Want to confirm: AA's basically do exactly the same thing as CRNA's

RicRock, MSN, CRNA · Jul 8, 2019

They are not interchangeable, but are treated the same at some practices.

Shadow a CRNA the practices independently, that's something that AA's can't do.

Jake355 · Jul 8, 2019

Okay, but if I shadow an AA in the hospital, can you basically say that I would observe the same things as if I shadowed a CRNA? Will I notice any/much difference if I shadow both in the hospital?

I am asking because I may be able to shadow an AA more where I live but not a CRNA.

loveanesthesia · Jul 8, 2019

AAs assist physician anesthesiologists, CRNAs practice anesthesia. There’s a difference. Where are you located? You absolutely need to shadow a CRNA.

DreameRN, BSN · Jul 9, 2019

AAs....monitor anesthesia and anesthesia under an MD physician supervision. The MDs will likely make the plan, push the drugs, and when all looks okay--will leave you to monitor the case, and then will show up at the end to make sure the emergence of the patient is okay. Calls MD if anything goes wrong during the case.

CRNAs-Can do the same thing as an MD. Can make their own anesthetic plan. Can push their own drugs. Can wake their own patients up. Can roll with the punches and handle their own patient when things go badly.

This is a major simplification of the roles, and there are differences between practices, but in general this somewhat summarizes the abilities of the roles of the two. Some places allow more leeway for AAs and more independence, some don't. Some anesthesia practices for CRNA (esp MD owned) are very restricted, some are not. There are many all CRNA practices that are sole providers. There are no AA solo providers.

AAs cannot practice or do anything without an MD. I believe only 17 states allow AAs

CRNAs can practice and do everything an MD can do, independently in all states. (whether they DO or not, that depends on the practice they join and politics involved in that. but they can.)

I'm a student still, so if I've gotten something wrong, I apologize.

If your goal is to be a CRNA, then following an AA will most likely not endear you to your interview committee. They will want to see that you went with a CRNA.

inspiredbynavy · Jul 10, 2019

@DreameRN - Someone correct me if I'm wrong but only 17 states have full independence for CRNA's? The ones considered "opt-out"

loveanesthesia · Jul 10, 2019

9 hours ago, inspiredbynavy said:
@DreameRN - Someone correct me if I'm wrong but only 17 states have full independence for CRNA's? The ones considered "opt-out"

In states without an opt out, CRNAs must have physician supervision in order to bill Medicare. Does not have to be a physician anesthesiologist, and often is the operating surgeon ordering an anesthetic. The CRNA then is responsible for delivering the anesthetic. The ordering physician is not involved in the anesthetic. AAs must be medically directed by a physician anesthesiologist. That means they must follow the 7 requirements of physician anesthesiologist involvement is every case. Most states don’t allow AAs to practice at all.

BigPappaCRNA · Jul 10, 2019

14 hours ago, inspiredbynavy said:
@DreameRN - Someone correct me if I'm wrong but only 17 states have full independence for CRNA's? The ones considered "opt-out"

You are getting independent practice mixed up with billing and CMS. CRNAs can practice independently (no anesthesiologist) in all 50 states. The "Opt-Out" is about billing, not about practice.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jul 10, 2019

Shadowing an AA will give you a flavor of what constitutes a day of anesthesia and you can decide for yourself if you can work in a freezing environment without bathroom breaks or lunch. The other arguments in these posts are totally valid for someone deciding whether you should go the AA or the CRNA route but you are NOT going to understand our arcane internecene wars from a day of shadowing. Go for it understanding that they are different careers.