Why doesn't Canada use nurse anesthetists?

[Missa]

Is there a reason?

There is a shortage of anesthesiologists and the ones that we do have aren't happy with their 315K/year. So, why don't we recognize nurse anesthetists (CRNAs)? From my research, I have found that CRNAs provide very high qualitly, cost-effective care. They are compensated well for their work and responsibility, but still only cost about 1/3 of what it costs to pay an anesthesiologist. I would think this would be a very attractive prospect to our cash strapped health care system. I just don't understand why this hasn't already happened. Nurse anesthetists work in 106 countries including the USA. In fact, 65% of anesthesia administered in the US is done so by CRNAs. So, what am I missing? Why haven't we caught on to this in Canada yet?

[Sarah, RNBScN]

I'm definitely with you Missa. The other area I see it in is midwifery. There are many certified nurse midwives in the US, but I don't know any such programs in Canada. BC only started regulating midwifery as a recognized profession in the late 90s (and they are not nurse-midwives). A CNM costs a lot less than an OB and studies have shown they are just as safe or safer for low risk women, so they could save us just as much as CRNAs.

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Laurentian University in Sudbury, ON. has a midwifery program.

We had some students on the OB floor for practicum.

I didn't get a chance to really ask ??? because we were swamped.