An Anesthesiologist's job is to care for surgical patients and help them relieve pain. Anesthesiologists work with other physicians and surgeons to help evaluate and treat patients.
Duties and Responsibilities
Anesthesiologists continually must monitor and assess patients' vital life functions. Some of the Anesthesiologist duties include monitoring the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing during surgery and after their surgery. Anesthesiologists work outside of the operating room as well. They provide pain relief during labor and delivery, in the intensive care unit, and for those who suffer from pain on a day to day basis. Another one of the Anesthesiologist duties is talk to other physicians and surgeons about appropriate procedures and treatments for all stages of operations and surgeries.
Work Environment
Anesthesiologists work along with physicians in clinics, and most of them are found in hospitals assisting in surgeries. They also work in dental offices or as assistants to oral surgeons. They are also found in hospital emergency rooms. They are generally sitting at a desk or standing and assisting in surgeries by administering anesthetic to the patient who is undergoing the surgery.
How to become an Anesthesiologist
Educational and Training
To become an anesthesiologist you can take science and biology in both high school and college, as this can help you when making an application. Then you get an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. You must have an interest in medicine to develop Anesthesiologist skills and fully enjoy or learn from Anesthesiologist courses. You may need a pre med degree in science and biology to pursue an Anesthesiologists degree. Some backgrounds and college majors can help you get accepted. Academic strength is would be good to have and is required to succeed in the profession. This is a highly competitive field, and anything that sets a person apart from mediocrity is sought after by many employers.
Then you must take a medical school entrance exam and obtain an Anesthesiologist Degree from an accredited medical school. The length of time it takes to complete a medical degree program is approximately four years. Then apply to a anesthesiology residency program. You will have to learn the Anesthesiologist skills for talking to patients and administering medication, and will be required to practice those Anesthesiologist skills through the duration of the training and career. The requirement is four years of additional training. Specialization can be done through a fellowship of one to three years.
As an anesthesiologist you can become a board certified by taking a comprehensive oral and written exam following your graduation from residency and passing. You also must be licensed by the State in which you are practicing as an anesthesiologist.
Employment Opportunities
Economists employed by the State government expect faster job growth for doctors, including anesthesiologists, through the year 2016. A growing population means that more people will need medical services in the future, leading to more Anesthesiologist opportunities. People are also reaching the age in which they require visiting a doctor more often. The change in different health care coverage and our advanced technology, could limit demand for anesthesiologists. There are more Anesthesiologist opportunities in low income and less populated areas.
How much does an Anesthesiologist make – Anesthesiologist Salary and Wages
The median for the Anesthesiologist salary range was around $300,000 in the year 2009. Members of the upper bracket made well over $400,000 a year, though most of those members being active in the field for quite some time. The lower portion of the Anesthesiologist salary range made around $200,000, which is an approximate starting pay for people entering into the career. Those Anesthesiologists who were able to receive bonuses earned an extra $14,000 or so add to their salaries. Other benefits, including 401k, healthcare, disability, and more also made an impact on the amount of money made in the Anesthesiologist salary range.
Anesthesiologist Resources
American Society of Anesthesiologist