Nurse anesthetist vs practical nurse

The differences between nurse anesthetists and practical nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a nurse anesthetist, becoming a practical nurse takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a nurse anesthetist has an average salary of $170,563, which is higher than the $75,363 average annual salary of a practical nurse.

The top three skills for a nurse anesthetist include patients, CRNA and patient care. The most important skills for a practical nurse are patients, APN, and home health.

Nurse anesthetist vs practical nurse overview

	Nurse Anesthetist	Practical Nurse
Yearly salary	$170,563	$75,363
Hourly rate	$82.00	$36.23
Growth rate	40%	6%
Number of jobs	62,419	511,602
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age	45	46
Years of experience	4	2

What does a nurse anesthetist do?

A nurse anesthetist specializes in administering anesthesia to patients while under the supervision of physicians or an anesthesiologist. Their responsibilities mainly revolve around inspecting a patient's medical history to identify any diseases or allergy, assist by preparing them for the surgery, prepare anesthetics, determine the appropriate dosage, and discuss the extent of surgery, including any long or short-term side effects. Moreover, it is crucial to monitor a patient's vital signs while administering anesthetics to ensure that everything will go smoothly.

What does a practical nurse do?

A practical nurse is responsible for providing the highest quality care services for the patients and assisting them with their needs and concerns. Practical nurses work within a health institution or private household to support the patients in their daily activities, monitor their conditions, administer medication, and inform the doctors of their health updates. They also coordinate with other medical professionals to develop nursing care plans and activities to suit the patients' lifestyle and keep their active wellbeing.

Nurse anesthetist vs practical nurse salary

Nurse anesthetists and practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Nurse Anesthetist	Practical Nurse
Average salary	$170,563	$75,363
Salary range	Between $89,000 And $325,000	Between $47,000 And $120,000
Highest paying City	Oakland, CA	Lancaster, CA
Highest paying state	New York	California
Best paying company	Trinity Health	University Hospitals
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Health Care

Differences between nurse anesthetist and practical nurse education

There are a few differences between a nurse anesthetist and a practical nurse in terms of educational background:

	Nurse Anesthetist	Practical Nurse
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	Emory University

Nurse anesthetist vs practical nurse demographics

Here are the differences between nurse anesthetists' and practical nurses' demographics:

	Nurse Anesthetist	Practical Nurse
Average age	45	46
Gender ratio	Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9%	Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 4.7% Asian, 7.2% White, 81.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	32%	7%

Differences between nurse anesthetist and practical nurse duties and responsibilities

Nurse anesthetist example responsibilities.

Manage use of anesthesia machine and mechanical ventilation.
Perform specialty cares in the ICU and maternity unit.
Initiate the induction of anesthesia, intubation, and monitoring during the anesthesia.
Provide full scope midwifery care in busy FQHC clinics, birth center and hospital; credential with CAMC
Full scope midwifery care in a community hospital setting
Respond to cardiac arrests and situations demanding emergency intubation.

Practical nurse example responsibilities.

Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
Treat patients with dignity, respect, and compassion while maintaining there safety.
Maintain safety and quality standards of care while facilitating early discharge of mother and baby.
Maintain HIPPA and OSHA guidelines.
Receive and implementing Dr orders.
Train in lactation and NRP certify.

Nurse anesthetist vs practical nurse skills

Common nurse anesthetist skills

Patients, 22%
CRNA, 12%
Patient Care, 8%
Anesthesia Care, 7%
AANA, 4%
Informed Consent, 4%

Common practical nurse skills

Patients, 27%
APN, 7%
Home Health, 6%
Acute Care, 5%
Physical Examinations, 4%
Vital Signs, 4%

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Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Anesthetist vs Practical Nurse

Updated January 8, 2025

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