difference between Nurse Anesthetist and anesthesiologist

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

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.

Specializes in Neuroscience ICU, Orthopedics.
tencat said:
What's wrong with wanting to be at a job where there's more compensation? Society seems to have this idea that anyone who is in a helping profession should just get satisfaction from the good work they do, and asking for more means one is 'selfish' and 'greedy.' I guess that's how society justifies treating people like nurses and teachers as second class citizens with no right to be respected or compensated for the work they do. I can't speak for nursing since I'm not yet an RN, but I know that a lot of teachers buy into that load of sh--, which only helps the higher-ups with their argument that teachers don't need more money. :uhoh3:

There isn't! In fact I went into IT because of the money that could made. I was steadily working my way toward that six-figure income, but realized that I hated what I was doing. But when one suggests that I am in nurse anesthesia "only for the money", they had better step in my shoes before commenting on my reasons for wanting to pursue nursing.

So, I am not one of those who thinks less of people because they pursue things in life that has great compensatory rewards. But don't knock those of us whose would claim to still perform the same work for even less money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't really understand this "they're in it for the money" thing. Are surgeons in it for the money? Rural primary-care providers? Garbagemen? We all work for a living (except Paris Hilton!). It's not a bad thing. Personally, I respect all health care providers who genuinely care for their patients and are proficient at their jobs. In fact, I respect most working people for filling a need, except for a few that prey on others (pimps, selling scams to the elderly, etc). Some of us like our jobs, some don't, and it seems like most CRNAs are lucky to enjoy their work lives while they feed their families.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuroscience ICU, Orthopedics.
jwk said:
Lizz, as with deepz, we don't agree on much, but this one is dead on. Like the old saying - money talks, BS walks. It applies in most things.

Lighten up a little, will ya?

You're right. I came off in a wrong way on that one. Sorry, Lizz ! ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Lambert5883 said:
You're right. I came off in a wrong way on that one. Sorry, Lizz ! ?

No need to apologize. I wasn't offended. And, I don't think there's anything with wanting more money either. ;)

WAREAGLE said:
I agree both types can be compansionate or non-compasionate , but all in all CRNAs has a whole are more attentive to the patients emotional needs and are more comforting. That is a huge part of what a nurse brings into any area of healthcare.

I dunno if that's true either. I was in the OR the other day and the patient had a BM during the procedure which, apparently, is pretty rare (or so they said).

Both the MDA and the nurses (not CRNA's in this case) were making a lot of insulting remarks about the patient as he was coming out of anesthesia. None of them seemed to care whether the patient could hear them or not. And the nurses refused to let me clean him up before he was sent to PACU, which was bizarre and pretty outrageous since I was willing to do the dirty work, so to speak.

So ... I don't know how anyone can say one group is more caring over another. I guess it depends on the individual but, in this case, both the docs and the nurses were pretty bad.

:coollook:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If I were in a job only for the money, I'd be walking the streets working as a prostitute or selling drugs. The key is to find a job you LOVE which will allow you to live comfortably. Some find their niche, others don't. But to say someone's only doing something for the money is a huge blanket statement which couldn't possibly apply to everyone. Except drug dealers and identity thieves.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
lizz said:
No need to apologize. I wasn't offended. And, I don't think there's anything with wanting more money either. ;)

I dunno if that's true either. I was in the OR the other day and the patient had a BM during the procedure which, apparently, is pretty rare (or so they said).

Both the MDA and the nurses (not CRNA's in this case) were making a lot of insulting remarks about the patient as he was coming out of anesthesia. None of them seemed to care whether the patient could hear them or not. And the nurses refused to let me clean him up before he was sent to PACU, which was bizarre and pretty outrageous since I was willing to do the dirty work, so to speak.

So ... I don't know how anyone can say one group is more caring over another. I guess it depends on the individual but, in this case, both the docs and the nurses were pretty bad.

:coollook:

I understand what you are saying in regards to individual people will react differently, but as a whole, and I am pretty sure most would agree with me the nursing field shows more patient compassion day in and day out. That opinion comes from years of experience & I have travel nursed -it is the same everywhere I have been. There are always exceptions to the rules.

BTW, I would have cleaned the patient up regardless of what the nurses said-they do not dictate your individual patient care!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ECMO.

.........

Up Vote Up Vote ×
WAREAGLE said:
BTW, I would have cleaned the patient up regardless of what the nurses said-they do not dictate your individual patient care!!!

If I was an RN sure ... but I am a lowly student.

So, I had to take orders.

:coollook:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
lizz said:
If I was an RN sure ... but I am a lowly student.

So, I had to take orders.

:coollook:

I know what you are saying- you know what you would do if you were a crna already or even an rn that is employed there, but then you don't want to make waves when you are the student. Grin & move on!!:coollook::uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I want to say this, but it's ******* Censored.

