How Do I Become an Anesthesiologist?

People who are interested in a career in the health care field may be wondering, “How do I become an anesthesiologist?” This career choice is an excellent one, since the number of job openings for trained anesthesiologists will continue to increase as the general population ages and demand for medical care increases.

An anesthesiologist is part of the medical team when surgery is performed. He or she is responsible for administering anesthetics and other medications to patients who are undergoing a procedure. The anesthesiologist carefully monitors the patient’s condition during the surgery to ensure that vital signs remain in the normal range. If the patient’s condition changes, the anesthesiologist administers other medications to bring his or her heart rate and blood pressure back to acceptable levels.

The work of the anesthesiologist doesn’t end when the surgery is completed. These highly-trained specialists also monitor a patient’s recovery after the procedure. They may also care for patients who live with severe chronic diseases by prescribing pain medication and providing follow-up care for them. An anesthesiologist may also be called to the labor and delivery unit of a hospital to administer pain relieving medication to patients.

Education Required to be an Anesthesiologist

The first step in becoming an anesthesiologist is to complete an undergraduate degree in preparation for medical school. Medical schools do accept graduates from science programs, but applicants who majored in humanities as undergraduates are also being admitted.

Before you apply for admission to a medical school, you will need to write the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). The exam is used to evaluate a person’s critical thinking, writing and problem-solving skills. It also measures the writer’s knowledge about science. People who are planning to apply to a health professions school (medical, dental, veterinary, etc.)

Once you have been admitted to medical school, you will take courses in:

• Anatomy
• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Embryology
• Family Medicine
• Genetics
• Human Behavior
• Immunology
• Internal Medicine
• Microbiology
• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Psychiatry
• Surgery

In the final year of the four-year program, medical students spend their time completing a number of clinical rotations. During this time, they gain experience interviewing patients and recording information about their health concerns. The medical student will also interpret test results and discuss treatment plans with patients and their family members.

After completing an advanced degree from a medical school, the next step for a future anesthesiologist is to complete a residency program in anesthesia. During this two-or-three year program, you will be working directly with patients to get hands-on experience under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist.

Obtain a License

The last step in the process is to pass the exam administered by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Licensing requirements may vary, depending on the state where you will be practicing.

The answer to the question, “How do I become an anesthesiologist?’ is that you must become a medical doctor and then complete further training to specialize in this area of practice.

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