In Panama and Iraq, CRNAs represented which group within anesthesia providers?

• A. The smallest group
• B. Not involved in care
• C. The largest group
• D. Equally represented as anesthesiologists

Answer: (C)

This item highlights how anesthesia care is staffed differently around the world, showing that in some countries nurse anesthesia providers can make up the majority of those delivering anesthesia. In Panama and Iraq, CRNAs commonly provide the bulk of anesthesia services, reflecting workforce realities where there are fewer physician anesthesiologists and more trained nurses able to deliver perioperative care. Their numbers grow because nurse anesthetist training is typically faster to scale than physician training, allowing a larger pool of providers to meet surgical demand, especially in areas with limited access to physicians. This is why CRNAs are the predominant group in those settings.

They are actively delivering anesthesia and are not simply outside the care team, and they are not typically represented equally with anesthesiologists in those contexts, nor are they the smallest group.