Hi, I am in the process of applying to AA school and have shadowed AAs before. I really like this profession. I always wanted to work as a health care provider. However, during this time they were 2 Anesthesiologists who told me I still have time and should consider other professions that are more well known and independent. They told me AA is not well established yet. One of them told me, I have to answer to everyone in the OR because I am not neither a nurse nor a Physician. I thought anesthesiologists should love and respect AA bc AAs make their works easier.I really don't like these ideas and now I'm confused with these worlds. I still know I love this field. My only question is that why anesthesiologists think like this? I thought those of you who are working as AA out there might know the reason behind this. Can anyone tell me why? Thanks.
Re: Anesthesiologysit`s views about AA profession!
Anesthesiologists here. Most anesthesiologists have a positive view of C-AA's (if they know about AA's at all). C-AA's are an integral part of the care team model. I am confused as to why you would answer to everyone in the OR. Does the surgeon's PA answer to everyone in the OR? Does the device rep answer to everyone in the OR? It's true that other professions are more well known and can practice independently but has that ever stopped people from being physician assistants? There are anesthesiologists out there who are financially dependent on CRNA's or have ceded patient care to CRNA's. Unfortunately CAA's are attacked by CRNA's even more fiercely than they have attacked anesthesiologists. Thus AA's are in the cross hairs as evidenced by the campaign by Arkansas CRNA's against CAA practice. Don't let these folks get you down. Go for it if it's what you want to do.
Re: Anesthesiologysit`s views about AA profession!
Thanks for your detailed response. Your words make sense 100 percent. I thought about your example of PA before. Yes, no matter what they are there, working hard and providing great care side by side the Doctors. I believe these people who have told me these words were kind of older and not really familiar with all the expansions in the AA field. All those new AA schools that have been stablished during past few years illustrates the great future of this field. Hopefully, by having AAs working in more and more states more people will consider this field well known. I have talked about CRNA and AA issues with some of AA friends of mine and they were all saying Anesthesiologist have AAs back. So, no worries there. I believe Anesthesiologist should even like AAs more because we aren't a threat to their profession. We are supposed to work with them. Thanks again and will keep working hard to get into AA school this year.
Re: Anesthesiologysit`s views about AA profession!
I don't work with AAs where I am at. But our hospital is run by a small MDA group and they manage the CRNAs that primarily do the cases, unless it's a big case or the surgeon requests an MDA.
True, AAs aren't established and still a primarily new profession. But everything has to start somewhere. I think what pushed me towards pursuing this profession instead of medical school is that you still have a degree of autonomy. But you work as a team with the MDA to figure out the best plan for the patient. At least that's what I see with our CRNA/MDA model.
I think you just had a few comments thrown at you that sounded like all people view AAs this way. At the end of the day, be happy with your career that you chose. Not what others think.
Re: Anesthesiologysit`s views about AA profession!
Thank You very much for your response. I kept looking back and force for an answer to my question and was wondering why no one is answering. Your worlds absolutely make sense. Are you AA or CRNA? I like this profession and my main reason is the idea of team work. I think health care can be complicated and coming up with the best solution in a team is really helpful and valuable. My only concern after hearing these worlds was if MDs look down at AAs. Which in the cases that I have seen they were working really friendly and professionally together. What is your experience about this? Thank you so much for your advice.
Re: Anesthesiologysit`s views about AA profession!
Anesthesiologists absolutely do not look down on CAA's. Though they can get annoyed when folks call them MDA's. Please do not refer to anesthesiologists as MDA's. Cardiologists are not referred to as MDC's. Surgeons are not refereed to as MDS's. Dermatologists are not MDD's. etc... Anesthesiologists can also have DO degrees instead.
on June 7, 2017, 6:35 pm
