difference between Nurse Anesthetist and anesthesiologist

Nursing Students SRNA

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is a anesthesiologist the same as a nurse anesthetist? Just wondering although I am not yet even a pre-nursing student because in my life I have had four surgeries and may, in the near future, behaving another.

jewelcutt said:
This thread is getting really confusing. Here's a question, Why is it when everyone is comparing CRNA education they say we have only six years. Do we sit on our a** for 2-5 years in a busy intensive care unit, learning entirely nothing, making the same money as residents do? Oh, so our work as the most autonomous nurses in the hospital, saving lives often without docs around doesn't count for sh**! Like we sit around on nights for the brand new first year OB rotating resident to come to our rescue to help us save our patients and make our decisions for us. I respect all of the residents and doctors I've worked with, but I'm getting real tired of hearing people say we only go through 6 years because we all learn through both education and experience. Personally I have 3 yrs of a science degree, 4 yrs to a BSN, 3 yrs ICU, 2 1/2 yrs Anesthesia school, it doesn't quite add up to 6 yrs. You will also find that most students in anesthesia school have far more than 1-2 years of ICU experience and they often take additional science courses on the side to get into school. For god sakes, give us some credit. And to all of you non-nurses out there, shut up with your menial comments about nursing. You have no idea how hard of a job it is with little respect given and very little compensation. Nurses are with patients ALL THE TIME, nobody cares for their patients as much as nurses do. You should all be so lucky to have a nurse take care of you. These statements aren't meant for everyone, just those that spout opinions without any background knowledge or base their opinions on one-time experiences. Going to bed now, sorry :sleep:

Jewelcutt,

Tell us how you really feel. ;)

You've made several excellent points.

skipaway

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jewelcutt said:
This thread is getting really confusing. Here's a question, Why is it when everyone is comparing CRNA education they say we have only six years. Do we sit on our a** for 2-5 years in a busy intensive care unit, learning entirely nothing, making the same money as residents do? Oh, so our work as the most autonomous nurses in the hospital, saving lives often without docs around doesn't count for sh**! Like we sit around on nights for the brand new first year OB rotating resident to come to our rescue to help us save our patients and make our decisions for us. I respect all of the residents and doctors I've worked with, but I'm getting real tired of hearing people say we only go through 6 years because we all learn through both education and experience. Personally I have 3 yrs of a science degree, 4 yrs to a BSN, 3 yrs ICU, 2 1/2 yrs Anesthesia school, it doesn't quite add up to 6 yrs. You will also find that most students in anesthesia school have far more than 1-2 years of ICU experience and they often take additional science courses on the side to get into school. For god sakes, give us some credit. And to all of you non-nurses out there, shut up with your menial comments about nursing. You have no idea how hard of a job it is with little respect given and very little compensation. Nurses are with patients ALL THE TIME, nobody cares for their patients as much as nurses do. You should all be so lucky to have a nurse take care of you. These statements aren't meant for everyone, just those that spout opinions without any background knowledge or base their opinions on one-time experiences. Going to bed now, sorry :sleep:

Ouch! I feel like I just got b*tch slapped - and this wasn't even directed at me:) ... I like it!

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jewelcutt said:
Nurses are with patients ALL THE TIME, nobody cares for their patients as much as nurses do. You should all be so lucky to have a nurse take care of you. These statements aren't meant for everyone, just those that spout opinions without any background knowledge or base their opinions on one-time experiences.

Well, I may be a lowly student, but I also work as a CNA. Not all nurses care about their patients, and not all nurses are with their patients all of the time. With some of them, you're lucky if they visit the patient a couple of times during the entire shift. I wasn't basing my opinion on a one time experience.

There are good nurses and bad nurses, just as there are good docs and bad docs. I've seen docs refuse to prescribe pain meds and, even when they were prescribed, I've seen nurses refuse to administer them when the patient is screaming in pain. I've seen RNs who have more time shop on the internet at the nurses station than set foot in a patient's room. I've seen patients coding and the RN was nowhere to be found.

I've also seen excellent docs and nurses who are always attentive and always there for the patients. So, again, I don't see how you can generalize about one group versus another.

:coollook:

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Specializes in ECMO.

............................

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Specializes in ECMO.

to the OP i forgot to answer the question

difference is that one holds a MD degree and the other CRNA degree. pretty much it. :)

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Sometimes you just get sick of hearing crap for so long that you snap. Of course there are some nurses that suck, just like any profession, but most nurses work their butts off day after day. Blah, Blah, Blah, heard it all before, the truth of the matter is that all CRNAs and SRNAs were excellent nurses that worked extremely hard, period. I know this because they wouldn't have gotten in to school if they hadn't worked hard. I am merely making some valid points, you can't just go around assuming things about one's profession unless you've thoroughly researched it or experienced it yourself. That post was written after I spent my usual 14 hour day of clinical, studying, and preparing for the next day. You know, I can force myself to smile and swallow a thousand times in the OR to horrible OR nurses, PACU nurses, Surgeons, MDAs, and CRNAs, but at some point you aren't going to listen to someone with no knowledge of your profession tell you how it is. The reason we are so sensitive about this issue is because we work damn hard for a long time to be able to practice anesthesia. To simply galavant into this forum with petty generalizations will only provoke others to defend themselves. It also gets really tiring having to view this same type of thread a thousand times, one could really just search the forum instead of stirring the pot again. All SRNAs, are you looking forward to Washington D.C. as much as I am? :beercuphe Kat, sorry about the ***** slapping HA! You know I'm definitely not talking about you.

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No need to apologize jewel - I can feel your rage and completely agree! And yes - I'm looking forward to the excellent educational experience awaiting me in DC this August ... :beer: :beer: :beer:

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versatile_kat said:
And yes - I'm looking forward to the excellent educational experience awaiting me in DC this August ... ? ? ?

I will be there!

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heartICU said:
I will be there!

I'll be there...

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The CRNA - anesthesiologist threads will always ignite fires and alter tempers.

If you are a CRNA (SRNA) and care about this issue, take that hate and convert it in constructive (long-lasting) energy: become a AANA member, take part in the meetings, write letters to your representative about protecting your hard-earned rights.

Getting upset on a BB is not worth it. It will only give you a headache and it'll spoil your day.

Be smart and pick your battles. The winners are always those who are shrewd planners and executers.

Businessman

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Businessman said:
The CRNA - anesthesiologist threads will always ignite fires and alter tempers.

If you are a CRNA (SRNA) and care about this issue, take that hate and convert it in constructive (long-lasting) energy: become a AANA member, take part in the meetings, write letters to your representative about protecting your hard-earned rights.

Getting upset on a BB is not worth it. It will only give you a headache and it'll spoil your day.

Be smart and pick your battles. The winners are always those who are shrewd planners and executers.

Businessman

Businessman

This is excellent advise and I hope everyone takes heart. We have to play the political game better than everyone else. No one will do it for us and we are very naive if we don't understand that. Someone will make decisions that will impact your future--so get involved.

Yoga

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Some excellent posts in this thread.

I agree with yoga about the value of anesthesia. Sure, we make it look easy, but that's only because we're so damn good. I don't know too many people who would knowlingly administer drugs to people while realizing that they have 4 minutes (if they're lucky) to establish an airway before the person dies. And that's only the start of the day...and only the tip of the iceburg.

Anesthesia is stressful stuff. Every anesthesia provider, whether physician or nurse anesthetist, deserves every penny that they make.

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