Anesthesia Technician Resource website!
Who are Anesthesia Technicians?
The Anesthesia Technician is a trained member of the anesthesia care team
with extensive knowledge of all anesthesia equipment and supplies.
Under direct supervision,
the Anesthesia Technician is responsible for assisting the Anesthesiologist,
Anesthesiologist
Assistant and Nurse Anesthetist in all phases of patient care in the operating room.
American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians
Standards of Practice:
Introduction
1) The Anesthesia Technician
2) The Certified Anesthesia Technician
3) The C
ertified AnesthesiaTechnologists
The standards of practice are directions or recommendations that are intentionally
presented in a broad manner in order that the standards of practice will address the vast variety of settings in which the anesthesia technician, the certified anesthesia technician and the certified anesthesia technologists are employed.
The following information will identify THREE levels of practice:
The following information declares the position of the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT). This will describe the standard of practice for:
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Anesthesia Technician, Anesthesia Tech Information:
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Information Disclaimer:
The information provided using this web site is only intended to be general information to the public. It is not intended to take the place of the written law, regulations, medical, legal or financial advice.
AnestaWeb, Inc. 2009
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How long is the training to be an Anesthesia Technician?
It depends on what state you live in and what hospitals have on the job training. Find out which hospitals in your area have on the job Anesthesia Technician training. There are five accredited schools in the nation to become an Anesthesia Technician / Anesthesia Technologist. Once attending your shnool of choice you end up obtaining a 1 year Certification, 2 years Associate Degree in Science or Baccalaureate of Science Degree ( In Anesthesia Technology ).
Becoming an Anesthesia Technician prior to going to school to become a Anesthesiologist Assistant would be a great stepping stone in becoming an Anesthesiologist Assistant!
Every state has different regulations on what you "can" or "can't" do as a Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist. Even though it's in our scope of practice, the goal for the Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist is to be "Licensed" so that the Anesthesia Technician is
allowed to utilize learned skills at any hospital and in all patient care settings regardless in what state the Anesthesia Technician resides.
If you are seriously looking into becoming a Anesthesia Technician, place calls to several hospitals and try speaking to a Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist and find out how can you shadow them in their daily task in the O.R. as well as off site areas (Cath lab,MRI,Angio,GI,ICU,ER,etc.)
Make sure you pair up with a Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia technologist preceptor with many years of experience who is ACLS/PALS Certified that can teach you about different "cardiac rhythms", "medications", and "shocking" a patient when in a "Code Blue" emergency.
Find out what Anesthesia Technicians / Anesthesia Technologists are actually responsible for operating such as, intra-aortic balloon pump machines, cell saver machines, level one auto rapid machines, FMS auto rapid machines, starting IVs, drawing up and pushing medications under the supervision of a MDA or Anesthesiologist Assistant/CRNA, anesthesia machines as well as trouble shooting, train, assisting in floating a Swan-Ganz Catheter (PA), performing ABG/TEG, setting up & drawing back from patient lines such as ART, CVP, PA lines. Try following Anesthesia Technicians in specialty areas such as Transplant (Hearts and Livers, Adult & Pedi ), Trauma units, & Neuro (crani- head).
The knowledge gained by working as an Anesthesia Technician or Anesthesia Technologist will insure a smooth transition in becoming a Anesthesiologist Assistant. It definately will look great on your admission application when applying to an Anesthesiologist Assistant program as a allied health care professional.
Why is it such a great idea to become an Anesthesia Technician if you want to eventually become an Anesthesiologist Assistant?
Nurses are required to work 1-2 years in the ICU to gain skills required to become a CRNA, so by becoming an Anesthesia Technician for 1-2 years and learning skills in the O.R., ICU and E.R. settings you will actually be ahead of any applicant applying to an Anesthesiologist Assistant program!
More on the Anesthesiologist Assistant profession Visit HERE
Which schools offer
Anesthesiologist
Assistant
programs?
VISIT HERE
1.) In September 1991, the Advisory committee on anesthesia technicians and anesthesia technologists developed Training Guidelines and a functional Description of the Anesthesia Technician and AnesthesiaTechnologist.
2.) In 1994, The ASATT developed an Advisory Committee for Certification of the Anesthesia Technicians and AnesthesiaTechnologists.
3.) In 1997, the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians appointed a Scope of Practice Taskforce, which presented a Standards of Practice that was adopted by the Board of Directors.
With the growing demand for qualified anesthesia technical personnel, a task force reviewed the Standards of Practice in 2006 to include three levels of practice:
1) The Anesthesia technician
2) The Certified Anesthesia Technician
3) The certified Anesthesia Technologist
Functional description of the anesthesia technician and anesthesia technologist :
Depending on individual expertise and training, the task of the anesthesia technician, certified anesthesia technician and certified anesthesia technologist may include equipment maintenance and servicing such as cleaning, sterilizing, assembling, calibrating and testing, troubleshooting, requisitioning and recording of inspections and maintenance.
The anesthesia technician, certified anesthesia technician and certified anesthesia technologist may operate a variety of mechanical, pneumatic and electronic equipment used to monitor, evaluate and manage the patient undergoing anesthesia. The anesthesia technologist who has the appropriate training may perform inspection, maintenance of inventories and service records. They may also provide support in areas of pressure monitoring, autotransfusion and laboratory functions.
Individuals functioning as anesthesia technicians or technologists should be capable of a level of self direction and supervision that is commensurate with their training.
Did you know
that...
currently
there are job
offers for
Anesthesiologist
Assistants with
$30,000.00 in
retention
bonuses
$10,000.00 at
the end of
each year and
$5,000.00 for
relocation
and a starting
salary
between $110,000.00
to
$150,000.00
annually!
What schools offer
Anesthesiologist
Assistant
programs?
VISIT HERE
