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Anesthesia Technician - Career Profile |
Career OverviewAnesthesiology is called the crossroads of medicine. It is an extremely demanding but varied field of medicine, requiring extensive knowledge and considerable skill. Due to the relative complexity of the job and the responsibilities of anesthesiologists in most hospital and clinic situations, anesthesia technicians are increasingly in demand as specially trained assistants to anesthesiologists.
The anesthesia technician supports the anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists by preparing and set up of appropriate equipment and supplies for surgical cases throughout the day. They connect monitoring lines, prepare infusion sets, apply all common physiological monitors such as Datascopes 2000 ,Dinamaps, Vitalerts, pulse oximeters, CO2 monitors, and BP monitors). They may also draw arterial blood gas and other blood specimens.
The incumbent must be able to operate, calibrate, and perform routine maintenance on a variety of technical equipment used in the operating room , such as the Vitalert physiological monitor terminals , pulse oximeters , activated coagulation time (Act) monitor and rapid infusion/transfusion system.
In the operation of the Act, the incumbent must be able to apply several specialized tests to analyze blood clotting in patients undergoing surgery. Must have some knowledge of pharmacy and chemistry to understand drug action and its effect on blood clot formation and its analysis by ACT.
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Career RequirementsAnesthesia technicians work in operating rooms, applying knowledge of anesthesia to care for patients in critical condition. They are required to have knowledge of equipment and treatment procedures commonly used in the administration of anesthesia.
They must understand basic medical terminology and have a working knowledge of the fundaments of medicine, including anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and biochemistry. Due to the nature of the work, they must also be able to respond to emergency situations, providing first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and assistance to other medical professionals during emergency situations.
Anesthesia technicians must have at least a Bachelor’s degree to enter into an accredited training program. Completion of an accredited training program is also required.
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Job OutlookEmployment opportunities for anesthesia technicians is generally positive. Generally, anesthesia technicians are in high demand and recent graduates of the accredited training programs can expect to receive relatively high starting salaries.
There are also plenty of opportunities, and some incentives provided, for qualified and talented anesthesiologist assistants to pursue medical degrees and train as anesthesiologists so that they can take on more professional responsibilities and excel in what is generally considered a highly specialized and intensely dynamic medical field.
At present, there are many opportunities to work in a clinical setting, taking responsibility for patient care. On the other hand, some administrative, consultant, and research positions are also available to qualified applicants and teaching may become an increasingly significant element of the field.
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Career TrackMost anesthesia technicians work between the operating room, the anesthesia work room, the post-anesthesia recovery room, and the intensive care units. The job generally requires considerable physical activity; walking, bending, reaching, and stretching. Good manual dexterity is desirable, as is the ability to work on a team.
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CompensationA career as an anesthesia technician is rewarding both intellectually and financially. Although annual salaries can vary considerably, depending on where individuals work, the annual pay is generally between $25,000 and $33,000 per year.
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