Anesthesia Tech

About the role

Employment Type: Full time
Shift: Day Shift

General Summary

Anesthesia technicians are integral members of the anesthesia patient care team who assist anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in a variety of specialized and complex invasive and non-invasive anesthesia procedures.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Assists anesthesia professional staff as requested.
• Anticipates need for invasive procedures according to daily OR schedule.
• Assists in preparation and draping of patients for invasive monitoring procedures.
• Assists and anticipates needs of anesthesiologists in invasive monitor insertion and procedures such as pulmonary artery catheter, central venous access, fiber optic intubation, and/or difficult airway situations.
• Assists with the preparation of patients for the induction of anesthesia, including, but not limited to placement of blood pressure cuff, ECG leads, pulse oximeter, and connection of transducing devices as well as assisting with positioning of patients.
• Performs daily checks of all anesthetizing locations to insure appropriate equipment is available and functioning properly.
• Under direct supervision of a licensed anesthesia provider, assists with the initiation of regional anesthesia procedures such as epidural, spinal, regional, sympathetic, or intravenous regional blocks.
• Gains competence in ultrasound machine. Assists with ultrasound guided nerve block.
• Under limited supervision, starts an intravenous line when requested by a licensed anesthesia provider. (If certified to do so)
• Assists with difficult airway procedures including preparation of equipment (Fiberoptic and Glidescope), assistance with airway procedures and maintenance of equipment.
• Assists licensed anesthesia provider with volume infusions, running rapid infusion pump, as directed during intraoperative volume resuscitation.
• Maintains the availability of necessary equipment in each operating room.
• Prepares and assembles transducer lines and equipment necessary for arterial, central venous, and pulmonary artery pressure monitoring as necessary or requested.
• Maintains the cleanliness and organization of the anesthesia work stations on a daily basis.
• Maintains, inspects, and replaces as necessary a safe and secure sharps disposal system.
• Maintains supply stock in workrooms and all anesthesia work stations in rotational status.
• Inventories, orders, and maintains departmental supply stock consistent with department demand.
• Maintains carbon dioxide absorbers as scheduled.
• Handles equipment and items correctly to insure ever present usability and safety of supplies and materials.
• Reports equipment in need of repair.
• Performs all job duties of an anesthesia technician I.
• Stocks operating room with all necessary anesthesia equipment and supplies.
• Cleans all anesthesia equipment in the operating room and POCA after each procedure.
• Cleans anesthesia machines and assures related equipment is readily available for anesthesiology personnel.
• Interfaces with other departments in the retrieval of anesthesia equipment.
• Retrieves used or contaminated instruments and equipment from anesthesia cases for cleaning and disinfection.
• Restocks standardized, back-up, on-call, and heart carts according to established policy assuring that necessary and critical equipment is readily available.
• Performs Pyxis Anesthesia Medication Refill.
• Fills medications for use by patients.
• Reviews computer reports to determine appropriate medication levels.
• Fills patient medication orders for Pyxis Anesthesia Carts from computer generated report.
• Returns unused medications to appropriate storage location.

Required Education, Experience And Certification/Licensure

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Prior experience as an Anesthesia Technician required.
• One year formal education preferred with background in medical terminology, health sciences, EKG class or pharmacology would be helpful.
• Hospital critical care units preferred.
• Annual BLS certification required.
• Certification by the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians is desired.