Clinical physician assistant vs certified registered nurse anesthetist

The differences between clinical physician assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified registered nurse anesthetist has an average salary of $152,996, which is higher than the $145,549 average annual salary of a clinical physician assistant.

The top three skills for a clinical physician assistant include patients, primary care and medical care. The most important skills for a certified registered nurse anesthetist are patients, patient care, and acls.

Clinical physician assistant vs certified registered nurse anesthetist overview

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Yearly salary	$145,549	$152,996
Hourly rate	$69.98	$73.56
Growth rate	28%	40%
Number of jobs	94,210	189,889
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Master's Degree, 40%
Average age	39	45
Years of experience	-	4

What does a clinical physician assistant do?

A clinical physician assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in clinics, hospitals, and similar establishments. Typically serving as the patients' first point of contact, it is their responsibility to gather the personal and medical information of patients, identify their needs, answer inquiries, and escort them to offices and other rooms. They may also perform clerical tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, preparing and filing documentation, and coordinating with other offices. Moreover, a clinical physician assistant must maintain an active communication line with physicians and nurses, assisting them as needed.

What does a certified registered nurse anesthetist do?

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist administers anesthesia to patients. They work in various healthcare settings, such as operating rooms, dentists and podiatrists offices, birthing centers, and plastic surgery centers.

Clinical physician assistant vs certified registered nurse anesthetist salary

Clinical physician assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Average salary	$145,549	$152,996
Salary range	Between $84,000 And $252,000	Between $79,000 And $292,000
Highest paying City	Duluth, MN	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	Minnesota	Oregon
Best paying company	Central Ohio Primary Care	Trinity Health
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Health Care

Differences between clinical physician assistant and certified registered nurse anesthetist education

There are a few differences between a clinical physician assistant and a certified registered nurse anesthetist in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Master's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Clinical physician assistant vs certified registered nurse anesthetist demographics

Here are the differences between clinical physician assistants' and certified registered nurse anesthetists' demographics:

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Average age	39	45
Gender ratio	Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0%	Male, 40.4% Female, 59.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 81.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	12%	32%

Differences between clinical physician assistant and certified registered nurse anesthetist duties and responsibilities

Clinical physician assistant example responsibilities.

Implement and manage cardiology internship college course.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Complete nursing assessments, complete care plans, perform ADL's, utilize lifts, alarms and transfer patients safely.
Care for multiple patients in a fast pace setting and provide total care including all treatments, medications and ADL's.
Perform tracheostomy care and suctioning for ventilator dependent patients.
Provide physical therapy services in the inpatient rehabilitation unit and oncology floor.

Certified registered nurse anesthetist example responsibilities.

Manage CRNA staffing, scheduling and performance evaluations.
Diagnose and manage common medical problems such as diabetes, COPD, and hypertension.
Experience in managing type 2 DM, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, COPD, sleep apnea, and asthma.
Manage use of anesthesia machine and mechanical ventilation.
Manage acute rehabilitation and skil care inpatient population following orthopedic surgery until discharge.
General cases, GI, GU, ortho, neuro, GYN, minor vascular, cath lab, surgery centers.

Clinical physician assistant vs certified registered nurse anesthetist skills

Common clinical physician assistant skills

Patients, 30%
Primary Care, 6%
Medical Care, 6%
Family Medicine, 5%
Urgent Care, 5%
Diagnostic Tests, 4%

Common certified registered nurse anesthetist skills

Patients, 22%
Patient Care, 8%
Acls, 7%
Anesthesia Care, 6%
OB, 6%
Pain Management, 3%

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Clinical Physician Assistant
Clinical Physician Assistant vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Updated January 8, 2025

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