Anesthesia Technician

Work is performed in the Anesthesia Services where staff provide anesthesia for elective and emergency surgery, obstetric and medical procedures as required in patients of all age groups from new born to the very elderly. The primary work area includes major and minor operating room plus the Anaesthesia work room. 

Assists Anesthetist in OR, delivery suite, and in the Radiology Department for special procedures and in other areas where Anaesthesia or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation is required. 

Works with a wide variety of equipment peculiar to administration of anesthesia, patient monitoring and related life support systems and must be familiar with intravenous fluids plus fluid and blood administration systems. The position is closely supervised.

Adheres to professional ethics and medical by-laws of the kingdom.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures through his actions, either directly or indirectly, that a superior quality of medical treatment, compassion and understanding is given to every patient served at the NMC Hospitals and Clinics.

Assists in all anesthesia procedures according to policy.

Audits the anesthetic equipment and materials to ensure that they are working

     effectively and reports deficiencies immediately to the Anesthesiologist.

Reports faults in equipment or deficient supplies to the head of department or designate.

Interacts with other departments regarding non-clinical request i.e. inventory,

maintenance and biomedical.

Prepares purchase requests for the department.

Must abide by department policies and procedures as well as hospital by-laws, rules and regulations within the Quality Program.

Assists Anesthetist with assembling in the O.R. or where required, supplies and equipment for administration of anesthesia and patient monitoring for elective and emergency surgery.

Assists during induction of anesthesia and tracheal incubation as well as during maintenance of and recovery from anesthesia.

Understands sequence of procedures required for rapid induction and incubation used in emergency cases to prevent vomiting and aspiration. Performs Sellick’s Maneuver (Cricoid Pressure) as required.

Positions patients for surgery and those requiring spinal or epidural anesthesia with awareness of requirement of a sterile field sterile technique for the procedure.

Draws blood via an arterial line as per written procedure or by direct venipuncture for blood gases or chemistry.

Between cases removes soiled material from Anaesthesia Machine and Anaesthesia Cart and replaces same with clean or sterile material as required.

Maintains Anaesthesia Machine in state of readiness by keeping adequate fresh supplies available.

Changes soda lime and compressed gas cylinder as required.

Replaces EKG electrodes, breathing circuits and suction apparatus after each case.

Learns and keeps current with the names of equipment, supplies and pharmacological agents and is familiar with location of same.

Assists Anesthetist with starting I.V. infusion.

Cleans at end of day individual anesthesia carts and anesthesia work room and ensures that work room is left neat and well organized for the following day.

Understands procedures used and assists with C.P.R. in the O.R.

Receives delivery of supplies and pharmaceuticals and stores them in proper location.

Performs general cleaning of anesthesia machine, monitoring equipment and storage spaces.

Checks anesthesia machine every morning prior to surgery to ensure that the gas

Scavenging system is attached and the suction apparatus is attached and functioning.

Attaches monitoring devises such as EKG electrodes, B.P. cuff and temperature probe to patient prior to anesthesia.

Washes and sterilizes re-usable material.

Shares “on-call” rotation to provide assistance for emergency surgeries during other than normal working hours, i.e. nights, week ends, and holidays.

Knows how to set-up, calibrate and operate all anesthesia equipment and monitors.

Maintains awareness of safety hazards and takes necessary action to prevent accidents.

Attends monthly staff meetings and daily morning communication  meeting

Attends Annual Infection Control In-Service.

Maintains confidentiality of patient records and activities in the O.R.

Participates in fire and disaster plan drills.

Answers phone and relays messages.

Complies with hospital dress code.

Performs other applicable tasks and duties assigned within the realm of the employee’s knowledge, skills and abilities.

Reporting to

Chief Anesthesia Technician