So what really is the difference between a Nurse Practitioner, a Registered Nurse, and a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist?
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
An individual who has…
- Graduated from a state-approved school of nursing
- Has passed the NCLEX-RN Examination
- And is licensed by a state board of nursing to provide patient care
What Registered Nurses Do:
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions. Registered nurses work in a variety of facilities, including hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services, nursing care facilities, outpatient clinics, and schools. As far as job outlook goes, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse Anesthetists, on the other hand, fall under the umbrella of “Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)”
All APRNs are Registered Nurses who also have a graduate degree and advanced knowledge. There are four categories of APRNs: certified nurse-midwife (CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), certified nurse practitioner (CNP), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). These nurses can diagnose illnesses and prescribe treatments and medications.
So in other words, all NPs and CRNAs are RNs, but not all RNs are APRNs. Keeping up with all the abbreviations yet?
What is a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?
A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty. Nurse Practitioners serve as primary health care providers for children and adults during health and illness. Nurse Practitioners keep people healthy by teaching people and treating their acute illnesses and chronic diseases. How a Nurse Practitioner prescribes medications is regulated by each state’s Nurse Practice Act.
What Nurse Practitioners Do:
- Physical examination, treatment, & procedures
- Order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic studies
- Family planning service
- Healthcare during pregnancy
- Well/sick care for all ages
- Health risk evaluation
- Psychological counseling
- Coordination of health care services
- Health education
What is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)?
CRNAs are APRNs who administer anesthesia and other medications. They also monitor patients who are receiving and later recovering from anesthesia. CRNAs usually work in hospital operating rooms (ORs), emergency rooms (ERs), intensive care units (ICUs), cardiac care units (CCUs), or outpatient surgical clinics. Nurse Anesthetists are a vital part of today’s medical facilities, and the need for CRNAs is expected to grow.
CRNAs have…
- Acquired a minimum of a doctorate degree focusing on anesthesia
- Have completed extensive clinical training
- Have passed a certification exam approved by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
CRNAs are highly respected for their work and, according to U.S. News & World Report, Nurses Anesthetists rank #8 in Best Health Care Job in 2022. They are also the highest paid nurses of 2022 (the average CRNA salary is $189,190!)
What Nurse Anesthetists Do:
- Assess patient response to anesthesia
- Identify possible risk to the anesthetized patient, including allergies and overdose
- Administer precise dosages
- Educate patients before and after receiving anesthesia
There are significant differences between all of these nurse types – however, here is what they all have in common:
- Nurses are hardworking, vital individuals responsible for so much of the care our nation’s healthcare system provides.
- According to a recent survey performed by AMP Health Inc., nurses are currently some of the most sought after individuals in the healthcare industry.
- Most importantly, our nurses should be cherished, valued, and affirmed if healthcare organizations are to retain their nursing staff for the long haul.
If you or your organization needs help recruiting Nursing Staff, please schedule a consultation with us below. We’d be glad to lend an ear, tell you what we’re seeing in the market, and offer our recruiting services!
