Anesthesiologist Background

Anesthesiologists are often more than just the technician who renders someone unconscious for surgery. An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who is the advocate for a patient during surgery, and who administers treatment based on an intimate knowledge of the patient's history.

Anesthesiologist Assistant

An anesthesiologist assistant is a professional who works under the oversight of an anesthesiologist and performs many tasks that help their physician do their job.  Presently, the position is not recognized in many states, and the main tasks of anesthesiologist assistants are usually administered by registered nurses.

Anesthesiologist Salary

An anesthesiologist salary is generally very high, even by the standards of specialized medical doctors.  This is because they keep patients suspended between life and death, and are responsible for maintaining stability during surgery.  An anesthesiologist assistant salary is generally much lower and less consistent due to being a still uncommon position.

Anesthesia Technician

An anesthesia technician is often charges with performing many of the precise mechanical and diagnostic procedures involved in the application of anesthesia.  Unlike anesthesiologist's nurses or assistants, anesthesia technicians comparatively require very little training and only basic certification.

American Society of Anesthesiologists

The American Society of Anesthesiologists is a professional organization of anesthesiologists who are devoted to improving the level of patient care and the professional standards of professional anesthesiologists.  The ASA publishes a number of important materials read throughout the discipline, including many anesthesia books and the academic journal Anesthesiology.

Anesthesia and Nurses

Anesthesia and nurses have varying relationships and levels of involvement.  Nearly any nurse who works around anesthesia must be registered nurses and have attended nurse anesthesia programs for their education.  Very specialized RNs are certified registered nurse anesthetists, whose level of traning make them viable replacements for anesthesiologists.

How to Become an Anesthesiologist

It is a long road to become an anesthesiologist. Aspiring anesthesiologists often require at least twelve years of education, first as an undergraduate in Pre Med, then four years of medical school, and later a four or five year period of medical residency prior to a certification in anesthesiology.