THE EMERGING ROLE OF THE NURSE ANESTHETIST IN MEDICAL PRACTICE.
Contributors: Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.)
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 234
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study examined the emergence of nurse anesthesia as an intact professional group among medical specialties and posed the question: What are the political, social, and economic factors that have and are influencing nurse anesthesia's movement toward full professional status? The question was addressed using a qualitative historiographic method and reviewed the parallel development of both nurse and physician anesthetists toward professional status.

The study concluded that the subject of profession should be addressed as an idealized conceptual model rather than an absolute one. The use of this contextual framework established that neither nurse nor physician anesthetists meet the ideal fully. The dynamic interplay of political influences, social change, and economic cycles were presented to portray changes in the work environment. The impact of technological shifts and externally-imposed change forced advancement toward professionalization. The heritage of social class, the perpetuation of occupational myths, and the lack of seeking political liaisons explained the slow movement of nurse anesthesia toward academic acceptance through university affiliation.

The role of statutory recognition in legitimating occupational monopoly is presented as having little impact upon either occupation's professionalization, contrary to the available research on the subject. The development of case law to establish the legality of nurses practicing anesthesia is presented with a detailed discussion of the major contributions of each case. The periods of conflict between nurse and physician anesthetists are presented as attempts of physicians to control the specialty and are related to economic cycles, manpower needs, and policy decisions impacting upon the reimbursement and scope of practice of the two providers.

The influence of political liaison in establishing an authority structure within the health care structure were found to be beneficial to the emergence of both occupational groups. The recognition of anesthesia as a medical specialty by the American Medical Association and the liaisons among the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the American Hospital Association, and several nursing organizations were primary to each occupation's power bases.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-08, Section: B, page: 3110.

Thesis (PH.D.)--NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, 1988.

School code: 0163.