Right now I'm really interested in pursuing a career in CCM, but I've been increasingly concerned with the CRNA vs MD-A dogfight. I know this is talked about virtually daily on this thread, but I have a few quick questions that I couldn't find addressed from searching:
1. Why in the hell is anesthesia residency FOUR years long if nurses can successfully complete the necessary training in two? I read a few arguments on allnurses.com essentially stating that modern anesthesia doesn't require the extensive training anesthesiologists undergo to deliver safe and effectively. Considering the scope of practice for CRNA's is identical to that of MD-A's, I don't really see why anesthesia residents could not be trained in a shorter period? From what I understand, most states allow CRNA's to practice without medical supervision. Doctors are so oddly traditional when it comes to this stuff. Will medical education ever evolve to accommodate the times?
Just had to put that out there. Question 2 is my main concern, though. I know it technically belongs in the CCM thread but I thought most of you could address it considering the overlap.
2. Many of the physician's that I shadowed have tried to deter me away from anesthesia since they view it as a "dying field" that will eventually be overtaken by CRNA's. That doesn't bother me so much since I'm not really interested in working in the OR. My ultimate goal is to be a CCM doctor in an ICU. I loved working with airways as an EMT, so I just thought gas would be a better route for me to enter instead of IM or surgery. I do realize, however, that advanced practice nurses also are stationed in the ICU. How do the scope of practice of APN's in the ICU compare to that of CCM trained MD/DO's? Can they do the same procedures?
Didn't want to offend anyone by this post, by the way. I haven't even started my MS1 yet, so I am not nearly as knowledgable as any of you. I'm just trying to synthesize everything I've read together.
1. Why in the hell is anesthesia residency FOUR years long if nurses can successfully complete the necessary training in two? I read a few arguments on allnurses.com essentially stating that modern anesthesia doesn't require the extensive training anesthesiologists undergo to deliver safe and effectively. Considering the scope of practice for CRNA's is identical to that of MD-A's, I don't really see why anesthesia residents could not be trained in a shorter period? From what I understand, most states allow CRNA's to practice without medical supervision. Doctors are so oddly traditional when it comes to this stuff. Will medical education ever evolve to accommodate the times?
Just had to put that out there. Question 2 is my main concern, though. I know it technically belongs in the CCM thread but I thought most of you could address it considering the overlap.
2. Many of the physician's that I shadowed have tried to deter me away from anesthesia since they view it as a "dying field" that will eventually be overtaken by CRNA's. That doesn't bother me so much since I'm not really interested in working in the OR. My ultimate goal is to be a CCM doctor in an ICU. I loved working with airways as an EMT, so I just thought gas would be a better route for me to enter instead of IM or surgery. I do realize, however, that advanced practice nurses also are stationed in the ICU. How do the scope of practice of APN's in the ICU compare to that of CCM trained MD/DO's? Can they do the same procedures?
Didn't want to offend anyone by this post, by the way. I haven't even started my MS1 yet, so I am not nearly as knowledgable as any of you. I'm just trying to synthesize everything I've read together.