Anaesthetic Technician
What the work is
Prepares and maintains anaesthetic equipment for operating theatres or clinics, and assists Anaesthetists during anaesthetic procedures.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Prepares and sets up anaesthetic equipment and supplies for surgical procedures
- Checks and tests anaesthetic equipment to ensure proper functioning, and assists with the insertion of invasive monitoring devices
- Assists with the positioning and preparation of patients for surgery
- Assists Anaesthetists in administering anaesthesia to patients, and monitors vital signs during procedures
- Cleans and sterilises anaesthetic equipment after use, and participates in the maintenance and inventory of anaesthetic supplies and medications
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the operating theatres of a fictional city hospital, working beside surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A long list runs smoothly because you had every piece of equipment ready and checked
- A nervous patient relaxes as you chat to them before the team begins
- A theatre team that works so well that hardly anyone needs to speak
Hard days
- A surgeon in a hurry asks you to skip a check that exists for a reason
- A long emergency case that stretches well past the end of your shift
- Standing for hours in a cold, bright room with your full attention on the job
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 311231, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.