What Does an Anesthesia Technician Do?
Are you a prospective anesthesia technician interested in learning more about the profession? Anesthesia technicians typically assist anesthesiologists with several tasks both inside and outside the operating room. These may include setting up equipment, providing supplies and ensuring careful patient care. Schools offering Anesthesia Technology degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Is An Anesthesia Technician's Professional Role?
The American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) defined the standard role of an anesthesia technician as assisting anesthesiologists before and during operations (www.asatt.org). According to the ASATT, your main duty will be to prepare and maintain anesthesia equipment. However, your responsibilities can vary from state to state and from one hospital or clinic to another. If you're a certified anesthesia technician, you'll take on additional duties, such as operating more complex hospital equipment.
Main Duties
As an anesthesia technician, you'll clean, calibrate and troubleshoot all of an anesthesiologist's tools. You must be proficient with the operation and maintenance of several pieces of equipment, including anesthesia delivery systems, ancillary devices and monitors. You must also be able to use many types of mechanical and electronic testing devices to make sure that all of the equipment is functioning properly.
Additional Duties
In addition to equipment maintenance and assistance in the operating room, the ASATT mentioned that you may also be required to keep an inventory of all the supplies used by the anesthesiologist. You'll be responsible for purchasing equipment and supplies from vendors when you find your inventory is running low. You also might need to keep detailed and organized records of equipment maintenance needs and any machinery inspections that must be performed on a regular basis.
Duties with Certification
If you're granted certification as a Certified Anesthesia Technician by the ASATT, you'll probably have more responsibilities in assisting licensed anesthesiologists during operations. You'll need to be familiar with all safety procedures and policies, and you may even have to train new technicians. You'll also take a more active role in the administration of patient evaluations and records.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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