Posted by Dave J on December 27, 2007, 9:12 pm, in reply to "Can CRNA work independently??????????????????????"
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Posted by Dave J on December 27, 2007, 9:12 pm, in reply to "Can CRNA work independently??????????????????????"
Re: Can CRNA work independently?????????????????????? Archived Message
Liu,
A CRNA can work within the scope of practice. The scope of practice in most states is that a CRNA can work as an independent practitioner in anesthesia. That means their license is the basis of their practice, not the "supervising" surgeon.
Nurse anesthetists also give anesthesia for dentists and podiatrists. And podiatrists are in no way able to diagnose and treat anything above the ankle.
As someone who has worked in pretty much every kind of practice setting, I have come to realize that surgeons, even though they are doctors, do NOT know as much about anesthesia as I do. In most cases when an anesthesia problem comes up, they are more than willing to do what I suggest as they know that is my area of expertise. I have also worked with surgeons who do not want to know about problems during the case unless it is something they can actually help with, such as "Gee, doc, could you please stop leaning on the chest?"
The whole point I was trying to make is just because a CRNA can work independently of an anesthesiologist does NOT mean they are safer than AAs in a situation where they both are supervised directly by MDAs. To make any comparison of safety, you would have to compare the two in the same kind of practice setting. Find a place that has both CRNAs and AAs working under the supervision of MDAs and do a comparison.
But to say CRNAs are "better" only based upon the fact CRNAs can work independently is false logic.
Compare it to pilots. A pilot may be able to fly solo and he thinks he is doing a good job. There are no fellow pilots around to rate him and he may be flying in a pretty unsteady manner. But put him into formation with other pilots, as part of a team and his inability to fly steady and straight is quickly noticed.