Anesthesiologist Assistants
Anesthesiologist assistants assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anaesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. They monitor patient status and provide patient care during the surgical treatment.
Anesthesiologist assistants are highly skilled health professionals who assist anesthesiologists in controlling anesthesia levels during procedures. They calibrate anaesthesia delivery systems and monitors, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine temperature measurement, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
Anesthesiologist assistant jobs include assisting anesthesiologists in the monitoring of patients; responding to emergencies by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), or pediatric advanced life support (PALS); providing airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fibre optics, or ventilatory support; and, ensure availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
Anesthesiologists schooling involves obtaining a master’s degree or a doctoral degree, and extensive skills and knowledge are needed to become anesthesiologists. Skills required include monitoring, critical thinking, judgement and decision making, time management, service orientation, problem-solving, coordination, and social perceptiveness.
Anesthesiologist assistants need knowledge of medicine and dentistry, chemistry, biology, mathematics, education and training, and computers and electronics. They work under the supervision of anesthesiologists in operation theatres, and anesthesiologist assistant's salary is commensurate to the nature of the work.
Successful anesthesiologist assistants are innovative, have concern for others, and pay attention to detail.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- Diploma Anaesthesia Technology
Tasks
- Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
- Provide clinical instruction, supervision or training to staff in areas such as anesthesia practices.
- Collect samples or specimens for diagnostic testing.
- Participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology.
- Collect and document patients' pre-anesthetic health histories.
- Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
- Respond to emergency situations by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), or pediatric advanced life support (PALS).
- Monitor and document patients' progress during post-anesthesia period.
- Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
- Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
Progression Routes
READY FOR MORE?
Subscribe to our Premium package and you'll unlock a wealth of extra information about your favourite careers and gain access our library of immersive 360° VR careers experience.
As a Premium user you'll find out more about the day-to-day demands of any career, what you could earn and, importantly, receive expert advice on study routes, preparation expenses, and where & what to study to fulfil your potential.