How to Become an Anesthesia Technician
Majors Overview November 2, 2012If you are looking for a lucrative career in a medicine-related field, you should aim to become an anesthesia technician. The role involves assisting medical practitioners and anesthesiologists in administering anesthesia to patients. Such medical professionals use their skills in operation theaters and emergency rooms. Their responsibilities include the preparation of medical supplies and operation of anesthesia equipment.
What Sort of Educational Qualifications do Anesthesia Technician Need?
If you wish to become an anesthesia technician, you must have at least a High School Diploma. With this minimum educational qualification, you can begin receiving on-the-job training to become an anesthesia technician. Apart from certificate programs that you can do before embarking on an anesthesia technician career, you can choose to enroll for an associate degree program. These courses are conducted by vocational as well as community colleges. An ambitious technician who completes either of these courses can use the certificate to advance his/her career. These programs combine clinical experience with classroom instruction. Both certificate and degree programs augment classroom teaching with direct experience gleaned in clinics.
EKG analysis is a primary subject taught at these vocational and community colleges for anesthesia technicians, alongside other subjects such as pharmacology, medical terminology and first aid/CPR. These programs include a clinical component aimed at giving hands-on experience at local facilities to prospective anesthesia technicians – this is accomplished in the operating rooms. The students gain knowledge about the different types of devices used in the administration of anesthesia, apart from learning about blood products and fluid management.
Certification as an Anesthesia Technician
The American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) provide an examination for aspiring anesthesia technicians to complete. Once these students achieve that goal, they are awarded a certificate (Cer. A. T.) that allows them to showcase their credential for being a certified Anesthesia Technicians.
The certified anesthesia technician designation is pursuable by those that worked for a minimum of two years as anesthesia technicians provide such aspirants and maintain a High School Diploma.
The ASATT’s examination is held as a computerbased test at various test centers across the United States and the only certification for anesthesia technicians that accorded recognition throughout the country.
Anesthesia Technician Career Information
An anesthesia technician would likely report to an anesthesiologist, an anesthesiologist assistant or a nurse anesthetist. As part of your duties; anesthesia technician would help maintain equipment used in administering anesthesia to patients, whom you have prepared such administration and supervised constantly.
Job duties include maintaining anesthesia, stocking anesthesia supplies and transporting patients. Anesthesia technicians would be responsible for maintaining inventory of anesthesia; additionally, they are likely to assist anesthesiologists by evaluating patients and administering anesthesia.
Anesthesia Technicians will probably work in a clinic, hospital or other medical work environment and are likely to be paid between $22,000 and $46,000 annually (source: Payscale.com).
