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What does an anesthesiologist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read

An Anesthesiologist is a physician who administers anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery or other medical procedures. They are responsible for preventing and supervising the vital functions of patients during surgical procedures.

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Anesthesiologist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real anesthesiologist resumes:

  • Perform PCR and endotracheal intubation inemergency room.
  • Moderate amount of ultrasound-guid regional anesthesia; currently undergoing regional- relate CME.
  • Supervise BLS training for nurses.
  • Process paperwork and ensure compliance with HIPPA regulations.
  • Care provide at free standing GI & ambulatory surgery centers.
  • Conduct vision tests, audiometers, EKG's, and pulmonary function testing.
  • Document workflows of pediatric hospital to assess impact of future state post go-live.
  • Care provide at hospital, for surgical, obstetric, ECT, GI, cardiac cath.
  • Initial office visit assessments of patients, using EMR, and assist with all aspects of a private specialty practice.
  • Conduct preoperative medical evaluations of patients with neonatal malformations before surgery in the intensive care unit.
  • Monitor patients before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications as necessary.
  • Process paperwork and ensure compliance with HIPPA regulations.

Anesthesiologist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 21% of Anesthesiologists are proficient in Patients, OB, and Patient Care. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Detail oriented, and Leadership skills.

We break down the percentage of Anesthesiologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 21%

    Monitored patients before, during, and after anesthesia and counteracted adverse reactions or complications as necessary.

  • OB, 15%

    Level II OB Center) and General OR

  • Patient Care, 7%

    Work with surgeons, obstetricians, nurses and technicians to provide patient care and successful outcomes.

  • EMR, 6%

    Provided Information Technology support for EMR and office automation systems.

  • Pain Management, 5%

    Provide post operative pain management with a focus on regional anesthesia techniques.

  • CME, 5%

    Moderate amount of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia; currently undergoing regional- related CME.

"patients," "ob," and "patient care" are among the most common skills that anesthesiologists use at work. You can find even more anesthesiologist responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an anesthesiologist to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "physicians and surgeons need to be excellent communicators." Additionally, an anesthesiologist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "apply professional verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients in order to achieve exceptional treatment. "

Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling anesthesiologist duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "patients must receive appropriate treatment and medications." According to an anesthesiologist resume, here's how anesthesiologists can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "roomed patients, took vitals, gave the doctor a detail report of the patients issues.."

Leadership skills. anesthesiologists are also known for leadership skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to anesthesiologist responsibilities, because "physicians who work in their own practice must manage a staff of other professionals." An anesthesiologist resume example shows how leadership skills is used in the workplace: "provided leadership skills involving managing, planning and motivating physicians to serve their patients. "

Physical stamina. A big part of what anesthesiologists do relies on "physical stamina." You can see how essential it is to anesthesiologist responsibilities because "physicians and surgeons should be comfortable lifting or turning disabled patients, or performing other physical tasks." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical anesthesiologist tasks: "performed physical examinations, check ups, diagnosis, treatment, assessments, appointments, schedules operations of patients. "

Most common anesthesiologist skills

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Compare different anesthesiologists

Anesthesiologist vs. Certified registered nurse anesthetist

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist administers anesthesia to patients. They work in various healthcare settings, such as operating rooms, dentists and podiatrists offices, birthing centers, and plastic surgery centers.

If we compare the average anesthesiologist annual salary with that of a certified registered nurse anesthetist, we find that certified registered nurse anesthetists typically earn a $256,217 lower salary than anesthesiologists make annually.Even though anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patients, ob, and patient care in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, anesthesiologist responsibilities require skills like "emr," "cme," "medical education," and "bls." Meanwhile a typical certified registered nurse anesthetist has skills in areas such as "anesthesia care," "pals," "ortho," and "informed consent." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists tend to reach higher levels of education than anesthesiologists. In fact, certified registered nurse anesthetists are 33.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 32.5% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Anesthesiologist vs. General dentist

The primary job of general dentists is to diagnose, treat, and manage patients' oral health care needs, including root canals, fillings, and gum care. They are considered as the main dental care providers for both children and adults. General dentists typically perform a few tasks, including performing regular dental examinations and teeth cleanings, ensuring patients receive an appropriate and timely treatment for their dental issues and performing cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and cosmetic bonding.

A career as a general dentist brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of an anesthesiologist. In fact, general dentists salary is $261,577 lower than the salary of anesthesiologists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Anesthesiologists and general dentists both require similar skills like "patients," "patient care," and "iv" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real anesthesiologist resumes. While anesthesiologist responsibilities can utilize skills like "ob," "emr," "pain management," and "cme," general dentists use skills like "treatment planning," "diagnosis," "osha," and "dentures."

General dentists earn similar levels of education than anesthesiologists in general. They're 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 32.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Anesthesiologist vs. Director of anesthesia services

An average director of anesthesia services eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of anesthesiologists. The difference in salaries amounts to directors of anesthesia services earning a $327,553 lower average salary than anesthesiologists.By looking over several anesthesiologists and directors of anesthesia services resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "patient care," "general surgery," and "gi." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, anesthesiologists are more likely to have skills like "patients," "ob," "emr," and "pain management." But a director of anesthesia services is more likely to have skills like "education programs," "infection control," "hr," and "action planning."

Directors of anesthesia services typically earn higher educational levels compared to anesthesiologists. Specifically, they're 28.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 29.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Anesthesiologist vs. Anesthesiologist, pain management specialist

Anesthesiologists, pain management specialist typically earn lower pay than anesthesiologists. On average, anesthesiologists, pain management specialist earn a $109,415 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, anesthesiologists and anesthesiologists, pain management specialist both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "emr," "private practice," and "surgical procedures. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "patients," "ob," "patient care," and "pain management" are skills that commonly show up on anesthesiologist resumes. On the other hand, anesthesiologists, pain management specialist use skills like mental health, american board, psychiatry, and medical practice on their resumes.The average resume of anesthesiologists, pain management specialist showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to anesthesiologists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 27.5%.

Types of anesthesiologist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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