What is the difference between Nurse Anesthetists, Anesthesia assistants, and Anesthesia Care Teams?

Just off the cuff, I would think that the nurse anesthetist is the registered nurse with a bachelor's degree and additional training to become a nurse anesthesist. An assistant can perhaps be a surgical technican with that job title though not positive about that. The Care Team is most likely all who is involved in the various aspects of the anesthetic process of the patient which can be anyone from the doctor, the nurse, surgical tech or anyone else.

Here's a website for general career info: US occupational outlook handbook www.bls.gov/oco and can type into search 'surgical technician' or such.

Nurse anesthetist is specially trained nurse who has gone through an anesthesia training program, usually called a CRNA.

Anesthesia assistants are a new phenomenon. They are not nurses but do assist with the administration of general anesthesia under direct medical supervision. Their existence is opposed by CRNA's.

Anesthesia care team usually refers to a combination of anesthesiologist (MD or DO) and CRNA working together to give anesthesia care. As a general rule, the CRNA does anesthesia only; the docs can do anesthesia, or otherwise "supervise" the CRNA's which is supposed to mean that the doc does the preop evaluation, is there during critical times during the case, and often is the one doing specialized procedures or monitoring.