Medicine offers diverse and rewarding opportunities, particularly for those aspiring to become anesthesiologists. Anesthesiology is a specialized branch focused on safely administering anesthesia during surgeries and other medical procedures, ensuring patient comfort and safety. This career path requires strong medical knowledge and the ability to make critical decisions in high-stakes situations. Anesthesiologists play a pivotal role in healthcare teams, collaborating with surgeons, nurses, and other specialists to optimize patient care. The profession provides opportunities for growth, leadership, and specialization in pain management, critical care, and research, making it an intellectually stimulating and fulfilling medical career.
What does a career in anesthesiology entail?
Anesthesiologists work with patients to keep them unconscious during various surgical operations. Anesthesiologists choose the appropriate dosage of medication based on the patient's age and weight. They then stay with the patient during surgery to ensure everything goes smoothly. To become an anesthesiologist, medical professionals must complete a four-year program, take the MCAT, finish medical school, and work as a resident. Several anesthesiology jobs outside of medicine don't require the same rigorous training. Think about working as an assistant or researcher if you wish to help anesthesiologists in your career.
Seven Careers in Anesthesiology with High Job Growth
Nurse anesthetist (national average salary: $199,423 per year)
Nurse anesthetists are registered nurses who work with anesthesiologists to help keep patients sedated during surgery. Working as a nurse anesthetist requires completing a nursing program at an accredited university and then going through a training program that concludes with an examination. Once qualified to work as a nurse anesthetist, you may spend most of your time working with anesthesiologists and surgeons who require you to prepare patients for surgery.
Medical assistant (national average salary: $36,584 per year)
Medical assistants help doctors and nurses with various healthcare-related tasks. They work in hospitals and other medical environments and assist coworkers who need help with any of their responsibilities. Medical assistants typically work under a doctor who directs their activity and supervises them whenever they work with a patient. A medical degree is not required.
Surgical coordinator (national average salary: $57,147 per year)
Surgical coordinators work with doctors and other hospital staff to plan surgical operations. Surgical coordinators are not medical professionals, but they work closely with various medical staff because they coordinate when the surgical theaters are available. They also perform administrative tasks, like working with insurance companies and meeting with hospital advisors. Surgical coordinators work more with the business side of a hospital rather than the medical, but they still work closely with anesthesiologists during surgery preparation.
Anesthesia technician (national average salary: $51,844 per year)
Anesthesia technicians work with anesthesiologists to coordinate patients' sedation before and during surgery. They work with the machinery that manages the flow of medication and perform technical inspections to ensure they're operating correctly. Anesthesia technicians may also work with anesthesiologists as consultants if the doctor has questions about the machinery or isn't sure what the correct machine to use for surgery might be. They typically work in hospitals, but some anesthesia technicians work for companies that create machines and come to various medical facilities that need technical assistance.
Surgical assistant (national average salary: $73,043 per year)
Surgical assistants are medical professionals who assist in surgical environments. Surgical assistants may have professional training as nurses or doctors and work closely with other medical professionals. Surgical assistants provide aid during surgery and help surgeons and anesthesiologists manage their duties by staying in the room during the procedure. They may also assist directly in the surgery if the operating physician needs an extra pair of hands.
Surgical manager (national average salary: $117,370 per year)
Surgical managers are administrative professionals who coordinate and organize the various tasks before performing surgery on a patient. They work closely with surgeons and other medical professionals who operate on patients to find times when they can work and when the operating facilities will be clean and ready. They coordinate the schedules of the doctors and nurses participating in these operations to ensure adequate staff is present for the patient's needs.
Anesthesiologist (national average salary: $370,454 per year)
Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who supervise patients during surgery to ensure that they remain unconscious throughout their procedure. They meet with patients before they undergo surgery and make calculations based on the patient's height, weight, medical history, and other factors to determine how much medication they will need to stay sedated during the operation.
Learning about an anesthesiologist's responsibilities might be a good way to decide if this career path fits your goals. Your salary as an anesthesiologist can depend on factors like where you work and your experience level. If you live in a rural area, you may receive lower pay than doctors in crowded areas like cities. You may earn a higher salary than your peers if you have multiple years of experience as an anesthesiologist.
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Thanks for reading!
- Mahima Bhat
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