Getting an anesthesiologist education opens up several job opportunities in the anesthesiology field. Anesthesiologists administer intravenous, inhaled, and other forms of anesthesia to patients to put them to sleep or numb areas during surgery and other medical procedures. They may also monitor a patient's vital signs during surgery, adjust anesthesia levels, and work with other doctors and health care professionals to monitor a patient's recovery after surgery. Though most doctors with an anesthesiologist education perform similar duties, where they work and what other types of doctors and nurses they work with can have a large impact on the type of job they do.
Doctors who wish to pursue a career in anesthesiology in the United States must go through an additional four years of training and education after they receive their medical degree to prepare them for work as an anesthesiologist. These doctors then typically work a residency at a hospital or other surgical facility to finish their education and get on-the-job experience. After their residency, doctors with an anesthesiologist education can find jobs in hospitals, outpatient surgical facilities, or specialty surgical centers, such as orthopedic centers or cosmetic surgery facilities.
General hospitals employ anesthesiologists for routine and emergency surgical procedures. Some doctors with an anesthesiologist education work with specialized surgeons, such as neurosurgeons or cardiac surgeons, administering anesthesia and other medications for patients undergoing surgery on specific body parts. Others work with general surgeons and monitor patients undergoing many different types of surgeries. Hospital emergency rooms typically employ anesthesiologists assigned to work only in the emergency department. These doctors help surgeons with emergency procedures, and may be on call in case a patient who needs emergency intervention arrives at the hospital.
Specialty hospitals usually employ several anesthesiologists to handle routine surgeries. These hospitals generally specialize in a particular type of care. Outpatient surgical centers work with patients with many different conditions that require invasive procedures, and employ anesthesiologists to assist surgeons and nurses before, during, and after the procedure. Some doctors' offices also hire anesthesiologists to consult with patients before a surgical procedure or to handle general and local anesthesia for in-office procedures.
Doctors with an anesthesiologist education who wish to seek employment in another field often end up teaching at colleges and universities. These positions normally require the anesthesiologist to have several years' experience in patient care. Other doctors go on to work for associations that grant anesthesiologist credentials and provide opportunities for continuing education, such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists.