Posted by Money Lies on December 25, 2006, 8:33 am, in reply to "Re: R.N. to A.A."
MDA's make slightly more money by using/employing/directing/supervising CRNA's than AA's. AA's have stricter rules so employing a CRNA over an AA results in a few more dollars to the Group.
STOP THE LIES!! CRNA's the real "billing opportuntity" for MDA's and have been so for the past 50 years. This is why the AANA wants to practice WITHOUT MDA supervision: so the CRNA can keep all the money without going to Medical School. Why should society pay a paralegal (CRNA) the same as a Harvard Lawyer (Harvard MDA)? Would you?
Advanced nurses want to make the same income as an MDA without the education and training. CRNA's are no more able to practice independently than an AA as far as training and education are concered. The main difference is that the CRNA has one of the best lobby Groups in the AANA. This lobby Group (AANA) has achieved through legislation what MDA's have done through education. Only in America!