Anesthesiologists

Career summary

#No alternate titles

#4/10/19 lh

Anesthesiologists meet with the patient and examine them. They talk with each patient and read the medical chart to find out if the patient has an allergy to medication. They discuss possible risks, listen to patient concerns, and answer questions.

They also talk with other members of the medical team. After consulting with the patient and other doctors, anesthesiologists decide which methods and medicines to use.

Anesthesiologists can administer the drugs a variety of ways including:

• Intravenous (IV) drip
• Local
• Spinal drip
• Caudal drip

During the procedure, anesthesiologists monitor the patient's temperature, pulse, heart, and breathing rates. They watch for reactions to the drugs. If there are problems they change the medication or dosage. When the procedure is over, anesthesiologists decide when the patient goes to the recovery room.

Anesthesiologists record the types and amounts of medicines they give. They also supervise nurses and operating room assistants. These assistants check vital signs and monitor the medications and patients.

Some anesthesiologists teach medical students who are interns or residents. They may also do research in pain management and publish their findings.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Allergists and Immunologists
• Dentists
• Dermatologists
• Family and General Practitioners
• Internists
• Medical Scientists
• Nurse Anesthetists
• Nurse Practitioners
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Pediatricians
• Pharmacists
• Physician Assistants
• Podiatrists
• Surgeons
• Veterinarians

Military careers

• Physicians and Surgeons

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to anesthesiologists.

• Read medical charts.
• Review comments of other physicians.
• Meet with, examine, and interview patients. Order tests or procedures if necessary.
• Discuss and plan sedation with other doctors, nurses, and patients.
• Tell patients and family members what to expect.
• Position patients appropriately on the operating table for the type of procedure.
• Give anesthesia or sedating medicine during medical procedures.
• Monitor equipment during and after the procedure.
• Keep track of the flow of anesthesia and patients' vital signs. Record all activities.
• Speak with patients who are awake.
• Respond to any reactions or complications from anesthesia.
• Take classes to update skills.
• After the procedure, decide when patients are stable enough to be sent home or to another ward of the hospital.
• Schedule use of medical rooms and equipment.
• May teach medical students and other staff members.
• May help with emergencies in the hospital.
• May write and publish articles.

Common work activities

Anesthesiologists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Make decisions and solve problems
• Assist and care for others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Evaluate information against standards
• Analyze data or information
• Document and record information
• Process information
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Control machines and processes
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Teach others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Schedule work and activities
• Perform for or work with the public
• Think creatively
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Use computers
• Handle and move objects
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Develop goals and strategies
• Coach others
• Develop and build teams
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, anesthesiologists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are responsible for the health and safety of patients.
• Have a high level of social interaction with patients, family members, and other medical workers.
• Communicate daily by telephone and in person. They may also use e-mail, but less frequently.
• Work with a team of doctors, nurses, and other medical staff.
• Are responsible for the work done by the anesthesia team.
• Are placed in conflict situations where others might be unpleasant or angry on a weekly basis.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors in hospitals, surgical clinics, and other medical settings.
• Often wear hospital uniforms.
• Always wear protective or safety gear, such as latex gloves and protective glasses.
• Are regularly exposed to diseases, infections, and contaminants in the hospital.
• Are often exposed to radiation. They usually wear special protective gear, such as a lead apron, to protect themselves.
• Are sometimes exposed to sounds and noises that are loud or distracting.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous conditions.
• Work very close to patients, often within inches.

Work performance

• Must be very certain that all details and tasks of the job are completed accurately. Errors can have painful or even fatal consequences for patients.
• Must remain alert to frequent changes in patients' vital signs. Must be alert to unexpected events, such as allergic reactions to anesthetics.
• Make decisions that impact their patients, doctors, and their employer on a daily basis. They may consult with other doctors prior to procedures, but during surgeries anesthesiologists make decisions about patient care without input from others.
• Set their daily tasks and goals for the day without consulting a superior first.
• Work in a competitive, stressful atmosphere where deadlines are firm.
• May repeat the same physical and mental activities.

Hours/travel

• May work any shift, weekends, and holidays.
• May be on-call any hour of the day or night.
• May travel around town to work at surgical centers and hospitals. Anesthesiologists also travel out of town to attend conferences, workshops, and meetings.
• Typically work 40 or more hours per week.
• Usually work an established schedule.

Physical demands

Anesthesiologists frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for anesthesiologists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for anesthesiologists to be able to:

• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.

Skills and abilities

Anesthesiologists need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.
• Use math skills to solve problems.
• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Medicine
• Osteopathic Medicine

Other programs of study to consider

• Advanced Dentistry and Oral Surgery
• Anesthesiologist Assisting
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Pre-Medicine
• Veterinary Medicine

Training

To work as an anesthesiologist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree;
• graduate from medical school;
• complete an internship;
• complete a residency program in anesthesiology; and
• pass additional exams to become board certified.

