Anesthesia Technical Assistant

Anesthesia Technical Assistant

Under direct supervision of the Anesthesiologist and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), sets up, troubleshoots, and provides general maintenance on all anesthesia equipment.

Essential Responsibilities:

• On a daily basis and in accordance with department standards, maintains and services all electronic and mechanical equipment used by Anesthesia Department personnel.
• Sets-up transducers, calibrates and zeros monitors.
• Assembles pediatric and adult ventilator circuits.
• Prepares procedural equipment such as the CVP, arterial line, Swan-Ganz, and routine intravenous lines.
• Operates, calibrates, and performs routine maintenance on a variety of technical equipment used in the operating room, such as the Drager and/or Narkomed anesthesia machines, HP Monitors, pulse oximeter and rapid infusion/transfusion systems.
• Identifies malfunctioning equipment, troubleshoots equipment problems, and refers more serious equipment problems to appropriate technical repair personnel when there are no established guidelines.
• Assists in the establishment and maintenance of a regular schedule of preventive maintenance and calibration of monitors utilized in the administration of anesthesia, including the BP physiological monitors, Datascope, Propac monitor, and Nellcor pulse oximeters.
• Assists in positioning and supporting patients for regional anesthesia procedures such as spinal and epidurals.
• Supports the Anesthesia Provider during insertion of arterial catheter lines and internal jugular catheters.
• Applies monitoring devices to the patient and operates all common physiological monitors (Datex, pulse oximeter, CO2 monitor, BP monitors cuffs).
• Removes and disposes of all relevant supplies and equipment following use, exchanging soiled for clean parts between cases and restocking room carts with supplies and drugs.
• Assists in monitoring and ordering supplies for the department.
• Maintains an inventory in the main anesthesia workroom.
• Orders from the pharmacy and stocks all non scheduled drugs.
• Cleans and decontaminates equipment per Sterile Processing Department protocols.
• This includes the disassembly of equipment and sterilization in accordance to the Center for Disease Control guidelines, to prevent the spread of infectious and contagious diseases.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Basic Qualifications:

• Experience: N/A
• Education: High School Diploma/GED.
• License, Certification, Registration: Basic Life Support

Additional Requirements:

• Hospital experience with an understanding of the function and operation of various kinds of anesthesia equipment.
• Working knowledge of Anesthesia department operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic instruments and treatment procedures commonly used in the administration of anesthesia.
• Demonstrated understanding of basic anatomy.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other incumbents of the organization.
• Must possess an understanding of aseptic and infection control.
• Must be willing to work in a Labor Management Partnership environment.
• Also refer to Position Specifications outlined in the appropriate collective bargaining agreement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• American Society of Anesthesia Technologist and Technicians, preferred.