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What does an Anesthesiologist Assistant do?

Deanna Baranyi
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 19,984
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An anesthesiologist assistant is a health care professional who works under the supervision of an anesthesiologist, primarily assisting him while he prepares a patient for anesthesia. The job responsibilities of an anesthesiologist assistant vary according to the setting and the place. For example, some hospitals may have stricter guidelines on what an anesthesiologist assistant can do.

Although an anesthesiologist assistant may take part in the pre-anesthetic evaluation, it is not something they normally participate in. Usually, she will help the anesthesiologist review the data as the medical staff presents it. Sometimes, she can assist the anesthesiologist in maintaining anesthesia during surgery and monitory the status of the patient while surgery is going on.

Calibrating and testing the equipment that delivers and monitors anesthesia is a common duty of the anesthesiologist assistant. In addition, she may be responsible for inserting an IV or a catheter or conducting a basic physical examination of a patient. If drugs are needed prior to inducing anesthesia, she will be in charge of administering such drugs to the patient.

After the patient is out of surgery, the work of the anesthesiologist assistant is not over. She may be responsible for ensuring that the patient has a safe and uneventful transition from the operating room to the room designated for recovery. Sometimes she may be directed to attend to a patient’s needs in the pain unit or the intensive care unit of a hospital. Lastly, various administrative affairs, research projects, and clinical classes, may be among her duties.

Usually, both the anesthesiologist and the anesthesiologist assistant are present at the beginning of a patient’s case. Then, they continue on and are present at each major stage and at every change of the status of the patient. Being able to follow a patient through surgery and recovery is beneficial, in that the individual aspects of a case become well-known and proper care can be given. It is a job that requires skill, knowledge, and the ability to work under pressure.

It must be noted that, even though a career as an anesthesiologist assistant sound interesting, it may not be possible. Not every state in the United States allows for anesthesiologist assistants in the workforce. In many cases, it is up to the state legislature to pass laws creating positions for anesthesiologist assistants. In addition, in many countries, there is not a position for anesthesiologist assistants either. The jobs performed by anesthesiologist assistants are performed by registered nurses instead.

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Deanna Baranyi
By Deanna Baranyi
Deanna Baranyi, a freelance writer and editor with a passion for the written word, brings a diverse skill set to her work. With degrees in relevant fields and a keen ability to understand and connect with target audiences, she crafts compelling copy, articles, and content that inform and engage readers.

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Discussion Comments
By candyquilt — On Sep 15, 2012

@simrin-- No they're not the same. As far as I know, an anesthesiologist assistant does not have to be supervised by anyone to give anesthesia, but a nurse anesthetist does.

It's not that hard to be an anesthesiologist assistant. My friend is one and she studied in a medical program for four years and then did her masters in an anesthesiology program.

By SteamLouis — On Sep 15, 2012

Can someone tell me what is the difference between an anesthesiologist assistant and a registered nurse anesthetist?

Don't they essentially do the same thing?

And what do anesthesiologist assistants get a degree in?

By ddljohn — On Sep 14, 2012

I was going to ask, since when there are anesthesiologist assistants?

My wife is a retired anesthesiologist and during her time, there was no anesthesiologist assistant, just the anesthesiologist. Like the article said, if she needed assistance, it was taken care of by the registered nurse.

I'm suspecting that that's still the case for the most part in most states.

By hlawandow — On Jun 29, 2009

What are the states that do not allow anesthesiologist assistants in the workforce?

Deanna Baranyi
Deanna Baranyi
Deanna Baranyi, a freelance writer and editor with a passion for the written word, brings a diverse skill set to her...
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