Years ago there was a Dr. Guard in Minneapolis, MN. When intubation was becoming popular he started teaching it to nurse anesthetists. He got called on it by other MDAs, saying if CRNAs can do everything a MDA can do, then what is the difference between the two? Dr. Guard said the more people know in how to take care of their patients, the safer the patients are. He continued teaching intubation and now it is taught to all CRNAs without any comment.
I think the same logic applies with AAs. The more they know, they better they will be. Knowing how to put in a central line or art line Vs just sitting and "monitoring it" will in the long run make them better providers.
