An anesthesiologist assistant is a health care professional who assists an anesthesiologist in preparing a patient for anesthesia. An anesthesiologist assistant’s job responsibilities vary depending on the setting and location. Some hospitals, for example, may have more stringent guidelines for what an anesthesiologist assistant can do.
Although an anesthesiologist assistant may participate in the pre-anesthetic evaluation, it is not a common occurrence. Typically, she will assist the anesthesiologist in reviewing the data as it is presented by the medical staff. She may be able to assist the anesthesiologist in maintaining anesthesia during surgery and monitoring the patient’s condition while the procedure is taking place.
Anesthesiologist assistants are responsible for calibrating and testing the equipment that delivers and monitors anesthesia. She may also be in charge of inserting an IV or catheter, as well as performing a basic physical examination on a patient. She will be in charge of administering drugs to the patient if they are required prior to inducing anesthesia.
The work of the anesthesiologist assistant does not end when the patient is released from surgery. She may be in charge of ensuring that the patient’s transition from the operating room to the recovery room is safe and uneventful. She may be called upon to attend to a patient’s needs in a hospital’s pain unit or intensive care unit. Finally, she may be responsible for a variety of administrative tasks, research projects, and clinical classes.
At the start of a patient’s case, both the anesthesiologist and the anesthesiologist assistant are usually present. Then they continue on, being present at every major stage and every change in the patient’s condition. It is advantageous to be able to follow a patient through surgery and recovery because the individual aspects of the case become well-known and proper care can be provided. It’s a job that necessitates a combination of skill, knowledge, and the ability to work under duress.
It is important to note that, while working as an anesthesiologist assistant sounds appealing, it may not be feasible. Anesthesiologist assistants are not permitted to work in every state in the United States. In many cases, it is up to the state legislature to pass legislation to create anesthesiologist assistant positions. Furthermore, in many countries, there are no openings for anesthesiologist assistants. Registered nurses take over the jobs that anesthesiologist assistants used to do.