The AI Impact Timeline: What to Expect
AI is projected to automate approximately 15% of Nurse Anesthetist tasks by 2029, focusing on areas like pre-operative assessment, drug dosing calculations, and routine patient monitoring. This automation will be gradual, with no widespread impact anticipated in the near term.
Early automation pressures, by 2024, might be felt by junior CRNAs working in highly standardized surgical settings, such as routine colonoscopies or dental procedures. These environments are more amenable to AI-driven efficiencies.
The mid to late-wave transformation will see AI-assisted systems handling more complex calculations and monitoring. However, the core responsibilities of critical decision-making, emergency response, and ultimate patient safety oversight will remain firmly with experienced human anesthetists.