SRNA here, been an ICU nurse for about 6 years and have 2 semesters down of anesthesia school. (worked trauma transplant at Duke, Charged an ICU, worked Neuro ICU, Cardiac ICU, basically from a nursing perspective there is nothing that I can't handle without the support of a competent MD).
My father is a CRNA, navy trained with about 25 years experience and has worked in both a team approach and as an independent contractor. He has instructed both CRNA students and MDAs. I think experience has to count for something.
Unlike most of my peers, I don't see a problem with allowing AAs to practice under the supervision of an Anesthesiologist I did however receive instruction from my teachers to call and oppose a recent bill that would have allowed AAs to practice in Kentucky. The only justifiable reason I could come up with was quite selfish, Job Security.
I will concede that I will not have the education that an Anesthesiologist has upon graduation, nor the experience. My plan is to go somewhere that does a variety of cases with a team approach to gain experience, and then possibly move to a rural area to practice, with or without an anesthesiologist. All research points to no difference in outcomes between CRNA or Anesthesiologists, of course depending on who did the research CRNAs or MDAs the research may be skewed. The reason this bill was passed was simple, $$.
Something I have noticed that I think is a disgrace is the apparent laziness of the MDAs (not all, but some). Where I currently practice, I have not seen a MDA do a single case. They supervise from a lounge with a flat scree television playing on their phones. As a SRNA I would appreciate if they took the time to come in the room, maybe teach us something, or act like they are interested in what they do. I have worked places where this was not the case, and really appreciate Anesthesiologists that would escort their patients to the unit and gave excellent reports doing their profession proud and looking out for their patients' best interests.
avg salary around here for CRNA 150,000 to 180,000
avg salary around here for MDA 300,000-450,000
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I think the salary difference is appropriate (you should be paid for your education, not your responsibility). If CRNA's aren't supervised, we have the same responsibility.
One question I do have is: What is the difference in Malpractice Insurance between CRNA and MDA?