What is the difference between a CRNA and an anesthesiologist?

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  1. This is a discussion on What is the difference between a CRNA and an anesthesiologist? in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), part of Advanced Practice Nursing ... ...besides the amount of education and the fact that one is a nurse and the other a doctor. I've...

    by Jul 1, '12
    ...besides the amount of education and the fact that one is a nurse and the other a doctor. I've read that a CRNA does more "straightforward" cases in contrast to an anesthesiologist. I'm not sure if that is true or not. Any info. is greatly appreciated.
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    by nursingstudent2458 Jul 1, '12 3:07 pm
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  3. 6 Comments so far...

  4. Guide
    Jul 1, '12 by
    Quote from nursingstudent2458
    ...besides the amount of education and the fact that one is a nurse and the other a doctor. I've read that a CRNA does more "straightforward" cases in contrast to an anesthesiologist. I'm not sure if that is true or not. Any info. is greatly appreciated.
    http://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=...gist&sa=search

    Try doing a search for crna versus anesthesiologist. There are several threads already on the subject. You can also look on AANA.com for more information.

    FYI: There aren't any type of case that MDAs do that CRNAs do not do.
  5. Jul 4, '12 by
    Thank you.
  6. Jul 5, '12 by
    Besides the wage (CRNA is missing a zero at the end of the yearly pay) I don't think there is a big difference, I've seen better patient care from any CRNA than from MDA, and many of the Dr's that I work with agree!
    MeTheRN likes this.
  7. Guide
    Jul 5, '12 by
    Quote from gonzalal
    Besides the wage (CRNA is missing a zero at the end of the yearly pay) I don't think there is a big difference, I've seen better patient care from any CRNA than from MDA, and many of the Dr's that I work with agree!
    IMO the anesthesia providers that spend their time in the room taking care of patients the most do the best at patient care, not the ones that sit outside the OR doing preops all day. This can be CRNA or an MDA, but of course you can't bill for four rooms simultaneously if you are actually doing your own cases all day.
    BigPappaCRNA likes this.
  8. Jul 8, '12 by
    Quote from wtbcrna
    IMO the anesthesia providers that spend their time in the room taking care of patients the most do the best at patient care, not the ones that sit outside the OR doing preops all day. This can be CRNA or an MDA, but of course you can't bill for four rooms simultaneously if you are actually doing your own cases all day.
    Agreed! Just like any flavor of doctors, there are some that are amazingly humane and great at what they do, and there are some that approach a case like a mathematical equation and correspondingly provide as much regard for human life!
  9. Jul 21, '12 by
    I make about half of what an MDA makes, but I make more than general practice ir general surgeons. There is not a zero missing after crna pay, unless anesthesiologists make a million a year.