Anesthesiology Technician

wvumedicine; Morgantown (WV); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals is seeking an Anesthesia Technician to support anesthesia care teams in the Morgantown area. The role involves setup and aseptic handling of anesthesia equipment, fluids, and monitoring supplies across multiple OR settings.

The technician assists anesthesia providers with equipment setup, maintains stock and cleanliness, and participates in emergency support and routine case turnover. ABL standards and patient safety are emphasized throughout.

Qualifications

• Associate degree from Anesthesiology Technology Program or equivalent education path.
• Alternatively, HS diploma with two years’ experience as an Anesthesia Care Assistant or nursing assistant in direct patient care.
• Certification in BLS within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Under aseptic technique, set up and spike IV maintenance fluids and disposables for sterile anesthesia fields.
• Assist with patient transfers, connect monitoring equipment, and ensure proper equipment is available for procedures.
• Ensure anesthesia equipment and gases are available, assist with intubations and related supplies.
• Aid with line placement and supply handling, including stock checks and equipment maintenance.
• Verify expiration dates and maintain malignant hyperthermia supplies in assigned locations.
• Clean up hazardous spills and complete incident documentation as required.
• Set up disposable supplies and assist with regional and general anesthesia blocks and related protocols.
• Switch anesthesia machine tanks, verify connections, and coordinate with Biomed for equipment safety.
• Provide anesthesia support during emergencies and routine case turnover, and perform end-of-day equipment cleaning.
• Anticipate anesthesia needs for scheduled and emergent cases and respond to pages.
• Set up IVs, fluid warmers, and pressure transducers; procure pumps as needed.
• Monitor inventory of consumables and keep anesthesia carts stocked and organized.
• Manage hoses, sorb changes, and stock rotation for electrical equipment.
• Document equipment issues and initiate repairs; maintain repair logs.
• Stock IV bins and anesthesia exchange carts for re-stocking supplies.
• May perform Point of Care testing and ensure quality controls for devices.
• Contribute to budget planning by suggesting equipment and supply needs.
• Select and prepare difficult airway equipment according to patient needs.
• Support anesthesia providers and may act in a charge role when assigned.
• Unlicensed personnel may assist with medication transport under supervision.

Skills

Follow directions

Cardiac monitor procedures

Hemodynamic techniques

IFU adherence

Technical duties in clinical settings

Infection control

Prioritization & multitasking

Education

Associate degree in Anesthesiology Technology

High School Diploma with 2 years of related patient care experience

Job description

Work requires knowledge of anesthesia practices and aseptic technique as well as the daily organization, stocking, set-up and cleaning of anesthesia equipment and supply environments used in patient care according to departmental and regulatory standards. The anesthesia technician performs duties under the supervision of the licensed anesthesia care providers in a variety of clinical settings including the set-up of IV manufacturer made maintenance fluids, fluid warmers and pressure transducers as well as performance of select Point of Care tests.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Associate degree from Anesthesiology Technology Program

OR High School Diploma or Equivalent AND two (2) years’ experience as an Anesthesia Care Assistant or nursing assistant and/or direct patient care.

