It is only a matter of time. With the shortage of nurses (caused by the nurses, but that is a different discussion) there is also going to be a shortage of nurse anesthetists. With insufficient doctors going into anesthesiology, there is also going to be a shortage of MDAs/DOAs also.
With demand for anesthesia going up and supply of the two entrenched groups going down, you guys are in the perfect position to supply the growing needs of the nation.
However, I think "fighting the good fight" is not so much focusing on how the "AANA is keeping you down" but instead on what you can offer.
My suggestion would be to collect information (do a research study)(collect anecdotal notes) on how many times patients have had their surgery delayed or cancelled because there were insufficient anesthesia providers in the area.
If for example, you could show the Texas legislature that 15% of the patients in the Dallas Fort Worth area had their surgery cancelled or delayed as a direct result of insufficient anesthesia coverage, it would go a long way to convincing the legislature to pass an AA practice law. If you had 1000 stories from patients about how much that cost them, that would also impress the legislature.
But if your argument is the AANA is picking on you, that just comes across as whining. Show there is a need that is not being filled by EITHER the MDAs/DOAs or CRNAs and you have a good shot at getting a bill passed.
Good luck...