Education after high school

To become a licensed doctor, you must complete medical school. Medical schools grant a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DOM) degree. You spend the first two years of medical school in classrooms and laboratories. You study anatomy, biochemistry, and medicines. You also learn how to take a medical history, examine patients, and make a diagnosis. During the next two years, you work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of experienced physicians.

Entry into medical school is competitive. You should apply to several schools.

Most students who apply to medical school have a bachelor's degree. A pre-medicine or science major is good preparation. If you earn a liberal arts degree, be sure to take several courses in physics, biology, and chemistry.

On-the-job training

While in medical school, you spend two years working as an intern in a hospital or clinic. As an intern, you rotate through different medical specialties. These include internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, oncology, and other hospital departments.

After medical school, you must complete a four-year residency program in anesthesia. You receive wages while you are a resident. After completing your residency, you take additional exams in anesthesiology to become board certified.

Military training

The military provides advanced training for anesthesiologists. However, it does not provide the initial training to become a doctor. Scholarships for advanced medical training are available in return for a required period of military service.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements . You need a very strong background in math and science to become a doctor. Take as many math and science courses as you can.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Food and Nutrition
• Foreign Language
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers require anesthesiologists to be licensed to practice medicine. They must also have a certificate to work in anesthesiology. Many are hired by the hospital where they work during the residency years. Others begin working in a group practice.

Costs to workers

Anesthesiologists who have borrowed money to pay school expenses have large debt payments for the first few years after graduation. The average debt for medical students who graduated in 2017 was $190,694 with 83% percent owing at least $100,000. Malpractice insurance is expensive.

#http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/medical-student-section/advocacy-policy/medical-student-debt/background.shtml 

#Checked AMA website 2/6/12 - no 2011 student debt figures yet. Updated to mean 2013 graduate debt info from debt factor card at aamc.org 2/4/14, cj. Updated from latest debt fact card & debt info 2/2/16 cj. Updated from new 2017 debt fact card 1/31/18, cj https://members.aamc.org/iweb/upload/2017%20Debt%20Fact%20Card.pdf  

Licensing/certification

Anesthesiologists must be licensed by the State of Washington as either medical or osteopathic doctors. Licensing requirements include:

• a good moral character;
• physical and mental capability to safely perform the duties of a physician;
• completion of a four-year doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine program at an approved medical school;
• one year (osteopathic physician) or two years (medical physician) approved post-graduate training;
• completion of four- (medical physician) or seven- (osteopathic physician) clock hours AIDS education; and
• passing a national written exam.

For more information on the US Medical Licensing Exam, call 215.590.9500 or go to the National Board of Medical Examiners  website.

Osteopathic doctors must complete 150 hours of continuing education every three years and medical doctors must complete 200 hours of continuing education every four years.

Licensing fees vary ranging from $491 (medical physicians) to $391 (osteopathic physicians) for the application. The annual renewal fee for osteopathic physicians is $441 and the biannual renewal fee for medical physicians is $657. The combined fee for an application and state exam for osteopathic practitioners is $516. The licensing and the renewal fees generally include an access fee for health-related online library journals and publications and a Washington physician health program surcharge.

For more information on medical doctors, contact:

Washington Medical Commission 
PO Box 47866
Olympia, WA 98504-7866
360.236.2750

For information on osteopathic doctors, contact:

Washington State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7865
360.236.4700

# 1/31/18, cj.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Anesthesiologists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by years of experience, area of the country, and hours worked. The doctor's skill, personality, and professional reputation also affect wages. Self-employed anesthesiologists generally earn more than those who are not self-employed.

Anesthesiologists usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan. 

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Doctors' offices
• Hospitals
• Federal, state, and local government agencies

National outlook

Much of the demand for anesthesiologists will be the result of a population that is both growing and aging. As the population grows, the number of surgical procedures will increase. In addition, elderly people are more likely than younger people to need surgery.

Other resources

American Academy of Anesthesiologists Assistants 
1231 Collier Road NW
Suite J
Atlanta, GA 30318

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine 
5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301.968.4100

American Medical Association 

American Medical Association - Medical Student Section 

American Osteopathic Association 
142 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
800.621.1773
312.202.8000

American Society of Anesthesiologists 
1061 American Lane
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847.825.5586

Aspiring Docs Website from the American Association of Medical Colleges 

Interview with a Pediatric Anesthesiologist 
BLS Outlook, November 2017

The American Board of Anesthesiology 
4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1500
Raleigh, NC 27609
866.999.7501

The Student Doctor Network 

Washington Osteopathic Medical Association 
PO Box 1187
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
425.677.3930

Washington State Medical Association 
2001 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2700
Seattle, WA 98121
800.552.0612
206.441.9762

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Anesthesiologists (29-1061.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupation

• Anesthesiologist (070.101-010) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Investigative/Realistic/Social
• Investigative/Social/Realistic

COPSystem

• Science Professional