You may have heard about CRNA’s/Nurse Anesthetists, Anesthesiologist Assistants, and other non-physician anesthesia jobs. There is currently much controversy around these roles- what their scope of practice should be, whether there is any threat to the future of anesthesiology physician jobs, and more.
It is important to note that many hospitals have operated for years with a team-based model that works very well, and non-physician anesthesia personnel are valued colleagues with relationships of mutual understanding and respect with physicians.
This is a topic to learn about over time and to learn about more as you gain perspective and advance in your career. It is important to gather reliable information, avoid jumping to conclusions, and always treat colleagues and co-workers with respect and kindness regardless of their role.
If you’d like to understand a bit more about this topic, including ‘scope-creep’, misleading titles, team-based models, and more, here are some resources:
ASA on Supervision of Nurse Anesthetists
ASA on Anesthesiologist Assistants