A Musical Note From a Former APRN: A Take on Ethics

            I wish the disservice being done to my former profession, as an APRN, would stop. It’s no wonder why physicians are more and more inclined to view APRN’s negatively.  Introducing oneself as a “nurse anesthesiologist” could be construed as violating the Code of Ethics for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (2). My purpose here is not to engage in a pissing match with my former profession, but to put forth that not all APRNs (or former APRN’s) have such a blatant disregard for a code of ethics or willful deception. “The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Code of Ethics offers guidance to the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to make ethical decisions in all practice roles (2).”

What would happen in our world now if, flight attendants are now calling themselves pilots, paralegals are calling themselves attorneys, construction workers now calling themselves architects, auto assemble workers are calling themselves engineers, uber drivers are now racecar drivers. Or how about certified nurses aids calling themselves practical nurses, or licensed practical nurses calling themselves registered nurses, or registered nurses calling themselves APRNs. And on and on and on and on. But now we have CRNAs calling themselves anesthesiologists. This is why we have professional standards and codes of ethics in all professions. To keep us honest and free from deceit. Need I say more………. 

REFERENCES:

  1. http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/mobile-app-news-feed/nursing-board-signs-off-on-anesthesiologist-title?fbclid=IwAR2YD4mGvZE7N4P3a2uoup-9Uc7gD4yzBfkOiteqwD5awv9KBz0pke3PxH8
  2. https://www.aana.com/docs/default-source/practice-aana-com-web-documents-(all)/code-of-ethics-for-the-crna.pdf?sfvrsn=d70049b1_4