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Anaesthetic Technician

Kaihangarau Haurehu

Anaesthetic technicians assist anaesthetists during operations, and prepare operating theatres and clinics for anaesthetic procedures.

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Secondary education

You need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Diploma

Useful experience

Experience in the medical field is useful for anaesthetic technicians.

What you will do

Anaesthetic technicians may do some or all of the following:

  • check and set up life support and anaesthetic machines
  • inform and reassure patients, and check for conditions that could create problems under anaesthesia
  • help anaesthetists place patients' breathing tubes and intravenous lines
  • help anaesthetists administer anaesthetics, including local anaesthetics and nerve blocks
  • watch patients and monitor their vital signs (such as heartbeat)
  • decontaminate, sterilise or dispose of equipment and materials used in operations
  • assist with care after operations and insert catheters into patients.

Skills and knowledge

Anaesthetic technicians need to have knowledge of:

  • operating theatre procedures and protocols
  • anaesthetic and nerve-blocking machines, life support machines, other equipment and drugs
  • emergency procedures, and how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • human anatomy, physiology and biophysics
  • physical and medical conditions that may put patients at risk during anaesthesia.
Pay

Anaesthetic technicians usually earn

$84K-$99K

per year

Anaesthetic technicians can earn

$73K-$105K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as an anaesthetic technician are good due to a shortage of workers.
Length of training
3
years of training required.

Industry

Health

Anaesthetic technicians assist anaesthetists during operations, and prepare operating theatres and clinics for anaesthetic procedures.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

You need a qualification to become an anaesthetic technician.

You need:

  • a Bachelor of Health Science (Perioperative Practice)
  • to pass a police check
  • a CPR certificate.

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children. 

Chances of getting a job

Chances good due to shortage of anaesthetic technicians

Demand for anaesthetic technicians is strong due to:

  • New Zealand's growing and ageing population, which means more surgical procedures
  • insufficient numbers of trainees.

Anaesthetic technician appears on Immigration New Zealand's regional skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled anaesthetic technicians from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Medical Sciences Secretariat, 865 registered anaesthetic technicians were eligible to work in New Zealand in March 2021.

Anaesthetic technicians work in hospitals

Anaesthetic technicians work for public or private hospitals. 

Find out more about training

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
0800 288 864 - www.aut.ac.nz
New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians' Society
nzats@anaesthesia.nz- www.nzats.co.nz

Progression and specialisations

Anaesthetic technicians may move into managerial or trainer roles.

Anaesthetic technicians can specialise in certain departments or procedures, including:

  • paediatrics (working with children)
  • emergency and resuscitation
  • transplants
  • specialised surgery such as neurosurgery (brain surgery) or cardiothoracic surgery (for heart and lung-related conditions)
  • using specialist equipment for cell saving (removing a patient's own blood or blood products, then later returning them to the patient's body).

Working conditions

Anaesthetic technicians:

  • usually do shift work, including weekends, and may be on call
  • work in operating rooms in hospitals and clinics, delivery suites and emergency departments
  • work in conditions that may be stressful, particularly during operations.

Physical Requirements

Anaesthetic technicians need to be reasonably fit, healthy and strong because they often need to move equipment and patients.

Useful personal qualities

Anaesthetic technicians need to be:

  • able to remain calm in emergencies and work well under pressure
  • accurate, with an eye for detail
  • good communicators who are able to relate to people from a range of cultures
  • comfortable working around sick and injured people.

Industry

Health

Anaesthetic technicians assist anaesthetists during operations, and prepare operating theatres and clinics for anaesthetic procedures.

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