Anesthesia Assistant Graduate Certificate Program
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Interested in a career as an Anesthesia Assistant? |
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What is an Anesthesia Assistant?
An Anesthesia Assistant is a specially trained, health professional that participates in the care of the stable surgical patient during general, regional, or conscious sedation anesthesia through medical directives under the supervision of and immediate availability of the anesthesiologist.
What does an Anesthesia Assistant do?
The Anesthesia Assistant is a valuable member of the anesthesia care team who works closely with the anesthesiologist during surgery.
Basic Level Trained Anesthesia Assistant:
- Provides technical support to Anesthesiologist for complex anesthesia equipment
- Provides airway management assistance
- Monitors patient's hemodynamic status, blood, fluid and pharmacological therapy
Advanced Level Trained Anesthesia Assistant:
In addition to tasks performed by the basic level trained Anesthesia Assistant:
- Performs activities such as administration of anesthetic gases and medications, insertion and management of hemodynamic monitors, and management of anesthesia equipment. In addition the Anesthesia Assistant provides physiologic surveillance of the stable patient under general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and for procedural sedation. This provision of anesthesia care is under the direct supervision of the Anesthesiologist and under the authority of medical directives.
Start Date
Basic - Program under review
Advanced - Cohort 10: January 08, 2010
Admission Requirements
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Registered Nurse (RN);
- 2 years or full time equivalent (>4000 hours) critical care experience within the past 4 years (ICU, ER, NICU, PACU)
- Letter from base site - Chief of Anesthesia, indicating support for clinical education
- A Pre- Entrance Assessment may be required by applicants to determine exact course of study
- Students must have access to a computer that meets the minimum system requirements, access to the Internet and an e-mail account.
- Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide proof of an english language assessment.
- Students must have access to anesthesia equipment (AGMs, VTRs & monitors) throughout the course.
Tuition
Program Cost*
$10,950.00 divided equally over 3 semesters (basic, advanced, clinical)
*Includes some program materials, tutor support and evaluation. Does not include required textbooks.
Non Tuition Cost
$180.00 (Student activity fee)
How do I apply?
To apply please submit the following documents to The Michener Institute:
- Completed Michener Application form
- A current resume describing background and experience
- Proof of registration with CRTO or CNO
- A letter from your Chief of Anesthesia supporting return to home base site for clinical education
- Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide proof of an english language assessment.
- A $30.00 non-refundable application fee
Your application should be sent to:
Office of the Registrar
The Michener Institute
222 St. Patrick Street
Toronto, ON
M5T 1V4
Canada
Fax: (416) 596-3122
For more information on the application process please visit Michener's Admissions page.
Application Deadline
Basic - TBD
Advanced - December 04, 2009
Program is currently wait listed however continues to accept all applications on an ongoing basis.
What will I learn?
Basic
When you enroll in Michener's Anesthesia Assistant - Basic Graduate Certificate program, you will begin to acquire the technical expertise, knowledge and interpersonal skills needed to become a valuable member of the anesthesia care team. Currently the program consists of three courses and includes a 5 day residency at the end of the course work. Course competencies include:
- Exploring the pharmacological principles of anesthesia and categorizing the clinical manifestations of pharmacological agents used in anesthesia
- Developing strong technical expertise in all equipment associated with the anesthetic gas machine and pollution control systems
- Developing strong technical and clinical expertise in the use of physiologic monitoring equipment
Advanced
When you enroll in Michener's Anesthesia Assistant - Advanced Graduate Certificate program, you will acquire the technical expertise, knowledge and interpersonal skills needed to become a valuable member of the anesthesia care team. Currently the program consists of two courses including a 10 day residency at the end of the course work.
Clinical
Students will then be required to complete an approximate 12 week clinical rotation within a 6 month period. Course competencies on adult and pediatric patients include:
- Evaluating the pre, peri and postoperative patient
- Advanced airway management
- Assisting with pharmacological therapy
- Maintaining fluid therapy
- Assisting with the administration of peripheral nerve blocks, spinal anesthetics and epidurals
- Assisting with the administration and maintenance of general anesthesia for stable patients
- Performing procedural sedation
- Managing special anesthetic considerations
Interesting Links
- Allied Health Professional Development Fund
- College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO)
- Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
- American Association for Respiratory Care
- Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society
- Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
