What Are You?

Have you ever wondered what your job title has to do with your job? In most cases, the anesthesia technician's job title does not mirror their role. Many facilities use the term anesthesia technician, but in reality, they mean something different. So, what are you?

An Anesthesia Associate ( Anesthesia Aide) helps the anesthesia department with :

1. Stocking the anesthesia carts.

2. Cleaning equipment or instruments.

3. Locating equipment and storing them in their appropriate places.

A Technician 2 responsibilities include all of the above plus:

1. Check out the anesthesia machine and other equipment.

2. Troubleshooting equipment.

3. Prepare for procedures by placing new circuits on the machine, EKG, and blood pressure cuffs.

4. Locate and deliver equipment to the operating room.

5. Operate various ultrasound systems

The Certified Anesthesia Technician or Technologist

All of the above responsibilities plus:

1. Assist the anesthesiologists with:

(A) Intubation and Difficult Intubation

(B) Extubation

(C) IV placement

(D) Arterial Line Placement

(E) Central Line placement

2. Set-up sterile fields.

3. Cellsavers

4. Belmont

5. Prepare IV's

6. Prepare and set up transducers for sterile procedures.

7. Set up Level 1

8. Troubleshoot the anesthesia machine and monitors during procedures.

9. Manage supplies

10. Train new residents to use various technologies.

11. Train new employees.

12. Restock medications between or during procedures.

13. Patient positioning.

14. Interpret blood gas parameters.

The anesthesia associate or aide may be given other responsibilities above their pay grade. They can either refuse or choose to carry out those tasks. Nurses do this all the time. They'll often say whatever tasks are being asked of them are above their pay grade and pass it on to those who rightfully should be carrying out those duties. Technicians can do the same if it won't harm patients.

The anesthesia tech two must have operating room experience or hold a medical certificate as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, or other certificates that include some medical studies and exposure to the healthcare arena. Other areas of study would be anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, human biology, etc.

The Certified Anesthesia Technician is a professional who passed the American Society of Anesthesia Technicians and Technologists exam. ASATT certification is internationally recognized. In most cases, the holder of an ASATT certificate works one-on-one with an anesthesiologist and, CRNAs as they provide care.