Anesthesia Tech II

About the Role

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. The anesthesia technician provides patient care in collaboration with licensed anesthesia providers by preparing the patient and assisting in monitoring the patient’s condition during various anesthesia procedures. They take into consideration age-specific, developmental, and cultural needs of the patient. The anesthesia technician also ensures the acquisition, preparation, and application of the equipment and supplies required for the administration of anesthesia.

The anesthesia technicians have on-call responsibilities and are available to the Department of Anesthesiology 24-hours a day, seven days a week for needed technical assistance and support.

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 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 ensure 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 and assists with ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.
• 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.
• Monitors EKG, arterial line, pulmonary artery wave forms during placement of such.
• In an emergency situation, under the direct supervision of a licensed anesthesia provider, may check blood with Registered Nurse according to established policy.
• Actively participates in emergency situations, including CPR, according to established policy.
• Demonstrates dependability in participating in department anesthesia technician call coverage.
• Responds to requests from staff in a timely fashion.
• Provides technical support to the anesthesia professional staff in the pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-operative areas for the delivery of safe, efficient, and cost-effective anesthesia care.
• 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.
• Demonstrates detailed technical knowledge and troubleshooting ability for anesthesia delivery system, Scavenger system, gas analyzer, EKG, pulse oximeter, and rapid infusion devices.
• Performs well under extreme pressure or life-threatening emergencies.
• Makes available, assembles, and assists with operation of specialized equipment such as humidification units, warming devices, fiber optic endoscopic equipment, and rapid infusion devices.
• Maintains and organizes the anesthesia environment, equipment, and supplies to facilitate departmental functioning.
• 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 cleanliness of equipment cleaning area.
• 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.
• Recognizes and adheres to universal precautions in all clinical activities.
• Handles equipment and items correctly to ensure usability and safety of supplies and materials.
• Has knowledge of where all supplies are kept and is able to retrieve and store accordingly.
• Reports equipment in need of repair and checks on return of equipment that has been in repair.
• Maintains all appropriate records and logs, including quarterly Quality Assurance (QA) reports.
• Performs all job duties of an anesthesia technician I, including stocking operating rooms with 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, ensuring necessary and critical equipment is readily available.
• Performs Pyxis Anesthesia Medication Refill, including filling medications for use by patients, reviewing computer reports to determine appropriate medication levels, and filling patient medication orders for Pyxis Anesthesia Carts.
• Returns unused medications to appropriate storage location.
• Successfully completes specific training/competencies before working in advanced areas.
• Re-stocks pharmaceutical, intravenous solutions, and supplies in work areas, rotating stock as needed, and removes expired medications.
• Generates designated computer reports and operates related computer equipment.
• Delivers and registers non-controlled and controlled medications as well as IV solutions and sets in the automated med-station for direct dispensing by Anesthesia, following departmental procedure, security, and accountability practices.
• Trains new technicians, documents their progress, and reports results to the manager on an ongoing basis.
• Trains Anesthesia Technicians and assists in their evaluations.
• Performs inspections of Pyxis Anesthesia Carts under the direction of Pharmacy to comply with Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Michigan Society of Hospital Pharmacists Guidelines.
• Attends and participates in departmental meetings and activities.
• Performs duties and responsibilities at all times within the framework of maintaining and improving customer and patient satisfaction.
• Provides quality patient care by considering age-specific, developmental, and cultural needs through competent clinical practice.
• Maintains good rapport and cooperative relationships, approaches conflict in a constructive manner, and helps identify problems and solutions.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patients, physicians, employees, and visitors.
• Behaves in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Values of SJMHS.
• Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of coworkers, and reports all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One year of formal education preferred with background in medical terminology, health sciences, EKG class, or pharmacology.
• 12 months of related experience; hospital critical care units preferred.
• Annual BLS certification required.
• Certification by the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians is desired.

Skills

• Interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with patients, anesthesia providers, and other patient care personnel, often during emergency or stressful situations.
• Analytical skills necessary to follow instructions, organize, and prepare anesthesia supplies and procedures, and monitor anesthesia equipment.
• Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail for up to 100% of work time when performing technical tasks, initiating procedures, and anticipating anesthesia provider's needs.
• Ability to lift, bend, push, and pull to move patients and large equipment. Manual dexterity is necessary to grasp, hold firmly, and assemble monitoring equipment.
• Ability to be on feet for prolonged periods of time.
• Mechanical aptitude to operate a large variety of highly technical medical equipment.
• Ability to accept delegation.
• Practices within a spirit of teamwork, as evidenced by professional communication skills with coworkers, assists fellow coworkers when asked, and anticipates coworkers’ and patients’ needs before being asked.
• Physical strength and stamina to weigh up to 15 pounds several hundred feet during a shift.

Schedule

Full-time, evening shift with on-call responsibilities available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.