Posted by CLS
on April 2, 2009, 6:03 pm, in reply to "MDA/CRNA/AA - future predictions"
140.254.45.26
In my opinion, getting rid of the MDA all together would be improbable and infeasible. A profession is not typically disbanned or 'axed', it is restructured. The physicians have more power and intelligence than nurses tend to give credit for. So I wouldn't worry about MDA's being erased from the allied health professions.
I have been through major changes and professional turmoil as a Clinical Lab Scientist. There is always one group of professionals stirring the pot. Unfortunately, it typically seems to be the nurses. They are notorious for being arrogant and rude to other health care professionals. Just remember, they have a strong political and lobbist group with matching ego's. The CRNA's may be able to function autonomously, but that does not make them an MD. Not all, but many nurses I have worked with tend to agree that they are the vital link to patient care. And accordingly, a nurse is a person who cares for the sick or infirm; specifically: a licensed health care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health: one that looks after, fosters, or advises. Basically, the nurse is the care giver. Nursing has evolved from the stereotypical 'female-role' in caring for the ill, to a diverse and broad profession. They tend to have their fingers in everything now. From anesthesiology to advanced practitioners of everykind. Nursing has become an industry that is monopolozing the allied health professions. They feel if you are not a nurse, then you can't be an advanced allied health professional (eg, Physician Assistant, Anesthesiology Assistant, Surgical Assistant). Fortunately, in the clinical lab, the only time we deal with angry nurses is on the phone. Without the clinical lab, diagnostic testing would not be performed and 85% of the diagnosis would be lost. So nurses are vital, but so is the lab, the doctor, the respiratory techs, the radiology techs, the entire allied health professional team. OK...off my soap box...Now, look at the physician.
The physician is the person skilled in the art of healing; specifically: one educated, clinically experienced, and licensed to practice. The physician has a strong background in the sciences prior to entering medical school. During medical school the physician goes through intense training in medicine and pathophysiology. They become interns and residents, training in the art of medicine for years before autonomy is granted.
The advanced Allied Health Assistant Professionals (physician, surgical, and anesthesiology assistants) have strong pre-medical backgrounds, go through intense training in the art of medicine or surgery or anesthesiology. Go through an internship. In essence, the AA or PA or SPA is an extension of the physician. So why shouldn't the physician be the supervisor for a AA, PA, or SPA. Whereas the nurse is the care provider for the patient and not directly an extension of the physician (like a secretary is to a lawyer). In essence, the physician does not have time to provide the daily care for every patient. The nurse is the person who does the daily care. So, what is the big deal between CRNA and AA, I mean really breaking it down to the unbiased nitty-gritty.
The true difference that I see between CRNA's and AA's is CRNA's went through nursing school (the term nursing means to nurse back to health - not diagnose, treat, cure illnesses), practiced nursing, then decided to become an anesthetist. However, the nursing profession tries to put their stamp on everything. So they place their nursing title upon anesthesiology and call it CRNA. Conversely, the AA's went through a pre-medical curriculum, and earned a Bachelor's degree in some field of study other than nursing, then decided to become an anesthetist. Instead of stamping their field of study onto anesthesiology, they are called Anesthesiology Assistant.
So, if you want to be a nurse and work in anesthesiology, you should take the CRNA route. If you want to work in anesthesiology without being a nurse, you should take the MD or AA route.
On a personal level, I find it interesting that I have not found a post from a AA that is derogatory toward the CRNA profession. In fact, the AA responses to such statements from CRNAs tend to suggest teamwork and working together. Whereas, the CRNAs post extremely vicious anti-AA statements that seem to be segregatory, anti-teamwork, and prejudicial. It is almost to the point of discrimination against a profession.
*Sorry about the length, I was thinking of becoming an anesthetist and found this site. I read several strings about AA/CRNA. I became a little heated because nurses tend to act like they are better than anyone else. I have noticed this after 15 years of working in a clinical lab - and we only talk to them on the phone. I can only imagine working beside the 'militant' nurses, as we call them. I do want to say that many nurses are team players, but just as many are militant.
