Anesthesiology

ANESTHESIOLOGIST: Anesthesiologists are Doctors of Medicine (MDs) who concentrate on the care of surgical patients and pain relief. Aswith other physicians, they evaluate and treat patients and direct the efforts of those on their staff. Some of the primary responsibilities of an anesthesiologist include examining patients to determine the type of anesthetic needed, communicating all relevant information to the appropriate medical practitioners, and administering local, intravenous, or spinal anesthetic to the patient. Other duties may include recording the type and amount of anesthesia administered, maintaining the patient’s vital life functions (i.e. heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing) through continual monitoring and assessment during surgery, and conferring with other physicians and surgeons to determine the condition of a patient before, during, and after sedation. 

Have you considered?

CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST (CRNA):  CRNAs provide anesthesia in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified healthcare professionals. When anesthesia is administered by a nurse anesthetist, it is recognized as the practice of nursing; when administered by an anesthesiologist, it is recognized as the practice of medicine. Regardless of whether their educational background is in nursing or medicine, all anesthesia professionals give anesthesia the same way. As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. They carry a heavy load of responsibility and are compensated accordingly.   

Individuals interested in becoming an anesthesiologist must complete a premedical program at an accredited college or university. These programs are four years in length and are very rigorous. Students must then pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and get accepted into a school of medicine. This may require a personal interview, additional applications, or further testing.  Upon graduation from an accredited medical school, a student then spends four more years in an anesthesiology residency (there are about 160 anesthesiology medical residency programs in the United States). Some residents take one more year of study, called a fellowship, in a specific area of anesthesiology such as critical care medicine, pain medicine, research, or education. During residency training, anesthesiologists generally work toward obtaining certification from the American Society of Anesthesiologists or the American Board of Anesthesiology.

Education and experience required to become a CRNA include:   A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or another appropriate baccalaureate degree, a current license as a registered nurse, at least one year of experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting, graduation with a minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program and pass the national certification examination following graduation.  In order to be recertified, CRNAs must obtain a minimum of 40 hours of approved continuing education every two years, document substantial anesthesia practice, maintain current state licensure, and certify that they have not developed any conditions that could adversely affect their ability to practice anesthesia. 

Earning Potential Averages For Anesthesiologists: (Jobs.Utah.Gov) 

Earning Potential Averages For Nurse Anesthetists: (Jobs.Utah.Gov)