What Do Anesthesiologist Assistants Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Anesthesiologist Assistants assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment. They also control anesthesia levels during procedures.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• 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).
• Administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids.
• Collect and document patients’ pre-anesthetic health histories.
• Assist in the provision of advanced life support techniques including those procedures using high frequency ventilation or intra-arterial cardiovascular assistance devices.

We asked Anesthesiologist Assistants how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Anesthesiologist Assistants control anesthesia levels during procedures. They 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.

A typical day for an Anesthesiologist Assistant will also include:

• Monitor and document patients’ progress during post-anesthesia period.
• Collect and document patients’ pre-anesthetic health histories.
• Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
• Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist.
• Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.

We asked some Anesthesiologist Assistants a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	56% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	72% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	74% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	47% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	29% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	36% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Anesthesiologist Assistants also collect samples or specimens for diagnostic testing. They may also assist in the provision of advanced life support techniques including those procedures using high frequency ventilation or intra-arterial cardiovascular assistance devices.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Anesthesiologist Assistants Participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology. They might also Administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids.

In addition, they Assist anesthesiologists in performing anesthetic procedures, such as epidural or spinal injections.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide clinical instruction, supervision or training to staff in areas such as anesthesia practices.

To some Anesthesiologist Assistants, it is also their responsibility to 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.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Anesthesiologist Assistant, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm

http://www.aapa.org/

http://www.paeaonline.org/

http://www.arc-pa.org/