2 answers
chelsea
Student
Moncks Corner, South Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
445 views
If i wanted to work with anesthesia do i have to become an assistant first.
#first-job #physician
Login to comment
2 answers
Raquel Davis
Registered Nurse, premed student
148
Answers
Providence, Rhode Island
Updated
Raquel’s Answer
There's several options for working with anesthesia. At the lowest level you could be an anesthesiologist assistant. Being an anesthesiologist assistant is like being a PA for anesthesiology, you have to have a bachelors degree, then gain experience in the medical fields, and then complete a graduate degree to get licensed as an anesthesiology assistant. You would always be working under a doctor and work in conjunction with them to provide anesthesia and create care plans.
A second option is to become a nurse anesthetist. This will take a similar pathway as becoming an assistant. You need to have an RN degree, and a bachelors degree (your bachelors doesn't necessarily have to be in nursing). Then you need experience working in a hospital, most all programs require 2 years experience in critical care. Then you can start a graduate program for get your masters degree and CRNA license. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesiology and monitor patients before, during, and after surgery much like assistants and anesthesiologists do. Depending on what state you live in CRNA's can work independently or they have to be under a doctor.
Finally, you could be a full fledged anesthesiologist. For this you need a bachelors degree then you have to go to medical school. Getting into medical school takes a lot of work and is very difficult. Once you get in you'll spend four years in school and will have a medical degree. Then you'll need 4 years of residency to become an independent practicing anesthesiologist. They perform the same duties as the other two along with supervising anesthesiology assistants and (depending on state) CRNAs.
So to answer your specific question, no, you don't have to first be an anesthesiology assistant.
A second option is to become a nurse anesthetist. This will take a similar pathway as becoming an assistant. You need to have an RN degree, and a bachelors degree (your bachelors doesn't necessarily have to be in nursing). Then you need experience working in a hospital, most all programs require 2 years experience in critical care. Then you can start a graduate program for get your masters degree and CRNA license. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesiology and monitor patients before, during, and after surgery much like assistants and anesthesiologists do. Depending on what state you live in CRNA's can work independently or they have to be under a doctor.
Finally, you could be a full fledged anesthesiologist. For this you need a bachelors degree then you have to go to medical school. Getting into medical school takes a lot of work and is very difficult. Once you get in you'll spend four years in school and will have a medical degree. Then you'll need 4 years of residency to become an independent practicing anesthesiologist. They perform the same duties as the other two along with supervising anesthesiology assistants and (depending on state) CRNAs.
So to answer your specific question, no, you don't have to first be an anesthesiology assistant.
Dianne Flynn
Project Manager
14
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Dianne’s Answer
You would need to get your undergrad degree and go to medical school and then do a residency.