Anesthetist
What is an anesthetist?
An anesthetist is someone who has completed education and has been certified in anesthesia. They are able to administer anesthesia required by a surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, or other qualified health professional.
What does an anesthetist do?
An anesthetist is a specialist. They administer anesthesia for all types of cases, in collaboration with doctors and health professionals, from the simplest to the most complex surgeries. They can be found in many places, including traditional hospitals, delivery rooms, dentists' offices, outpatient surgical centers, pain control clinics, and battlefields. They are health professionals and are often the only providers of anesthesia services offering surgical, obstetric, and trauma stabilization services in rural hospitals and areas where it would otherwise not be possible. Outside the operating room, an anesthetist may provide services in other areas.
Functions of an anesthetist
An anesthetist must closely monitor the patient to make any adjustment that is necessary to the medication dosage. Evaluating blood pressure, heart rate, and other patient measurements helps determine the effectiveness of the anesthesia. The anesthetist is also responsible for maintaining the patient's airway. This is generally achieved through the use of an intubation tube. The tube protects and controls the airway, thus ensuring that the patient is breathing effectively. They must be able to identify and manage emergency situations, and can initiate and participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation involving tracheal intubation, ventilation, airway maintenance, and management of fluid, blood, electrolyte, and acid-base balance.
What is an anesthetist's workplace like?
An anesthetist may work in a hospital, in an outpatient surgery clinic, or in an office surgery center. The environment is clinical and full of high-tech equipment. They will work with other members of healthcare, including surgeons, nurses, and operating room technicians. The sterile environment requires the use of masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment, and the operating room is kept cold to reduce bacteria.
An anesthetist can expect to see live surgical procedures, blood and other bodily fluids, and unpleasant odors. During intubation, the anesthetist must insert the intubation tube into the patient's lungs. They must be comfortable performing this and other medical procedures. In addition, they must meet with and educate patients regarding what to expect from anesthesia before a procedure.
Working hours can vary significantly depending on the institution's normal workload. Most anesthetists can expect to work between 6 in the morning and midnight. They also have to be on call and be available at the hospital within 30 minutes, in case a patient needs emergency surgery.