I have to disagree with you Pete, just listen to your self(no offense)you said ask an SRNA or a SAA(students)to start an IV, place an NGT or even explain what basic vital signs are telling you and I'll bet the SAA(student)would be loss.
Your forgetting one or more things Pete, that there are SAA's(students)who are registered nurses RNs with a BSN or ADN who are allied health anesthetist(RN,AA-C,MSA,BSN) or (RN,AA-C,MSA,BS,ADN). So I ask you Pete what would be the difference if a SRNA and a RNSAA both are BSN, both worked in ICU for 4 years before applying to anesthetist program(AA-C/CRNA).
So what your telling me that the SRNA that know how to start an IV, place an NGT or even explain what basic vital signs are telling you but the SAA(student)would be lost. The SAA is a RN(RNSAA) with a BSN who worked in ICU, started IVs, put down NGTs, can explain basic vital signs as a SAA but in your words your saying he/she would be lost as a SAA. You care to elaborate on that?.
What your saying in general all SAAs would be lost when it comes to these skills why?..because they are not nurses. That's the sad part Pete and I'm sorry if I step on your toes but there are some things I feel needed to be pointed out in regards of AA-Cs/SAAs. What you and your other colleagues(CRNAs) fail to realize or keep forgetting that the vast majority of AA-Cs are allied health care profession with critical care, clinical, and technical experience with direct patient care. They are PA-C, RCP, RRT, Cer.AT, CCP, PM(para medic), EMT, CST, and YES RNs(nurse)too.
Me as a Cer.A.T.(Anesthesia Technician)graduating with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Health(BSH)applying to AA-C program taking the MCAT or GRE, my credentials on my resume says worked as a Cer.AT with critical care experience, starting IVs, place NGTs, place oral temperature down patient, start arterial lines, ACLS&PALS certified, worked on the Liver Transplant Team, set up ART,CVP&PA lines & draw labs or ABGs from each patient lines, perform TEGs, hang fluids(NS,LR,D5 LR, Hex tend, Albumin etc)operate level One Rapid Transfusion Machine, Operate FMS Rapid Transfusion Machine, Operate IABP, Operate Cell Saver Machine, operate anesthesia machine as well as trouble shoot, Set up Cardiac Output Monitor add patient information into the system calibrate and assist my MDAs in floating the Swan-Ganz Catheter start CI, CO,& SVo2, and explain what basic vital signs are telling me etc. The majority of what I mention above I do under the supervision of my Anesthesiologist MD.
So what your saying is after all the skills I have under my belt as a Cer.AT which is in our scope of practice with a BSH bachelor's of Science degree in Health, what your saying is as a SAA(student) I would be lost verses a SRNA because I'm not a nurse or because my degree is in Health not Nursing which means my degree is nothing but your degree is better because it is a BSN?. I assure you a Bachelor's of Science in Health is not easy by a long shot especially when It's a under-graduate degree I'm working towards too.
In conclusion I assure you my BSH degree is just as important as your BSN degree with the difference's is we both chose a different path in taking care of patients what should be the most important thing. As one of your own colleague 2nd year SRNA soon to be a CRNA as he stated we should respect & except our indifference's on how we obtain our Master degree as mid-level anesthesia care(anesthetists AA-C/CRNA).
This mentality has to stop if your not a nurse your nothing or the only way to become a anesthetist is you have to be a nurse.Im sorry it does not work that way and It's not true. I have the up most respect for nurses and yes they also provide excellent patient care but in reality nurses are not the only people who provide excellent patient care. Allied health Care Profession also provide excellent patient care too. AA-C, PA-C, RCP, Cer.AT, CCP, RRT, PM, EMT, CST, & MT etc.
The way I see it this revolves around insecurity and fear! period why?...because if you and your association(AANA)were so confident with yourselves and your profession you all would have no need to come on here disrespecting, boasting about your independent practice as a CRNA and misinforming the AA-Cs practice and information which I care not to discuss I did read it and there were a lot of information twisted and turned around to make AA-C look bad and incompetent as anesthetist. I am not going to get into politics or argue this is what this all boils down to POLITICS & FEAR period so sad but true.
Just remember when you & your association(AANA) bad mouth and lie about AA-Cs keep in mind your disrespecting your fellow BSN/ADN nurse(who are a RNAA-C) who are still nurses and once worked with you in ICU. Look what happen in Oklahoma last month in May the bill was passed AA-Cs are now licensed to work in that state now. Sorry to say yes it was a nasty battle from what I was told your colleagues went before legislation and lying about AA-Cs and their competence the sad thing about this is the people saw right threw the CRNAs and their tactics. Your organization & colleagues are only making themselves look bad(shooting their self in the foot). The world and health care is changing rapidly we have to work together as a team and respect each other where doing the same exact job people anesthesia is anesthesia it's just the way each school teaches(AA-C/CRNA) on how to give and do anesthesia period why is that so hard for you and the majority of CRNAs to except or comprehend?.
