Posted by CRNA in CALIF on August 9, 2009, 7:01 pm, in reply to "Re: The Future???"
AN.... I did a lot of locums work in Nevada through the years.
Here is the situation in Nevada.
Las Vegas. Up to about 15 years ago CRNAs only worked at one hospital and a surgery center. That started changing big time and now they do a lot of OB, surgery center stuff and GI Clinic stuff. Of course SIX of them had to surrender both their Anesthesia and Nursing licenses over the hepatitis issue last year.
Parhump. New hospital. I believe they have one CRNA and looking for another. (No MDAs)
Mesquite. New Hopsital. Three CRNAs. (No MDAs)
Reno. Anesthesiologists only. Problem is, not enough of them so a lot of elective cases get canceled due to them being too tired. They will not bring in CRNAs but they may buy into the AA concept. (The last CRNA in Reno, working at the VA hospital retired last year.)
Rural Nevada.
Elko. I think they have a total of 8 CRNAs between the hospital and surgery center. (No MDAs)
Ely. Two CRNAs. (No MDAs)
Winnemucca One full time CRNA with locums relief. (No MDAs)
Fallon (2-3 CRNAs, one MDA but he does his own cases and does not get any money for the cases the CRNAs do.
Tonopah. Hospital was sold to a private group back around 1994-5 and the first thing they did was close OB and the OR, losing the one CRNA they had.
Hawthorne. 10-15 years ago had a locums CRNA come for a couple of days a week and they did some minor surgery.
I think there were around 400 CRNA licenses issued in Nevada but most are expired. Many CRNAs probably thought there was work out here and got a license only to find the jobs are very limited.
Right now there is no provision for AAs in the state. I seriously doubt if a MDA in Las Vegas is going to bring in an AA with no legal recognition. Also, Nevada has a legislature that meets every other year. It just met in 2009 so the next session will be in 2011. If you have a MDA friend in Vegas you might suggest he approach the legislature about getting an AA bill passed at that time. The Nevada Association of Nurse Anesthetists is pretty disorganized (as compared to California for example) and exists pretty much in name only. It does not have the membership or the clout to fight an AA bill in any effective manner so I would bet the bill would pass.
Also as Dave J said in a post quite a while ago, if you guys want to be professional then you need to write up your own practice standards and not let the MDAs control that aspect of your profession. Try to get set up under a Board other than the Medical Board and not be under the thumb of the MDAs at the license level.
