or position wasn't going to get me that. After a good hard look at myself, I thought I needed to not worry about the respect level I did or didn't have....that was more about who I thought I was, rather than who other people thought I was. And life is better...not always easy...I still clench my teeth sometimes when someone makes a dumb comment like that person did to you...but I remind myself I don't have anything to preserve, nothing to protect, just a patient to deliver good care to. The thing is, the people who blatantly show disrespect are going to do that anyway, no matter who you are. The people who value you as a person and a clinician will respect you no matter what. Just a way of life. BTW, I've been down the road in a few career paths...and its the same all over! Been an RN since 1981, and have seen respect and appreciation for nurses rise dramatically. So, go get em....have fun, enjoy life, and be the best anesthesia provider you can be.

PS...had a friend (MDA), who replied to my question..."what do you think of me applying to CRNA school?"...by saying "well, that's ok, I guess...you can probably make a fair living - 50-60K a year....but there's one thing. They want to be doctors...and they are NOT!" I said, "D___, what the hell made you think I want to be a doctor? I'm a NURSE...try and understand the difference, buddy!" He's a good guy, and a friend, but still a little clueless.

Sorry for the long post. Good luck.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 22, 2005

Would the anesthesiologist been handed the cloth to clean the patient? I think not!

This happens all the time where i work, and i do work in the real world. It's done by whoever has the free hand to do it, regardless of the role.

We call this "teamwork".

smgilles · May 22, 2005

Crna's out there:
How would you feel and respond to the phrase" you are just a nurse too".
My place of employment is shall I say "less than respectful" to CRNA's. All too often the aforementioned statement is directed in my path. I know of nothing that I do to provoke such a statement. How would "you are just an orderly or you are just a circulator go over?"
We are totally overshadowed by the MDA's. It is unbelievable how the nurses and scrub tecks ( i misspelled on purpose) lol) suck up to the mds. I can ignore that and am thankful that I don't need to suck up to anyone.
The one of many situations in which I was reminded that I was just a nurse was during placement of a spinal (which I was doing)
We turned the patient to the left lateral position and she had a wound that had silvadene cream on it. This left a terrible mess right up the spine where I needed to prep. I had already started opening my spinal tray and gloves when we found this. One of the nurses went out to get a washcloth. When he came back in he handed it to me and I just looked at him kinda funny I guess. Thats when he said "well you are just a nurse too" I found that to be offensive. Not that I am above cleaning a patient but I have done my share of that. The way I feel, is I earned my degree and paid for it in more ways than one. I have never seen another crna, pa , md clean a patient so why am I expected by this guy to do it??
I feel the need almost daily to have to defend what crnas do in this OR. Do you experience the same things?
How do you rebel this type of behavior.
thanks

No offense, but aren't you are nurse? It is right in your title cRNa