As one of the more reasonable CRNAs who visit this site, and one who usually argues against what "DD" says, in this case, DD is correct.
A CRNA can work independently in a small town as the ONLY anesthesia provider. (I myself worked in a small town hospital and the next closest hospital with any kind of anesthesia coverage was 100 miles away and in a different state. Within my state, it was 200 miles.)
CRNAs are not dependent upon having an anesthesiologist around and you must admit, the name "Anesthesiologist Assistants" does tend to re-inforce the idea that they are tied to the Anesthesiologists. (Which is why in the chain "Scope of Practice" I suggested they come up with a different name.)
That is the one BIG difference between the two. However, as I also said in another chain, I can see the day when even that difference will disappear as the anesthesia shortage grows even worse.
As far as AAs and what they can or can not do vs what a CRNA can or can not do in a facility with MDAs, I will differ to someone who actually as worked in such a situation.