2. Obtain Certification in BLS within 30 days of hire date.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. 1. Understands and practices the principles of aseptic technique. Ensures proper disposal of one-time use items. Sets up and spikes IV manufacturer made maintenance fluids (does not include patient specific compound bags from pharmacy). May set up disposable supplies for sterile anesthesia field.
2. 2. Evaluates equipment needs of patients being transferred from critical care units to the OR and OR to Phase I Recovery. Assists with connection of the proper monitoring equipment for patients after the surgical procedure.
3. 3. Ensures basic anesthesia equipment is available in each anesthetic location including emergency airway equipment (i.e.bags, working blades, etc.). Assists anesthesia providers with intubations and other procedures by acquiring supplies, instruments, and lines. Responsible for storage, use and safe handling of bulk and cylinder gases.
4. 4. Assists with line placement by aiding inserter.
5. 5. Checks for expiration dates on disposable supplies. Ensures malignant hyperthermia supplies are available in assigned location.
6. 6. Cleans up a hazardous spill ensuring SDS sheets are followed. Completes required incident documentation.
7. 7. Sets up disposable supplies and assists with all therapeutic pain management applications (Blocks, Bier Blocks, Stellate Ganglion Blocks, Epidural Blocks, Intercostal Blocks, Trigger Point Blocks, etc.).
8. 8. Sets up suction devices. Switches out anesthesia machine tanks and recording paper when needed. Confirms anesthesia equipment is available for CRNA/resident/MD including confirming power/gas sources & electrical cords are in proper working order; notifying Biomed & hands-on provider of concerns related to equipment & patient safety (i.e. loose sockets); and ensuring anesthesia equipment is properly cleaned prior to patient care & appropriately connected to emergency power outlets.
9. 9. Provides Anesthesia support during all emergency situations (difficult intubation, latex allergy patient episodes, cardiac crisis, malignant hyperthermia, etc.) and routine case turnover including anesthesia post case cleaning. At end of day terminally cleans and dusts anesthesia equipment and prepares for next day use.
10. 10. Anticipates anesthesia requirements for scheduled and emergent procedures and has equipment set up without requests from the MD/CRNA. Assumes responsibility for answering anesthesia pages during workday.
11. 11. Sets up IVs, fluid warmers, and pressure transducers. Acquires computer pumps.
12. 12. Monitors the inventory of consumable supplies. Ensures that the anesthesia carts are stocked and the anesthesia area is clean and uncluttered. May transport mobile cart’s medication tray to and from Pharmacy. Reprocesses reusable supplies.
13. 13. Drains and reconnects hoses. Checks and changes soda sorb and tubing’s. Ensures the rotation of stock and the proper storage of electrical equipment.
14. 14. Informs appropriate persons of equipment issues and potential problems. Recognizes need for repair and initiates repair actions. Maintains an equipment repair log and equipment loaner book.
15. 15. Stocks IV bins and utilizes anesthesia exchange carts to stock anesthesia blue bells.
16. 16. May perform Point of Care testing within role scope of practice. Performs all quality controls for Point of Care testing devices.
17. 17. Provides information for budget preparation regarding needed equipment and supplies. Provides input on cost-initiatives and facilitates those components relative to the Department of Anesthesia.
18. 18. Selects and prepares difficult airway equipment and instruments according to patient needs.
19. 19. Assists within scope of role/practice anesthesiologist, resident, or CRNA with therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Performs, as needed, all core duties of anesthesia care assistant. May function in charge role as assigned.
20. 20. Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) may have limited access to medications including transport of non-controlled substances and MH kit at the request of a licensed care provider.
21. 21. Partnering with new hire and role modeling scope of practice, assists with anorientee’sduties’ training.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. 1. No known history of malignant hyperthermia.
2. 2. Ability to wear and work in protective gear.
3. 3. Capability of prolonged periods of standing and walking.
4. 4. Ability to lift up to 40 pounds and push/pull heavy loaded carts.
5. 5. Possess visual and oral acuity along with manual dexterity and technical ability.
6. 6. Ability to hear audible alarms.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SKILLS & ABILILTIES:

1. 1. Ability to follow directions, both written and verbal, and work with people.
2. 2. Has a thorough understanding of cardiac monitor procedures and equipment.
3. 3. Has a thorough understanding of hemodynamic techniques.
4. 4. Ability to utilize manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFUs) for equipment operation and cleaning.
5. 5. Demonstrates the ability to perform technical duties in complex, clinical situations.
6. 6. Ability to perform work functions in an operating room providing patient care demonstrating proficiency in biologic hazards, infection control, and standard precautions.
7. 7. Ability to prioritize and multi-task; demonstrates task prioritization based on acuteness of patient care needs.

Additional Job Description:

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 32

Shift: Varied (United States of America)

Exempt/Non-Exempt: United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Company: WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals

Cost Center: 74 WVUH Nursing Anesthesia

Address: 1 Medical Center DriveMorgantownWest Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.