In our most recent blog, we brought you results of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates survey revealing that 16 of the top 30 highest paying jobs in America are in the medical field. Topping that list are anesthesiologists, those who specialize in the use of drugs or other agents that afford patients an insensibility to pain. This can include placing patients in a state of controlled unconsciousness (general anesthesia); numbing a portion of the body (regional anesthetics) or administering sedation to help relieve patient’s pain or anxiety. Anesthesiologists command a median annual pay of $246,320.
Here are three anesthesiology jobs to consider:
- Physician Anesthesiologist: Physician anesthesiologists specialize in anesthesiology and have significantly longer and more extensive training than do other anesthesia. They carefully assess the patient’s state of health and planned surgical procedure to develop the safest anesthesia plan. They also monitor the patient as the effects of anesthesia wear off and often help manage acute postoperative pain. Their education and training includes four years of undergraduate courses that satisfy pre-med requirements followed by four years of medical school and a four-year anesthesiology residency program. Many go on to complete additional fellowships offering training in specialties such as as pain management, cardiac anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, obstetric anesthesia or critical care medicine. Graduates then are eligible to take the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) exam for board certification and may also undergo additional training and testing for certification in subspecialties critical care medicine, hospice and palliative medicine or pain medicine.
- Anesthesiology Assistant: These professionals work only under the direction of licensed physician anesthesiologists to implement anesthesia care plans. They must complete four years of undergraduate pre-med study and complete an accredited anesthesiologist assistant education program before becoming certified via the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants examination (NCCAA). Commonly called AAs, they are trained extensively in the safe delivery of anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques
- Nurse Anesthetist: Nurse anesthetists are registered nurses who specialize in providing anesthesia administration and care in surgical cases. They often are supervised by a physician anesthesiologist, but may also work under the supervision of other physicians. They must have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree (though not necessarily a nursing degree), plus two to three years of additional study in an accredited nurse anesthesia training program before undergoing a certification exam.
If you’re interested in anesthesiology, you’ll be happy to know that this medical field is projected to grow 18 percent by 2022. Make sure you’re prepared by enrolling at St. Augustine, Florida’s WOLFPACC. Call 904-209-3140 to learn about our revolutionary approach to preparing students for success in medical school.
