Anesthesiologists are physicians who focus on surgical patients and pain relief. They administer anesthetics, which are medicines to prevent patients from feeling pain and sensations; closely monitor patients’ vital signs during surgery and adjust anesthetics accordingly; monitor patients through the first recovery stages after an operation; and administer appropriate medications during recovery. In addition to helping patients through surgery, anesthesiologists may also help treat patients with conditions causing chronic pain. Many specialize in specific types of problems, such as respiratory or neurological illness. More than ninety percent of the anesthetics used in health care are administered by or under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist. This career pays well, but this profession also has negative aspects.
Much education is needed to become an anesthesiologist. You typically need to have attended medical school for at least four years and have an apprenticeship for three years. The exact requirements vary depending on the employer, but education is a major factor I their decision to hire you or not.
Anesthesiologists have a very demanding and recondite career. Their calculations must be precise in order not to harm the patient; too much anesthesia will kill a patient, whereas too little will cause anesthesia awareness. Anesthesia awareness is when a patient is conscious during surgery and feels pain.
Every year, an average of thirty-four deaths are reported to be caused by an overdose of general anesthesia, while many more are partially caused by an anesthesia overdose. Anesthesia is most dangerous for men and the elderly. The risk of dying while under general anesthesia is 0.00001%, which makes the statistic relatively insignificant. However, this risk still poses a strenuous moral dilemma for anesthesiologists. This burden is so considerable that, for most people, it is not worth the average of $321,686 a year. This is why the career is usually occupied by those who are not easily affected by stress.
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Nursing care after a total knee replacement is very essential in promoting a speedy and safe recovery for a patient. In an attempt to replicate the knee’s natural ability to roll and glide as it bends by cutting away damaged bone and cartilage and replacing it with an artificial joint, acute pain following the procedure can be unbearable. In assisting the patient in controlling the pain would only ...
Anesthesiologists also work long hours. In addition to working about sixty hours a week, anesthesiologists are often called due to emergency. Anesthesiologists often experience irregular and insufficient sleep patterns.
There are three main types of anesthesia administered during surgery: general, regional, and local. General anesthesia renders the patient unconscious and unable to feel pain or any other sensation. Many general anesthetics are gases or vapors administered through a mask or breathing tube, whereas others are liquid medicines introduced through a vein. Regional anesthesia numbs an entire area of the body requiring surgery. Local anesthesia is used to numb a specific part of the body (such as the foot or hand).
Both regional and local anesthetics are administered via injections. In addition to anesthetics, patients requiring regional and local anesthetics often are given sedatives to help them relax during surgery and put them to sleep.
Anesthesiologists use multiple variables to consider how much anesthesia to allot a patient; your medical background, size, and physiology are all factors in the decision. The calculations involved are very complex and there is very little room for error. Thusly, a strong background in mathematics is needed in order to pursue this occupation.
Anesthesiology is a highly competitive field. Due to the high salary, it is a field sought after by many. Therefore, it pays to be very intelligent. If you are not able to graduate from medical school, you will most likely not get the job.
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The anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in the care of their patients before, during, and after surgery with preparation and evaluation. They plan the anesthetic for the patient and monitor their blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and level of consciousness. To achieve a safe, painless surgery, the anesthesiologist adjusts the anesthetic plan, medications, fluids, and other ...
In short, anesthesiologists make a lot of money, but it comes at a high price.
Sources:
http://www.mshealthcareers.com/careers/anesthesiologist.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anesthesiologist
http://www.asahq.org/