Anesthesiologist Assistants — Tasks

Task statements

• Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
• Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
• Control anesthesia levels during procedures.
• Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist.
• Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
• Respond to emergency situations by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), or pediatric advanced life support (PALS).
• Collect and document patients' pre-anesthetic health histories.
• Administer blood, blood products, or supportive fluids.
• Verify availability of operating room supplies, medications, and gases.
• Assist anesthesiologists in performing anesthetic procedures, such as epidural or spinal injections.
• Assist in the provision of advanced life support techniques including those procedures using high frequency ventilation or intra-arterial cardiovascular assistance devices.
• Monitor and document patients' progress during post-anesthesia period.
• Collect samples or specimens for diagnostic testing.
• Provide clinical instruction, supervision or training to staff in areas such as anesthesia practices.
• Participate in seminars, workshops, or other professional activities to keep abreast of developments in anesthesiology.
• Assist in the application of monitoring techniques, such as pulmonary artery catheterization, electroencephalographic spectral analysis, echocardiography, or evoked potentials.