Cant find an AA

[PreAAstudent]

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Hey guys... I live in the west coast and I cant find an AA to shadow because they can't practice here. I plan to apply to AA school 2019 cycle and Im willing to fly anywhere to shadow an AA... How do I go about contacting AAs in the east coast? Do you think it is a good idea to just cold message on linkedin?

 

[mmag]

Hey guys... I live in the west coast and I cant find an AA to shadow because they can't practice here. I plan to apply to AA school 2019 cycle and Im willing to fly anywhere to shadow an AA... How do I go about contacting AAs in the east coast? Do you think it is a good idea to just cold message on linkedin?

Admissions | Master of Science in Anesthesia Program | School of Medicine | Case Western Reserve University
"Applicants may request a shadowing experience through the MSA Program. Requests can be made at any location office, and procedures differ according to affiliate hospital regulations. While the program tries to accommodate as many applicants as possible, requesting a shadowing experience in no way implies or guarantees placement."

Otherwise email the program director of each AA program and ask about shadowing opportunities. If nothing, email the every AA staff/faculty to ask.

 

[btbam]

You live "in" the west coast? Never heard that phrase. There are AAs working in New Mexico and Colorado. Not sure where you are exactly, but I imagine those are the closest states to you.

 

[jwk]

Hey guys... I live in the west coast and I cant find an AA to shadow because they can't practice here. I plan to apply to AA school 2019 cycle and Im willing to fly anywhere to shadow an AA... How do I go about contacting AAs in the east coast? Do you think it is a good idea to just cold message on linkedin?

PM me

 

[PreAAstudent]

PM me

Some CRNAs are also not letting me shadow them. I messaged one randomly on linkedin and this is what I got from them.

I absolutely do not work under an ACT model. I am an independent and autonomously practicing Nurse Anesthetist using the full extent of my licensing authority. In Washington, CRNAs have the same scope of practice as Anesthesiologists. My practice at xxx in which I now work is autonomous and unsupervised. I worked 7 years as an ICU nurse then went back to grad school for anesthesia and have been a CRNA for almost 4 years. CRNAs have a more thorough education, both didactic clinical, than anesthesia assistants and in many states can practice independently, which I do. I could make time to talk to you on the phone to discuss the differences between AAs and CRNAs and tell you how much better it would be for you to pursue a career as a Nurse Anesthetist, if you are interested. I am not available for you to shadow if you are solely seeking AA. I also suggest you lead with your real intentions should you contact another CRNA. This is a political issue and all the CRNAs I know feel very strongly that AAs have no place providing anesthesia.
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[jwk]

Washington state...



Some CRNAs are also not letting me shadow them. I messaged one randomly on linkedin and this is what I got from them.

I absolutely do not work under an ACT model. I am an independent and autonomously practicing Nurse Anesthetist using the full extent of my licensing authority. In Washington, CRNAs have the same scope of practice as Anesthesiologists. My practice at xxx in which I now work is autonomous and unsupervised. I worked 7 years as an ICU nurse then went back to grad school for anesthesia and have been a CRNA for almost 4 years. CRNAs have a more thorough education, both didactic clinical, than anesthesia assistants and in many states can practice independently, which I do. I could make time to talk to you on the phone to discuss the differences between AAs and CRNAs and tell you how much better it would be for you to pursue a career as a Nurse Anesthetist, if you are interested. I am not available for you to shadow if you are solely seeking AA. I also suggest you lead with your real intentions should you contact another CRNA. This is a political issue and all the CRNAs I know feel very strongly that AAs have no place providing anesthesia.
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It's unfortunate that CRNAs are the way they are, and the one you had a discussion with is typical of today's "we can practice independently and are just as good as an anesthesiologist" mentality that is drummed into them from the moment they start their first class.

CRNAs most certainly DO NOT have the same scope of practice as an anesthesiologist. That's laughable, but again, typical of their mentality. I can actually have quite a rational discussion with you (or anyone else) about the pros and cons of CRNA vs AA, while most CRNAs will simply present a totally one-sided biased argument, just like the one you contacted.

Hopefully I can help you get set up with a shadowing experience. Keep the PMs coming.

