Study Says Quality Not Hurt When Nurse Anesthetists Work Without Doc Guidance

Nurse anesthetists can safely fly solo during surgery, and a federal rule that implies otherwise should be changed, researchers said. Medicare data suggest that there is no difference in mortality or complications when certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) work without the supervision of a doctor, according to Jerry Cromwell, PhD, and Brian Dulisse, PhD, both of the Research Triangle Institute, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C.