Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists are specialized physicians who play a crucial role in managing patient care during surgical, obstetrical, and medical procedures by providing sedation and pain relief. Their responsibilities begin with a pre-anesthetic evaluation, where they assess a patient’s medical history, allergies, and individual needs. This assessment informs their decision on the type of anesthetic to administer, which can include local, intravenous, or spinal options, ensuring patients are either unconscious or pain-free during procedures. Anesthesiologists continuously monitor vital signs throughout the surgery and make real-time adjustments to the anesthetic as needed.
Typically working in hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, and other medical facilities, anesthesiologists often have demanding schedules, working approximately sixty hours a week. The path to becoming an anesthesiologist requires extensive education, starting with a bachelor's degree, followed by medical school, and a residency focusing on anesthesiology. This field attracts individuals who are organized, empathetic, and interested in both patient care and the complexities of medical technology. Their role is vital not only during surgery but also in pain management for patients recovering from surgery or those in critical care, emphasizing the importance of ongoing education to stay current with advancements in anesthetic practices.
Anesthesiologist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Working with the sick or injured, making decisions quickly, understanding data, and making calculations
Earnings (Yearly Median): $239,200 per year $115.00 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 3% (As fast as average)
Entry-Level Education Doctoral or professional degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Internship/residency
Overview
Sphere of Work. Anesthesiologists are physicians who are responsible for providing sedation and pain relief to patients during surgical, obstetrical, or medical procedures. They conduct a pre-anesthetic evaluation and consultation to determine the individual needs of each patient, taking into account a patient’s age, weight, medical history, allergies, and type of procedure. Once those factors are taken into account, the anesthesiologist administers the proper anesthetic so that patients are either unconscious during the procedure or insensitive to pain. Anesthesiologists administer local, intravenous, and spinal anesthetics and remain in the operating room during surgery to continually monitor and assess patient needs. During surgery, they monitor the patient's vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing rate).
Work Environment. Anesthesiologists generally work in hospitals or outpatient surgical centers. However, some anesthesiologists practice at academic medical centers, in emergency rooms and urgent care facilities, and in the military. They work long hours, about sixty per week.
Occupation Interest. Individuals attracted to careers in anesthesiology are intelligent, organized, and meticulous, finding fulfillment when their work leads to healthy patient outcomes. Anesthesiology is regarded as one of the most complex disciplines of medical specialization and also as one of the most important since anesthesiologists must be present for most operations. Those who are highly motivated, value education, are active learners, and are empathetic to patient comfort are well suited to becoming anesthesiologists.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. In the pre-operative stage, anesthesiologists interview patients to obtain their medical and medication histories, especially information about allergies and previous reactions to medication. Together with the patient and the surgeon, they discuss pain management options. On a typical day, anesthesiologists will choose from a variety of drugs for general, regional, or local anesthesia to render the patient unconscious, stop pain, and relax body muscles. They administer inhalational anesthetic agents, muscle relaxants, and many other drugs to help maintain normal body functions. They must orchestrate the dosage and administering of these drugs according to the specific surgical needs of each patient.
During surgery, anesthesiologists use sophisticated electronic equipment to monitor patients’ vital signs and may adjust anesthesia to compensate for changes in the physical state of a patient. Anesthesiologists confer with other physicians and surgeons on an ongoing basis about appropriate treatments and procedures before, during, and after surgery. They work in obstetrics and with those who suffer from chronic pain, monitoring the patient’s physical health and pain levels before, during, and after sedation.
During recovery, anesthesiologists administer medication to reverse the effect of the anesthetic, returning the patient to consciousness. They supervise nurses and other trained staff as they continue to monitor the patient. They also work outside operating rooms to provide pain relief to people in critical care units. Anesthesiologists commit a portion of their time to continuing education to stay abreast of the evolving nature of modern pain management.
Scholars believe technology will continue to play an increasingly important role in anesthesiology. Artificial intelligence (AI), for example, may be used to monitor patients during procedures.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Anesthesiologists stand for long periods of time each day. They work in well-lit, sterile environments such as hospital operating, delivery, or treatment rooms while performing their tasks.
Human Environment. Anesthesiologists develop close relationships with other physicians and trained healthcare employees. They work together as members of a team to ensure each patient receives appropriate and adequate care. Because anesthesiologists are continually monitoring vital life functions, they must be able to communicate easily with the rest of the surgical or medical staff. Anesthesiologists also work directly with patients and should be empathetic and effective communicators. Anesthesiologists must be emotionally stable and at ease interacting with nervous patients immediately prior to surgery, delivery, or other medical procedures. Anesthesiologists must have appropriate plans in place to deal with the mental health challenges that arise from such an intense profession.
Technological Environment. Anesthesiologists work with anesthesia machines that include ventilators, vaporizers, intubation, nerve stimulators, laryngoscopes, pulse oximeters, and oxygen sensors, as well as other highly sophisticated types of medical equipment.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in a career in anesthesiology should prepare themselves by taking rigorous advanced placement courses in algebra, biology, chemistry, geometry, physics, trigonometry, physiology, computer science, and psychology. Acceptance into premedical college programs is competitive; therefore, it is highly beneficial for high school students to volunteer at a health clinic or take advantage of university summer study programs in relevant subjects.
Postsecondary. College students should earn a bachelor’s degree in science with a focus on pre-medical studies at an accredited college or university. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in premedical studies, graduates must pass (and score well on) the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) before getting accepted into medical school. Medical school admissions are highly competitive.
Upon completion of four years of study at an accredited medical school, students spend the next four years in residency training, one year of which is often an internship where they learn the specialty of anesthesiology. Residents work toward obtaining certification from the American Society of Anesthesiologists or the American Board of Anesthesiology. In the process, they focus on medical aspects of anesthesiology and study cardiology, critical care medicine, internal medicine, pharmacology, and surgery. There are also more specialized fields, such as neurosurgical anesthesiology, which require further training.
Related Occupations
− Surgeon
Bibliography
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 29-1211 Anesthesiologists." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291211.htm. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
"Physicians and Surgeons." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
Seger, Christian, and Maxime Cannesson. "Recent Advances in the Technology of Anesthesia." F1000 Research, 2020, doi: 10.12688/f1000research.24059.1. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.