Career Spotlight: Anesthesia Technician
This week, Dr. Cameron Ricks interviewed Moises Flores about his career as an anesthesia technician. Our goal is to share a career journey in healthcare, and hope you will share it with your students as they explore careers for their future!
Check out some highlights from our interview, and watch the entire interview for more.
Tell Us About Yourself.
I work at UCI Medical Center. I have been working there for the past five years and have been an anesthesia technician for almost 17 years. I got involved with this work because my wife applied for me at the hospital! I was working in the emergency department, and on day one, I fell in love with the medical field. I started by becoming a paramedic. The training in those days was on the spot. I was born in the U.S. but grew up in Mexico. In Mexico, I was going to medical school, and I had to leave due to circumstances. Due to a language barrier when I moved back to the U.S. I had to start working in construction. I worked in that position for almost 20 years before going into the medical field.
What was the career path that led you to where you are today?
I went to school to become a paramedic. I started in the emergency department scrubbing the floors. I knew I wanted to take care of patients instead of taking care of the building. I decided to go to school and become a paramedic. Then, one of my friends in the OR asked me if I wanted to become a hospital aide in the OR. Once I became a hospital aide, I helped in the anesthesia department.
They started training me on the spot. I think they saw something in me. It was probably because I was always asking questions, and this is how I got the opportunity to become an anesthesia technician. I attended Santa Ana College for EMTs. I found this to be a step that can allow you to go in many different directions. This training and knowledge will help you with the future of many careers in the healthcare field. To be an anesthesia technician, you would have to find a school that trains for that. Right now, there are five schools nationwide that provide this training. You have to have an AA degree and then some science classes completed before you can apply for the anesthesia technician program. It is a one-year program.
I was amazed to see how much responsibility an anesthesia doctor had to make sure the patient was safe and not in pain. I wanted to play a role in that. I make sure that all the equipment was in proper working order and support the doctors.
What does an anesthesia technician do?
We do a lot, but our main responsibility is to maintain all the equipment, get familiar with it, make sure we know how to troubleshoot, get all materials ready for the doctor, support the doctor during surgery, and be there for trauma. I help with setting up all the invasive lines, rapid infusers for blood transfusions, and more. I monitor cardiac output and vital signs.
On a day-day basis, we start calibrating the machines to make sure they are supplied and working properly. We work with our providers to make sure the plan is communicated for patient care. We then set up the equipment that is needed for each case. I typically have five rooms I am working in a day. Each day can be different and this provides both challenges and satisfaction. You put your skills to work in 8-hour shifts.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
There is not a single thing I don’t like about my job! I love my job.
Do you have advice for students?
Be passionate about patient care and have a good attitude. You have to have a passion for this job because there is a lot of responsibility with it.
Resources for learning more about this career:
Anesthesia Technology Program, Pasadena City College
Association: ASATT - a nationwide organization that certifies anesthesia technicians
Learn more about SimRated and schedule a demo with us to help your students prepare for a medical career.