Even though Anesthesiologist and CRNA are professionals dealing with anesthetics, their educational backdrops and work profile are entirely different. Anesthesiologists are therapeutic physicians who are specialized in anesthetics. However, CRNA are registered nurses who induce anesthetics in patients according to the guidance of the Anesthesiologists.

Anesthesiology courses and career opportunities

There are many Universities in India that offer Anesthesiology courses. Aspirants can pursue the MD or DO program in Anesthesiology to specialize in the medical subject. A graduation in medicine is the pre-requisite for studying the postgraduate program. Aspirants should pursue the program from a certified medical school to become a licensed Anesthesiologist. After successfully completing the course, these professionals can search out for employments in corporate or zonal hospitals, medical institutes, laboratories and so on. If they have a PhD in Anesthesiology, they can work as research analysts carrying out research and development activities like preparing new types of anesthetics and so on.

CRNA courses and career opportunities

Certified Registered Anesthetist Nurses are expert nurses who have specialized in anesthetics. Mostly, those who have undergone nursing education study the CRNA course to turn out to be a certified anesthetist nurse. On completion of their course, these specialists can seek out for career in public or private sector. Most of these professionals work in nursing schools, clinics, international hospitals and so on. They are paid really well in foreign countries when comparing with the Indian pay scale.

Key differentiators between Anesthesiologist and CRNA

• The key difference between Anesthesiologist and CRNA is that the former is a doctor in anesthetics whereas the latter is a nurse anesthetic.
• When comparing Anesthesiologist with a CRNA, the anesthesiologist acts as the supervisor of the CRNA in a mutual work set-up.
• An anesthesiologist normally gets high salaries when compared to the CRNA.
• Anesthesiologists determine the dose of anesthesia to be given to a patient whereas the CRNA induces the same and observe the patients’ physical condition throughout the entire process of the operation.
• The former focus more on the pre-operation phase whereas the latter concentrates more on the post-operation phase.

Anesthesiologists and CRNA’s collectively help patients to be relieved from the operation pains by providing them anesthesia.