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Anesthesiologist Assistants Occupation Detailed Description

Anesthesiologist Assistants career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Anesthesiologist Assistants

The main tasks and work activities of Anesthesiologist Assistants are to examine patients to assess general physical condition, analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment, diagnose medical conditions, record patient medical histories. In general, for the Anesthesiologist Assistants, reading Comprehension, critical Thinking, speaking, active Listening and other 17 skills are required.
Anesthesiologist Assistants Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related ExperienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Job TrainingEmployees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
ExampleThese occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Anesthesiologist Assistants jobs. 21.80% of Anesthesiologist Assistants have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 16.81% of Anesthesiologist Assistants have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
21.80%
Post-Secondary Certificate
16.81%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
4.08%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
57.31%

Tasks and Work Activities of Anesthesiologist Assistants

  • Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
  • Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
  • Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
  • Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes and results of physical examination.
  • Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
  • Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
  • Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.
  • Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
  • Provide physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures.
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of technicians and technical assistants.
  • Visit and observe patients on hospital rounds or house calls, updating charts, ordering therapy, and reporting back to physician.
  • Order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment.
  • Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
  • Provide clinical instruction, supervision or training to staff in areas such as anesthesia practices.
  • Collect samples or specimens for diagnostic testing.
  • Participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology.
  • Collect and document patients' pre-anesthetic health histories.
  • 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).
  • Monitor and document patients' progress during post-anesthesia period.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTranslating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
  • Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
  • Diagnose medical conditions.
  • Record patient medical histories.
  • Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
  • Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.
  • Prescribe medications.
  • Prescribe treatments or therapies.
  • Immunize patients.
  • Administer intravenous medications.
  • Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
  • Assist healthcare practitioners during surgery.
  • Supervise patient care personnel.
  • Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
  • Order medical supplies or equipment.
  • Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment.
  • Train medical providers.
  • Collect biological specimens from patients.
  • Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
  • Gather medical information from patient histories.

Skills and Abilities for Anesthesiologist Assistants

  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving 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.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem SensitivityThe 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 ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Speed of ClosureThe ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
  • Gas anesthesia apparatuse.g. Anesthesia equipment
  • Anesthesia inhalers or inhaler units or accessoriese.g. Anesthesia ventilators
  • Anoscopes or proctoscopese.g. Anoscopes
  • Arterial blood gas monitors or accessoriese.g. Arterial blood gas monitoring equipment
  • Arterial line catheterse.g. Arterial line catheters
  • Surgical clamps or clips or forceps or accessoriese.g. Artery forceps
  • Vacuum tube needlese.g. Aspirating needles
  • Audiometers or accessoriese.g. Audiometers
  • Binocular light compound microscopese.g. Binocular light compound microscopes
  • Blood collection needlee.g. Blood collection needles
  • Blood collection syringese.g. Blood collection syringes
  • Spinal anesthesia kit or traye.g. Bone marrow biopsy equipment
  • Alcohol analyserse.g. Breath alcohol testers
  • Surgical clamps or clips or forceps or accessoriese.g. Bull dog nose clamps
  • Canes or cane accessoriese.g. Canes
  • Cast cutters or sawse.g. Cast removal saws
  • Central venous catheterse.g. Central venous pressure lines
  • Cervical collars or neck bracese.g. Cervical collars
  • Chest tubee.g. Chest tubes
  • Crutches or crutch accessoriese.g. Crutches
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge 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.
  • BiologyKnowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Therapy and CounselingKnowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Sociology and AnthropologyKnowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
  • ChemistryKnowledge 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.