Re: Worries about Clinton/socialized medicine? Archived Message
Posted by Dave J on January 19, 2008, 12:40 am, in reply to "Re: Worries about Clinton/socialized medicine?"
Henry...as the old saying goes...follow the money. Years ago there was a study done on anesthesia providers who got into trouble with drug use. An interesting trend was noted. Anesthesiologists in fairly significant numbers would get out of Anesthesiology and away from the temptation of the easily gotten drugs and go into some area of medicine. BECAUSE they could make an equal or great amount doing something else. In contrast, CRNAs who had problems tended to stay in Anesthesia and not go into another area of nursing. The conclusion of the study was that because CRNAs could NOT go into some other area of nursing and make equal amounts of money, they stayed in anesthesia despite the continued temptation of the drugs. Using the same logic, if the pay for anesthesia goes to hell under socialized medicine, I think the MDAs will either go into some other speciality OR try to maximize their income by supervising more CRNAs/AAs than recommended. With more supervision, they get more money. On the other hand, the same issue will remain for CRNAs. What other nursing specialty could they go into and expect to make the same kind of pay? If they are not willing to change professions due to pay in regards to drugs, I do not think they would change professions unless for some reason OTHER types of advanced practice nurses start making a lot more money.) As far as new NA students, it still will take a bundle of money to become a CRNA. If the pay is half of what it is today, will there be so many nurses willing to put out the bundle of money for less returns under socialized medicine? Or will they stay in nursing or perhaps go into some other type of nurse pracititioner field? I think those CRNAs in anesthesia will stay in anesthesia. I think getting new CRNAs will be harder. So the AAs have the potential of becoming a nationwide resource. Pay may not be as good, but it will still be good pay. Hope this answers your question.
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