CRNA Vs. Anesthesia Assistant

Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN · Jul 3, 2015

You want advice, don't be an AA. How do you think it's going to save cost? You know you can't practice as an AA without an anesthesiologist? How does paying 2 people make any sense when trying to 'save costs?' It doesn't, CRNAs are independent practitioners and can do their own thing whenever, wherever and however they want. Now it also depends if you work in a rural CRNA only setting or in an care team model. So there is really no place for AAs, they won't help contain costs and won't allow greater access to services due to their inability to be fully independent. Either way AAs will never make it into my state because they will drive down my salary and make me less than that I am worth. I will fight tooth and nail to keep them out.

AAs have no clinical background. Meaning they could have gotten a bachelors degree in basket weaving and then went on to grad school to become an AA. That lack of clinical background is huge in my opinion. I wouldn't let an AA work on mE. I don't care what you did, where you went to school or whatever, it's not happening. As a CRNA our ICU experience is what gives us our 6th sense, the sense to know that something isn't right and we need to do something to keep our patient safe. That's not something you can teach anyone. Our critical thinking skills in emergencies is superior, as this all goes back to our prior ICU experience. I could go on all day, bottom line is this, if you want to undermine CRNAs then go be an AA. Sorry but I'm super passionate about my profession as I worked my ass of to get here and I'll be darned if I'm gonna let other ruin it for me. Not everyone is going to like that I said but I honestly don't care.

WCSU1987 · Jul 3, 2015

I enjoyed working with CRNAs they were great...anesthesiologist residents were scary, ha. If there were ever nurse's who knew their **** was the CRNAs. Appreciate the feedback.