Your decision to become an anesthesiologist assistant may depend on your personal and professional career goals. Understanding the field of anesthesiology, which involves total patient care to relieve pain from the beginning to the end of a surgical procedure, may help to clarify your decision. By exploring available career paths and income potential, you might have the foundation in choosing to become an anesthesiologist assistant. Ultimately, your final decision may rest on how well the demands of the career align with what you want to accomplish.
A person who becomes an anesthesiologist assistant has an opportunity to work in the medical field and have direct involvement with patient care. Working alongside the anesthesiologist, this position will typically perform various duties related to preparing a patient for surgery, as well as post-operative care. Daily work activities may also include performing physical examinations and monitoring the condition of a patient who receives anesthesia before surgery.
If you become an anesthesiologist assistant, you will probably work in a medical facility that has a surgical unit. Most commonly, you might work in a hospital’s surgery department. Additionally, you might find a position with a facility that performs outpatient surgeries.
As the majority of your duties may place you in direct contact with patients, you might want to examine your people skills. To become successful in this position, you may need to have a personal commitment to providing what the patient needs during a delicate time. If you are the type of person who enjoys helping others, perhaps becoming an anesthesiologist assistant is a good career choice.
A commitment to patient care may automatically translate into completing the required academic studies to become an anesthesiologist assistant. The requirements may vary depending on where you live. You might check local colleges or universities as well as certification requirements in your area. In general, you may need to have an undergraduate degree in biology or some type of program that prepares you for advanced medical training. Beyond undergraduate work, you may also need postgraduate courses in anesthesiology.
The time you dedicate to becoming an anesthesiologist assistant may not fit long-term goals when compared with similar career options. For example, it may take up to six years or longer to become an anesthesiologist assistant. During the same time, you could also obtain an undergraduate degree as a registered nurse, enroll in a certification program and pass a test to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). The duties of an anesthesiologist assistant and a CRNA are very similar, but the income potential for a CRNA is slightly higher in most areas.