 

[chocomorsel]

CRNAs are EQUAL to AAs. Not better and some are worse because of all these CRNA mills producing too many of them under questionable schooling. Don’t let their egos tell you otherwise. They just feel threatened by AAs and you can tell in his or her email how political everything is for them.

So just chat with our resident AA on here @jwk and he will guide you down the right path. You do have to move to a state that has AA practice rights though to work.

 

[coffeebythelake]

CRNAs are EQUAL to AAs. Not better and some are worse because of all these CRNA mills producing too many of them under questionable schooling. Don’t let their egos tell you otherwise. They just feel threatened by AAs and you can tell in his or her email how political everything is for them.

So just chat with our resident AA on here @jwk and he will guide you down the right path. You do have to move to a state that has AA practice rights though to work.

AA have the same quality of training as CRNAs, and AA are better because there is less baggage and nonsense.

I strongly support legislation allowing AAs to practice in my state, although this has not yet occurred.

It's ironic that while CRNAs have upgraded their degree to "doctorate level" the overall rigor of training and quality of their trainees is worse. There are so many CRNA schools that pop up in a fly-by-night, diploma mill fashion, pumping out sub-par CRNAs, many of which compensate for their inferiority complex by drinking the AANA propaganda. They increase their practice by legislation not by skill or merit. You can bet this is all about $$$ to them. The public is put at risk. The CRNA who responded with that diatribe earlier reflects this perfectly. A simple "no I don't accept people who shadow" is sufficient. Instead, they have to extol their qualifications and their supposed superiority while minimizing the achievements of others.

I am not anti-CRNA, but I am anti-AANA. I work with CRNAs daily. Many of them are great, conscientious, skillful. Some CRNAs can effectively work independently, but certainly not all or even the majority. And this BS about them functioning like anesthesiologist is just a load of horse ****. The fact they exaggerate their training hours and requirements in AANA propaganda goes to show what they have to hide.

 

[Gaseous1]

Let’s also not forget the requirements for entry. Most AA schools require a premed curriculum and MCAT for entry, a test itself that has significant restrictions to qualify. The baseline knowledge is almost certainly better. Probably more valuable than all of those Foundations of Nursing and Legislative Militancy classes.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Dude COME ON. Are you trolling us? You seriously reached out to a nurse anesthetist to see if you could shadow them??? Have some sense - you are a direct threat to their job security. I am suspicious that was your intent to derail the thread into a word war. If you want to be an AA and join an ACT model - have a little more common sense.

Every ACT practice I’ve worked at has had them on equal footing. Period. Nurses don’t really want to hear that, but it’s the truth at many places that have both.

 

[2Fast2Des]

Why does the ASA or any self respecting anesthesiologist continue to tout ACT model and the glorious life of working as a "team" when clearly they don't want to be.

 

[chocomorsel]

Why does the ASA or any self respecting anesthesiologist continue to tout ACT model and the glorious life of working as a "team" when clearly they don't want to be.

Money money money money ! MONEY!!!

 

[jwk]

Dude COME ON. Are you trolling us? You seriously reached out to a nurse anesthetist to see if you could shadow them??? Have some sense - you are a direct threat to their job security. I am suspicious that was your intent to derail the thread into a word war. If you want to be an AA and join an ACT model - have a little more common sense.

Every ACT practice I’ve worked at has had them on equal footing. Period. Nurses don’t really want to hear that, but it’s the truth at many places that have both.

He's trying to find out about the AA career. Being on the left coast, that's not that easy, since the furthest west we go is NM and CO.

I've already had several PM conversations with him, and I'm working on setting up a shadowing opportunity for him. He's willing to literally fly all the way across the country to do that, at his own expense. Certainly sounds like he's interested to me.

 

[KevinAndTheZits]

He's trying to find out about the AA career. Being on the left coast, that's not that easy, since the furthest west we go is NM and CO.

I've already had several PM conversations with him, and I'm working on setting up a shadowing opportunity for him. He's willing to literally fly all the way across the country to do that, at his own expense. Certainly sounds like he's interested to me.

Hi @jwk I am also having a difficult time finding an AA to shadow, however I live on the east coast. Would it be okay if I PMed you as well?

 

[jwk]

Hi @jwk I am also having a difficult time finding an AA to shadow, however I live on the east coast. Would it be okay if I PMed you as well?

sure