Anesthesiologist assistants assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during the surgical treatment.

  • Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
  • Respond to emergency situations by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), or pediatric advanced life support (PALS).
  • Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
  • Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
  • Participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology.
  • Control anesthesia levels during procedures.
  • Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
  • Administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids.
  • Collect and document patients' pre-anesthetic health histories.
  • Assist in the provision of advanced life support techniques including those procedures using high frequency ventilation or intra-arterial cardiovascular assistance devices.
  • Monitor and document patients' progress during post-anesthesia period.
  • Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist.
  • Assist anesthesiologists in performing anesthetic procedures, such as epidural or spinal injections.
  • Provide clinical instruction, supervision or training to staff in areas such as anesthesia practices.
  • Assist in the application of monitoring techniques, such as pulmonary artery catheterization, electroencephalographic spectral analysis, echocardiography, or evoked potentials.
  • Collect samples or specimens for diagnostic testing.
Work Context
  • Exposed to Disease or Infections — 88% responded "Every day".
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 96% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 85% responded "Extremely important".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 96% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 74% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 72% responded "Extremely important".
  • Physical Proximity — 63% responded "Very close (near touching)".
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Work Activities
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment.
  • Train medical providers.
  • Supervise patient care personnel.
  • Collect biological specimens from patients.
  • Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
  • Gather medical information from patient histories.
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Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Chemistry
  • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • Word processing software
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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Education

Get started on your career:

Job Outlook

New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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