Anaesthetic Assistant, Operating Room

Requirements:

• Diploma/ Equivalent Required or Completion of Anesthesia Assistant Course
  
• In service Course on Basic Nursing skills and Anesthesia
  
• Certificate in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the Theatre is preferred
  

• Setup, test and calibrate physiological monitors and equipment such as anesthesia machines, airway devices, physiological monitors, infusion devices, nerve stimulators, patient/fluid warming devices and fiber optic bronchoscopes.
  
• Perform equipment checks as indicated and maintain records of problems
  
• Replace and change anesthetic equipment supplies as per routine schedule
  
• Maintain a stock of drug supplies at anesthesia workstations.
  
• Troubleshoot anesthetic equipment
  
• Correct problems that have been discovered and follow up with the theatre manager, the biomedical technician/engineers, and manufacturer’s service representative.
  
• Participate in operating theatre’s infection control program.
  
• Performing duties such as maintaining cleanliness of anesthetic equipment in accordance with quality assurance programs.
  
• Assist with the setting up of the physiological monitors such as ECG, Pulse oximetry and non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP).
  
• Assist the anesthesiologist with the insertion of peripheral venous lines, arterial lines, central venous catheters and pulmonary artery catheters.
  
• Adjust therapies (e.g. Ventilation, temperature control devices, fluid flow rates etc.) as directed by the anesthesiologist.
  
• In liaison with the circulating nurse, provide diagnostic data for the anesthesiologist by performing random blood sugar sampling and arterial blood gas sampling as requested.
  
• Arrange for transportation of emergency blood samples to the lab and collection of blood products from the blood bank.
  
• Assist at anesthetic emergency by performing duties such as aspirating secretions from the trachea and pharynx, deflating airways cuffs, and provide emergency airway equipment. Remove monitoring equipment after surgery.
  
• Assist with the transfer of post operative patients to the Post Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU) under the direction of the anesthesiologist, surgeon and nurse.
  
• Assist with the transfer of ventilation and/or anesthetized patient to the intensive care or high dependency unit under the direction of the anesthesiologist, surgeon and nurse.