CRNAs vs. Anesthesiologists
CRNAs and Anesthesiologists: What’s the difference?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesiologists both play critical roles in the delivery of anesthesia. While CRNAs and anesthesiologists specialize in anesthesia care, they come from different educational and professional backgrounds. Here are a few of the advantages of using CRNAs for anesthesia care delivery over anesthesiologists:
- Cost-Effectiveness:
- CRNAs generally cost less to employ compared to anesthesiologists. This can be especially advantageous in rural or underserved areas where healthcare budgets are more constrained.
- Accessibility in Rural Areas:
- CRNAs are critical for anesthesia care in rural or underserved areas, improving access to health services in these regions. In many cases, CRNAs are often the only anesthesia care providers available.
- Training and Workforce:
- CRNAs attain seven to eight years of education, training and work experience and are highly educated advanced practice registered nurses. They deliver anesthesia to patients in exactly the same ways and just as safely as physician anesthesiologists. CRNAs are well prepared to respond appropriately in emergency situations. With an average of 2.9 years of critical care experience, CRNAs are the only anesthesia professionals who START their anesthesia education knowing how to manage critical events. By 2025, all student nurse anesthetists will earn a doctorate degree.
- Safe, High-Quality, Independent Practice:
- 43 of 50 U.S. states – and our U.S. armed forces – allow CRNAs to practice independently without physician supervision. This autonomy allows them to manage anesthesia care effectively, particularly in settings where an anesthesiologist may not be available. Unfortunately, Virginia is an anomaly and not in line with most of the country in allowing the efficient delivery of anesthesia care services by still requiring supervision.
- Flexibility:
- CRNAs often work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, dental offices, and in the military. Their role flexibility can be an advantage in adapting to different patient care environments.
- Patient Safety and Outcomes:
- Decades of numerous studies have shown that anesthesia care provided by CRNAs is just as safe and effective as that provided by anesthesiologists. This parity in outcomes supports the use of CRNAs, particularly in cost-sensitive healthcare environments.
- Collaborative Team Approach:
- In many healthcare settings, CRNAs work in collaboration with anesthesiologists and other healthcare professionals. This team-based approach can enhance patient care by leveraging the strengths of CRNAs.
CRNAs deliver anesthesia using the same procedures as physician anesthesiologists. But CRNAs have an average of three and a half years of critical care experience before entering a nurse anesthesia program – making CRNAs the only anesthesia professionals with this level of critical care experience prior to beginning formal anesthesia education. CRNAs are qualified to administer every type of anesthesia to all types of patients in any healthcare setting. Nurse anesthetists deliver comprehensive care using all accepted anesthetic techniques including general, regional, sedation, local and pain management.
