As our Anesthesia Technician, you will provide critical support in the safe and efficient administration of anesthesia, assisting providers with equipment and supplies for diverse surgical and non-surgical cases.
Every day, you will prepare and maintain anesthesia equipment, supplies, and medications before, during, and after cases. This includes performing complex procedures under direction (e.g., setting up and assisting with line placement, intubation, extubation), managing supply inventory, room turnover, and patient positioning/transport.
To be successful in this vital role, you will demonstrate a thorough understanding of anesthesia equipment and sterile techniques, possess meticulous attention to detail, and exhibit excellent communication and teamwork in a fast-paced environment.
- Assists in the acquisition, preparation, calibration and verification of equipment functionality required before, during and after the administration of anesthesia using Standard Precautions, and applying infection control principles in a correct and consistent manner.
- Maintains department equipment by evaluating performance and inspecting for defects.
- Sets up, calibrates and verifies function of anesthesia machines, invasive/non-invasive hemodynamic monitors, emergency airway equipment and other department equipment used in the provision of anesthesia.
- Prepares anesthetic and monitoring equipment and accessories, including ventilator components, tubes, nasal air ways, suction catheters, stethoscopes, face masks, breathing circuits and anesthesia bags.
- Disassembles and decontaminates equipment after use in accordance with hospital policy and manufacturers’ instructions for use.
- Troubleshoots malfunctioning anesthesia equipment, routing non-functional equipment to the proper department for repair.
- Performs hand hygiene and uses personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with hospital standards.
- Under the direction of the anesthesia provider and/or RN, assists with patient care, and invasive/non-invasive patient procedures, using aseptic or sterile technique.
- Anticipates and proactively plans, based on knowledge of established procedure, for the licensed anesthesia provider’s equipment and supply needs (including artificial airways, invasive lines, spinal- and/or regional anesthesia procedures) for the patient to safely undergo anesthesia.
- Prepares for the licensed anesthesia provider’s sterile procedures, including instrument set-up, clean up and turnover in preparation for the next case.
- Performs anesthetic monitoring to help access the patients’ condition while under anesthesia, which may include: electrocardiography (ECG); blood pressure and oxygen saturation devices; monitoring of other parameters such as anesthesia depth monitors (EEG, bispectral index, etc.) and EtCO2 as necessary.
- Connects and operates invasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment (e.g. arterial pressure monitors) anesthesia machines, ventilators, intubation bronchoscopes and ultrasonic scanning devices under the direction of the licensed anesthesia provider.
- Assists anesthesia providers with physiological monitoring of patients; notifies anesthesia provider(s) and/or RN of abnormal changes in vital signs and/or physical appearance of the patient.
- Assists licensed anesthesia providers in airway management techniques, including mask, endotracheal and/or emergency methods.
- Assists with transports of invasively-monitored patients to and from the OR and ICU’s.
- Stocks anesthesia supplies in all anesthetizing locations including bronchoscopy carts, pediatric carts, fiber-optic carts, emergency airway bags and any other anesthesia supply location.
- Follows the guidelines of regulatory bodies (e.g. Washington State Department of Health (DOH), The Joint Commission (TJC), etc.) for the Environment of Care.
- Maintains sterile supplies within the expiration date.
- Inventories, orders and maintains departmental supply stock consistent with departmental demand.
- Maintains current awareness of the location of applicable supplies, and obtains and/or stocks appropriately.
- Accesses safety data sheets (SDS) of hazardous materials and latex allergy items for all supplies used in anesthetizing location as necessary.
- Performs some point-of-contact clinical laboratory services; and keeps records of results as defined by regulatory standards.
- Collects and processes patient laboratory tests and results including, but not limited to, Arterial Blood Gases (ABG), Activated Coagulation Time (ACT) and other point of care tests, as directed.
- Prints out hemo-dynamic data collection including pressure gradient recordings and cardiac outputs.
- Cultural Sensitivity and Competence: Demonstrates proper use of communication tools/materials for effective communication and understands how the culture(s) of patient populations can affect communication, collaboration and the provision of care, treatment and services. Patient Population Served: Demonstrates knowledge and proper skills associated with the department’s defined specific populations served.
