I do not believe in having a heated discussion about this issue. I also do not want to make bread and hold hands while giving warm group hugs. I have been reading about AA-C, CRNA and MDA position shortage. This was caused by the large shortage of graduates in the mid to late 90's. With a steady rise in the number of surgery cases, and with a steady rise in patient population, why can't we all just get along?
As a person who is going through the AA application process, and has a medical background, I see no reason for anyone here to get cocky and fired up on this forum. MDAs are now dictating the terms of their contracts (how many IM docs are doing that?). This demonstrates the demand that these physicians command in the medical heirarchy. Physician extenders in anesthesia, although slightly dropping in the 90's, are finally coming back and the GREAT majority of MDAs freely admit that they need help and they want help from qualified CRNAs and AA-Cs. Medical schools are finally catching on to the physician shortage, but are FAR from recruiting enough qualified students to catch up on the anesthesia shortage. Just chill. CRNA vs AA discussion is rather trite. Do your research, ask questions on this forum and pick the path that best suites your needs and goals. In the end, unless we are the docs, we are physician extenders. I want to see a forum with a CRNA buying an AA-C a coke.