When I was in high school, I was in the Jazz band and the conductor told me "do what you like doing and get paid for doing what you like." After all this is business, you have to charge whatever because you have your reasons and etc, no hard feelings. Anyhow, We should get back on track, and that is the difference between CRNA's (ethernauts) and MDA's. If you want to know what an ethernauts means, read the history of CRNAs and you'll probably find it. The best way to answer this question will be looking at job descriptions for the two of them. CRNA's in 13 states they can practice independently so their job desrciption will be equivalent to an MDA and the ones in the rest of the states they are required to work in collabaration with a physician not an anesthesiologist, it could be the plastic surgeon.

Here is the Job description for Physician Anesthesiologist:

Examines patient to determine type of anesthetic needed and communicates findings to appropriate medical practitioner. Administers local, intravenous, or spinal anesthetic, records type and amount of anesthesia, and determines condition of patient before, during, and after sedation. Requires a degree in medicine from an accredited school and is licensed to practice. May require at least 2-4 years of anesthesiology experience. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. May report to a medical director. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.And here is the Job Description for CRNA's beside the 13 independent states:

Prepares prescribed solutions and administers anesthetic following specified methods and procedures. Informs physician of patient's condition during anesthesia. Performs pre- and post-anesthesia patient visits and documents anesthesia notes on patient records. Requires a master's degree in nursing, at least two years of experience in an acute care nursing setting, and certification as a nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is required. Typically reports to a manager.

But in 13 states CRNA's can provide the same care an MDA can, the job description for CRNA's varies and hopefully the remaining states will adapt these independent practice policy for CRNA's that are free of choloroflouration rules. LOL.

Maxs

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Maxs said:
Anyhow, We should get back on track, and that is the difference between CRNA's (ethernauts) and MDA's. If you want to know what an ethernauts means, read the history of CRNAs and you'll probably find it.

The best way to answer this question will be looking at job descriptions for the two of them. CRNA's in 13 states they can practice independently so their job desrciption will be equivalent to an MDA and the ones in the rest of the states they are required to work in collabaration with a physician not an anesthesiologist, it could be the plastic surgeon.

Here is the Job description for Physician Anesthesiologist:

Examines patient to determine type of anesthetic needed and communicates findings to appropriate medical practitioner. Administers local, intravenous, or spinal anesthetic, records type and amount of anesthesia, and determines condition of patient before, during, and after sedation. Requires a degree in medicine from an accredited school and is licensed to practice. May require at least 2-4 years of anesthesiology experience. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. May report to a medical director. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.And here is the Job Description for CRNA's beside the 13 independent states:

Prepares prescribed solutions and administers anesthetic following specified methods and procedures. Informs physician of patient's condition during anesthesia. Performs pre- and post-anesthesia patient visits and documents anesthesia notes on patient records. Requires a master's degree in nursing, at least two years of experience in an acute care nursing setting, and certification as a nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is required. Typically reports to a manager.

But in 13 states CRNA's can provide the same care an MDA can, the job description for CRNA's varies and hopefully the remaining states will adapt these independent practice policy for CRNA's that are free of choloroflouration rules. LOL.

Maxs

Maxs,

The 13 states you are refering to are for medicare cases. In these 13 states CRNAs are able to provide anesthesia services without anesthesiologist involvement. CRNAs collaborate with surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, and anesthesiologists in ALL states. Also, where did you get your job descriptions? The CRNA job description that you've provided make out CRNAs to be technicians who are not autonomous and blindly follow standing orders from physicians.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
lizz said:

I dunno if that's true either. I was in the OR the other day and the patient had a BM during the procedure which, apparently, is pretty rare (or so they said).

Both the MDA and the nurses (not CRNA's in this case) were making a lot of insulting remarks about the patient as he was coming out of anesthesia. None of them seemed to care whether the patient could hear them or not. And the nurses refused to let me clean him up before he was sent to PACU, which was bizarre and pretty outrageous since I was willing to do the dirty work, so to speak.

So ... I don't know how anyone can say one group is more caring over another. I guess it depends on the individual but, in this case, both the docs and the nurses were pretty bad.

:coollook:

Seriously? That's unacceptable. All nurses gripe about our trials with patients, but we do it behind closed doors to decompress. And I've never heard a patient demeaned for having a BM. Everybody sh!ts, including those nurses and docs. And it would have been nice to clean him up so that he would have no memory of it. It's humiliating for anyone to have their butt wiped, so why not doing under anesthesia when it requires almost no changes in the original care. When that patient wakes up lying in excrement, or being cleaned by PACU nurses, he's going to feel pretty embarrassed on top of his pain, fear, nausea etc. Nice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment