An anesthesia technologist, also sometimes referred to as an anesthesia technician is a health care worker who has training and extensive knowledge of instruments used with anesthesia, as well as supplies and technology related to the medical field. Anesthesia technologists can be found working in anesthesia departments and operating rooms (ORs). They can also be found in other areas of clinical practice such as emergency rooms (ERs), day surgery clinics and intensive care units (ICUs).
If you like the idea of working in a medical capacity and in particular in an operating room but do not want to spend years in medical school then an anesthesia technologist career may be right for you. This career will have you working with other medical personnel. Anesthesia technologists are health care providers who are in great demand.
When patients are rendered unconscious by general anesthesia they must be monitored very carefully throughout the entire operation. While anesthesia technologists are not doctors they are medical professionals who are trained to do their work under the close supervision of an anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist supervises the technologist’s work before, during and following all surgical procedures. The main responsibilities of the anesthesia technologist are to monitor the vital signs of a patient who is unconscious. The vital signs include breathing, blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate.
Anesthesia Technologist Job Duties
An anesthesia technologist is responsible for inspecting all of the medical equipment that is required for the process of anesthesia to take place. This task must be completed before the patient is brought into the operating room. The inspections must be carefully documented by the technologist. The inspection will include first level servicing and the maintenance of all equipment. This means that all electronic and pneumatic anesthesia machinery must be cleaned and/or sterilized and then calibrated. Anesthesia technologists are responsible for reordering and restocking all equipment and supplies.
Anesthesia technologists have job duties to perform not just in the operating room but outside of the operating room as well. These medical professionals are often called upon to assist licensed anesthesiologists with pre-operative consultations with their patients. They also must keep accurate records on their patient’s medical histories and record any special notes that are requested by the doctor.
Post-operative recuperation is another aspect of the anesthesia technologist’s job. He or she must watch the patient closely in the recovery room to make sure that the drugs wear off as they are supposed to and to ensure that the patient wakes up in due time and does not suffer any adverse effects or complications as a result of the anesthesia.
Anesthesia Technologist Education Information
If the career of an anesthesia tech interests you then you must have a high diploma or an acceptable GED score. Most employers in this field prefer to hire an anesthesia technologist who has at least one year of anesthesia technologist training that is made up of classroom work as well as practical work that is done inside of an operating room.
Certification to work as an anesthesia technologist is required in most states across the country. Programs for aspiring anesthesia technologists are offered at two year community colleges where students can earn their associate’s degree. Another educational route you may wish to take is to attend a four year university where you can earn a bachelor’s degree.
Anesthesia Technologist Careers Salary
The job outlook for anesthesia technologists through the year is 2014 is forecast to be above average. A survey conducted by the website Payscale.com found that the median starting salary for an anesthesia technologist in his or her first year of employment ranged between $11.40 an hour to $15.29 an hour. Anesthesia technologists with five or more years of experience can earn between $13.54 to $20.49 an hour. This works out to be approximately $42,000 on a yearly basis.