Anesthesiologist Assistant

Anesthesiologist Assistant

Alt Names: Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, A.A

 

Career Description

Anesthesiologist Assistants work under the direct supervision of Anesthesiologists to help with administering anesthesia as well as discover and record the medical history of patients.

Job Responsibilities

  • Administer anesthesia (local, intravenous, or spinal anesthetic) under direct order and supervision of Anesthesiologist

  • Monitor patients condition before, during, and after being given anesthesia

  • Provide clinical instruction, supervision or training to staff in areas such as anesthesia practices

  • Collect and record patients medical history

  • Pre-Testing and calibrating anesthesia delivery systems and monitors

  • Recording progress, preparing case summaries, take down and execute physician orders

Education & Training  

In order to enter AA education programs, students must complete the following:

  • Bachelor Degree from accredited institution (with completion of pre-med sciences)

  • Completion of Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or the Graduate Records Admission Test (GRA)

  • Clinical experience

Important Information

After this completion, students may now enter into the Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) program which ranges from 24 to 48 months. Graduates of AA educational programs earn a masters-level degree

License and/or Certification

Those who choose to become Anesthesiologist Assistants (AA’s) can choose between:

  • Being licensed as an AA

  • Practice under the license of an Anesthesiologist under the principle of delegation

Salary

Median salary $100,326* [source: Payscale.Com]

Valuable Skills & Qualities

This career is good for people who are:

  • Organized
  • Critical Thinkers
  • Empathetic
  • Self-motivated
  • Patient
  • Flexible (long work hours)

Work Environment/ Setting

Hospitals, Clinics, and other Medical facilities