What Do Anesthesiologists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Anesthesiologists administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery or other medical procedures. They also monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.

Other tasks include:

• Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure.
• Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.
• Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.
• Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
• Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.
• Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.

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

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83% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 91% 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, Anesthesiologists record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure. They decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.

A typical day for an Anesthesiologist will also include:

• Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.
• Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
• Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.
• Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.
• Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.

We asked some Anesthesiologists 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?	72% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	67% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	94% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	44% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	83% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Anesthesiologists also diagnose illnesses, using examinations, tests, and reports. They may also order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Anesthesiologists Instruct individuals and groups on ways to preserve health and prevent disease. They might also Conduct medical research to aid in controlling and curing disease, to investigate new medications, and to develop and test new medical techniques.

In addition, they Coordinate and direct work of nurses, medical technicians, and other health care providers.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain.

To some Anesthesiologists, it is also their responsibility to Schedule and maintain use of surgical suite, including operating, wash-up, waiting rooms, or anesthetic and sterilizing equipment.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Anesthesiologist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also 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.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm

http://www.anesthetist.org/