Anaesthetic Technician
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An Anaesthetic Technician is an allied healthcare worker who performs a patient care role predominantly assisting with the administration and monitoring of anaesthesia and has an extensive knowledge of anaesthesia techniques, instruments, supplies and technology.
Anaesthetic technicians are mainly employed by anaesthetic departments or operating theatre suites, but can be found in other areas of clinical practice including emergency departments, intensive care units (ICU) and day surgery clinics.
Role description
Anaesthetic technicians are involved with all aspects of the delivery of a patient's perioperative anaesthetic care,[1] taking into account the patients' religious and cultural beliefs and respecting their right to medical privacy and dignity at all times. Anaesthetic Technicians also provide a key role in the emergency resuscitation of patients.
Prior to Anaesthesia
Anaesthetic technicians prepare equipment needed for the patient to safely undergo anaesthesia. This involves:
- checking and setting up the anaesthetic machine
- preparing intravenous drugs
- preparing intravenous therapy administration equipment
- preparing a range of devices to maintain the patient's airway (e.g. laryngeal masks, endotracheal tube)
- communicating with the patient when they arrive in the operating theatre
- establishing peripheral intravenous access.
- applying anaesthetic monitoring to help assess the patients' condition whilst under anaesthesia. This may include electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure and oxygen saturation devices. The monitoring of other parameters such as anaesthesia depth monitors (EEG, bispectral index etc.) may also be necessary.
During Anaesthesia
The Anaesthetic technicians role includes assisting with:
- inducing and maintaining adequate anaesthesia.
- establishing and securing an airway.
- making sure that patients are positioned in such a way as NOT to cause discomfort or injury during their procedure.
- monitoring and maintaining patients' vital signs and anaesthesia depth.
- temperature monitoring and regulation.
- collection and analysis of patient (blood) samples.
- acquiring and administering transfusion fluids and equipment.
After Anaesthesia
Anaesthetic technicians assist the anaesthetist with:
- waking the patient.
- removing airway devices.
- transferring patients to post-operative care units
Other activities
Regional variations exist, but anaesthetic technicians may also be involved with:
- Airway establishment & management.
- Intra-operative intra-aortic balloon pump setup, operating and monitoring.
- Elective & Emergency Blood Management.
- Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter insertion and monitoring.
- Intra-operative blood salvage setup, operating and monitoring.
- Drawing of blood Samples.
- Arterial blood gas analysis, including maintenance of analysers.
- Arterial line insertion and monitoring.
- Peripheral IV line insertion.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Central IV lines.
- TEG Sampling.
- Point of Care Analysis.
Registered Anaesthetic Technicians in New Zealand
Anaesthetic Technicians work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses and support workers. The New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians Society are a body that provides education and support for Anaesthetic Technicians.
Registration
Anaesthetic Technicians are now covered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.[2] New Zealand based Anaesthetic assistants must now be registered by law with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand (formerly the Medical Laboratory Sciences Board).
In order to practice, members must obtain an Annual Practising Certificate from the Medical Sciences Council.
Qualification
In New Zealand, a Diploma of Applied Science (Anaesthetic Technology)[3] is the national qualification. This is studied for through Auckland University of Technology. Other (international) qualifications may also be acceptable for working as an Anaesthetic Technician in New Zealand.
The amount of practical clinical hours required are laid out by the Australia & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, professional document PS8.[4]
Anaesthetic Technicians in Australia
Registration
Anaesthetic Technicians in Australia are provided with voluntary registration of their National Body the Australian Anaesthesia Allied Health Practitioners AAAHP.[5] The AAAHP is currently working with the Australian government to introduce Mandatory Regulation. Minimum requirements for Voluntary Registration is completion of the nationally accredited Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) or in Western Australia and some hospitals in Victoria Certificate IV in Anaesthetic Technology. Currently in Australia Anaesthesia Technicians are covered by the code of conduct for unregistered health professionals, http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/phact/Documents/coc-unregistered-practitioners.pdf .
Health training package
Nationally recognised Diploma in Paramedical Science (Anaethesia) and in Western Australia and some hospitals in Victoria Certificate IV in Anaesthetic Technology....
Qualification
- Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) - Tafe Queensland Brisbane Queensland www.tafebrisbane.edu.au
- Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) - Box Hill Institute
- The recognised minimum qualifications in Western Australia is the Certificate IV in Anaesthetic Technology, but this is being phased out as they move towards the Diploma.[clarification needed][6]
See also
References
- ↑ NZATS Scope of Practice
- ↑ Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003), New Zealand Government
- ↑ Diploma of Applied Sciences (Anaesthetic Technology)
- ↑ ANZCA Professional Document - PS8 Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Register with AAAHP". Australian Anaesthesia Allied Health Practitioners. Retrieved 30 Sep 2020.
- ↑ WA Qualifications Archived March 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
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