Anesthetic technician

Anaesthetic technicians use infusion pumps to deliver medications.

Drug ampoules contain small amounts of medications.

An anaesthetic technician (British English) or anesthesia technician (US English) is an allied healthcare worker with extensive knowledge of anaesthesia instruments, supplies, and technology.

Anaesthetic technicians are mainly employed by anaesthetic departments or operating theatre suites, but can be found in other areas of clinical practice including emergency departments, intensive care units (ICU) and day surgery clinics.

Job description

Anaesthetic technicians are involved with all aspects of the delivery of a patient's perioperative anaesthetic care, taking into account the patients' religious and cultural beliefs and respecting their right to medical privacy and dignity at all times.

Prior to anaesthesia

Anaesthetic technicians prepare equipment needed for the patient to safely undergo anaesthesia. This involves:

• checking and setting up the anaesthetic machine
• preparing intravenous drugs
• preparing intravenous therapy administration equipment
• preparing a range of devices to maintain the patient's airway (e.g. laryngeal masks, endotracheal tube)
• communicating with the patient when they arrive into the operating theatre, verifying the pre-operative checklist for allergies, informed consent and past medical history.
• applying anaesthetic monitoring to help assess the patients' condition whilst under anaesthesia. This may include electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure and oxygen saturation devices. The monitoring of other parameters such as anaesthesia depth monitors (EEG, bispectral index etc.) may also be necessary.

During anaesthesia

The anaesthetic technicians role includes assisting with:

• inducing and maintaining adequate anaesthesia
• establishing and securing an airway
• making sure that patients are positioned in such a way NOT to cause discomfort during their procedure
• monitoring patients' vital signs and anaesthesia depth
• temperature monitoring and regulation
• collection and analysis of patient (blood) samples
• acquiring transfusion fluids and equipment

After anaesthesia

Anaesthetic technicians assist the anaesthetist with:

• waking the patient
• removing airway devices
• transferring the patient to the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
• handing over patient information to the PACU staff

Other activities

Regional variations exist, but anaesthetic technicians may also be involved with:

• Intra-operative intra-aortic balloon pump setup, operating and monitoring
• Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter insertion and monitoring
• Intra-operative blood salvage setup, operating and monitoring
• Arterial blood gas analysis, including maintenance of analysers
• Arterial line insertion and monitoring
• Peripheral IV line insertion
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Central IV lines
• TEG Sampling

Anaesthetic Technicians in New Zealand

Anaesthetic Technicians work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses and support workers. The New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians Society currently hold a voluntary register of members.

Registration

Anaesthetic technicians have been accepted as needing registration as a profession under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 . This group are in the final stages of sourcing a regulatory body. Regulation is an important step in the future growth of this group within New Zealand healthcare and will mirror recent changes within the United Kingdom NHS regarding similarly trained personnel obtaining registration with the Health Professions Council.

Qualification

After a recent review and restructuring of the existing qualification for anaesthetic technicians in New Zealand, a Diploma of Applied Science (Anaesthetic Technology) is now the national base qualification. This is studied for through Auckland University of Technology. Other (international) qualifications may also be acceptable for working as an Anaesthetic Technician in New Zealand.

The amount of practical clinical hours required are laid out by the Australia & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, professional document PS8.

Anaesthetic Technicians in Australia

Registration

Currently, there is no compulsory regulatory body that exists in Australia to standardise the qualification necessary to work as an Assistant in Anaesthesia. The Australasian Society of Paramedical Officers (ASAPO) was hence created to try and standardise the profession by way of a voluntary registration process. Members are currently working toward and lobbying both levels of government for a compulsory registration process, to be regulated by an official government body.

Health training package

There is currently a review underway for the health technicians training package. This training package includes national qualifications for health technicians and is still in the preliminary stage of review.

Qualification

• Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) - Integrated Care Management New South Wales
• Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) - Southbank Institute of Technology Queensland
• The recognised minimum qualifications in Western Australia

Anesthesia Technicians in the United States

In the United States, the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians (ASATT), acknowledges the scope of practice for the anaesthesia technical personnel. The commitment of ASATT is to ensure that efficient, safe, competent, and ethical practices are provided to society and maintaining professional standards of practice. ASATT acknowledges that the anaesthesia technical personnel are a part of the anaesthesia care team as listed in the practice guidelines of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

Certified Anesthesia Technician

Further information: Certified Anesthesia Technician

Certified Anesthesia Technologist

Further information: Certified Anesthesia Technologist

Associate & Bachelors Programs

• City College (Florida) [1]
• Grossmont College [2]
• Milwaukee Area Technical College [3]
• North Seattle Community College - Online[4]
• Renton Technical College [5]
• Sanford-Brown Institute - Houston [6]
• Sanford-Brown Institute - Iselin [7]
• Sanford-Brown Institute - Pittsburgh [8]
• Sanford-Brown College - St. Peters [9]
• Stony Brook University [10]

See also

• Clinical officer anaesthetists