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I want those of you reading this to understand the significance of this request. Physicians are being asked to function as nurses after some "training". Not NPs who are actually RNs. Not CRNAs who are actually CC RNs. Not LVNs. Not EMTs or paramedics. Physicians. Nursing is
2)not an entry-level position, it requires skill. Expertise. Physicians are not trained to be nurses, although there are a few who were nurses prior to becoming physicians. So exactly what training will be provided since it takes a minimum of 2 years to become an RN(AA degree)?
3)That is, real nurses, not the entry-level degree RNs who don't actually work as RNs. So nursing must be pretty easy if anyone can be trained to do it. Why not contact the ANA or the AANP to ask them to put out the word to their membership and request assistance from actual
4)nurses who may be available to help? The CNO of the hospital can reach out. The ONLY choice is to ask physicians? Am I the only one who sees the absurdity of this request when there are much better options? I alluded to the much worse nursing shortage in this article and my
5) concern that nursing organizations were not taking it seriously enough( https://authenticmedicine.com/2019/07/a-history-of-npps-a-personal-view/). IMO, there is no appreciation or acknowledgment of the sacrifices physicians have and are making in this pandemic. We are being stretched thin, as are RNs. Nevertheless,
6)physicians are being asked to do more, in a profession for which we are not trained. As one colleague said, "I don't suffer from the delusion that I am able to walk into any medical situation and function in any given role because I stood next to someone once who was
7)fulfilling that role." Add to that the legality of this request. Will the hospital indemnify physicians for any mishap that may occur as a result of a "nursing" error? Will they be covered by their malpractice insurance for practicing outside their SOP? Has the state medical
8)board waived the scope of practice(SOP) for physicians in this scenario? If the physician is functioning as a nurse and is responsible for completing orders written by another physician, who is ultimately culpable? Were any of these questions asked? Was there clarification of
9)actual duties? Physicians, by nature, are altruistic. In being so, sometimes we are ready to jump in and help w/o considering the consequences of our actions. Even in a pandemic. Administrations are using the pandemic to skirt a lot of laws that leave physicians in the lurch.
10)If we can be terminated for speaking out about the lack of PPE, insufficient staffing, unethical practices, etc., what is the likelihood administrations will consider the legal ramifications doctors may suffer as a result of responding to their call to action? In other words,
11)who is looking out for our best interests? The irony in this particular request is that although they are desperately needed during this pandemic, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists(AANA) specifically states that they do not endorse CRNAs being used as RNs. For
12)those who do not know, all CRNAs are also critical care nurses. In summary, physicians, who are not nurses, are being asked to perform in a nursing role. Yet a nursing organization has advised their members, who are actual nurses, to NOT perform in that role. Physicians, in
13)being altruistic, do not be gullible. Protect your license. It is all you have to take care of your family. https://www.aana.com/docs/default-source/practice-aana-com-web-documents-(all)/crnas_asked_to_assume_critical_care_responsibilities_during_the_covid_19_pandemic.pdf?sfvrsn=ea3630e7_6&fbclid=IwAR1fyBeu3oALdRaJsJDrZYJlffdW96nWDz091o0GwYKG_aA_tdQA0nGo0vk#:~:text=1%20AANA%20recognizes%20the%20expertise,of%20CRNAs%20in%20RN%20roles.&text=CRNAs%2C%20however%2C%20may%20be%20held,CRNAs%20in%20a%20given%20state
