Posted on 09/27/2010 9:39:19 PM PDT by george76
Colorado has joined 15 other states in allowing advanced-practice nurses to administer anesthesia without a doctor's supervision.
Anesthesiologists fought the proposal, saying it would put lives at risk
(Excerpt) Read more at thedenverchannel.com ...
Anesthesiologists have the highest ( malpractice ) insurance premiums in the medical profession for a reason...
Agreed. Administration of anesthesia is critical. I don’t want a nurse.
The couple of times I’ve had surgery, the surgeons both impressed on me that it would be the anesthesiologist who would be putting me—and keeping me—one step above death. And bringing me back when the time was right. No slam on the skills of nurse anesthesiologists, but I’d just as soon have the expertise of an actual MD anesthesiologist.
TC
Give people a choice - if they want to pay the anesthesiologist bill, fine, if they want to save money and use a nurse, despite understanding there are risks, fine.
Problem solved.
“but I’d just as soon have the expertise of an actual MD anesthesiologist.”
I’m not picking on you....many have expressed a preference for a anesthesiologist versus a nurse, and I’m curious as to folks opinion on this.
Here is the big question: Would you pay for it out of your own pocket if your insurance company only covers a nurse?
I don’t know what the service costs, but I’m guessing it is significant.
The nurse makes you go to sleep?
Not in any movie I ever saw!
“The majority of practitioners however are very competent.
CRNAs go though extremely demanding training and have to pass a National Certification Exam before we can start practicing. Though the training is not as long and we don’t go to Med School, the program I attended we took some of the same classes as the med students taught by the same professors. These included: pharmacology, physiolgy and pathophysiology. The professors always commented on how much they enjoyed teaching our classes because as Critical Care ICU nurses we had advanced real world “knowledge” of what was being discussed in class. Unlike most of the med students, “who sat in their chairs like stones waiting to learn something to memorize”.”
Excellent post. I’m disappointed by the ignorance displayed on this thread. I worked a short time in a 72 bed OR/ transplant center. As an ICU RN, I’d pick an RN any day over an MD. The RNs were very highly trained and took their job seriously. The MDs were mostly arrogant and happy they had a cush job. Credentials- “I decided not to be surgeon any more because of the stress and this is a sweet, easy job,” verses, “I spent at the minimum 2 years doing post graduate work focusing in depth on anesthesiology.” My money is on the nurse thanks. I’m also proud to have recently discovered my best friend from childhood has a PhD. and is a Dr. Nurse :)
I work every day with a nurse anaesthetist putting my patients to sleep, and have done so for seven years now. When/if I ever need anaesthesia, she will be my choice. This is not “Nurse Ratshed” giving anaesthesia, these are very highly trained individuals. In my state (NH) they have long been allowed to work “unsupervised”—not that I’ve seen ones who need supervision. I’ve actually had far more trouble with MD anaesthesiologists than with CRNAs. I think many of you here have a mistaken idea of the qualifications of CRNAs.
I don’t care whether the person putting me to sleep is MD or CRNA; I just care whether they’re good at what they do. I’ve seen great CRNAs and lousy MDs.
I worked in a university teaching hospital for years. I now have very severe “White Coat” syndrome. I had an ICU nurse colleague who was turned down on a CRNA program application. She would have been fabulous. Contrast that with my niece who is a new MD and regularly turned off the fish tank heater and killed fish because she couldn’t hear the tv. I don’t want to malign an entire profession, but the focus of doctors and nurses is different. I’d rather trust myself to a nurse.
Fair enough question. Although we pay a hefty premium for a fairly high-end policy that covers most things, If it refused to cover the higher cost, I’d discuss in detail with the surgeon and anybody else with authoritative knowledge before deciding to pay out of pocket. Can’t say what I’d decide, but I’d surely seriously consider paying.
TC
Don't forget to vote this November...your life DOES depend on it...
Good advice...
I don't trust most vets to administer anesthesia to my cats...
“...Anesthesia, screamed in vain!”
Bad idea, but for this administration, it’s a win-win. It saves money, and eliminates people.
That’s “Anastasia” fool. :)
"Nighty night!"
:P
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