What is the difference between CRNA and Anesthesiologist assistant?

As far as job duties go, it can seem like CRNAs and anesthesiologists are the same profession, but this is not the case. CRNA stands for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, so the first biggest difference is that a CRNA has a nursing degree while an anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who had to go through additional medical schooling to become a doctor.

While their duties can often include the same steps and procedures, the anesthesiologist will generally tend to focus on the medical side of the surgery, and the CRNA will be focused more on the care of the patient and making sure they are comfortable.

The difference between a nurse and an anesthesiologist is the level of training. A nurse anesthesiologist is typically an ICU nurse that has completed additional training to provide anesthesia. Often, they work in a hospital setting under the supervision of an anesthesiologist.

An anesthesiologist’s assistant is a specially trained health professional who participates in the care of the stable surgical patient during the general, regional, or conscious sedation anesthesia through medical directives under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. Certified Registered Nurses dedicate themselves to one patient at a time. Their main priority is to watch and make sure that the patient is not in pain.