Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

The Anaesthetist is with the patient throughout the operation, giving the drugs necessary to keep the patient anaesthetised and ensuring the safest and optimum conditions for surgery. He or she will support the heart and respiratory systems and give invasive procedures that may prove necessary. They work in the surgical department of hospitals ensuring that the patient is prepared for, comfortable during and supervised after an operation. They also have the responsibility for the wellbeing of the patient's vital organs.  
 
Recovery from anaesthesia and surgery is under the supervision of the anaesthetic staff and takes place in the Recovery Room. The Anaesthetist is particularly concerned that the vital systems are stable at this time and that the patient is without pain. There is usually a unit for on-going cardio-respiratory monitoring and support. Anaesthetists thus specialise not only in intensive care management but also in chronic pain therapy in specialised units.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.
• Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure.
• Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.
• Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.
• Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.
• Position patient on operating table to maximise patient comfort and surgical accessibility.
• Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.
• Decide when patients have recovered or stabilised enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.
• Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain.
• Order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.

Further Information

• Anaesthetist - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

The first step in this specialist career pathway is a five to six-year undergraduate medical degree programme at one of the six medical schools in Ireland (NUIG; RCSI; TCD; UCD; UCC; UL).

Applying to CAO courses and specific entry requirements (e.g. HPAT. Application is made through the CAO Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

The Medical Degree is followed by a year long Internship in an approved hospital. Following this, a junior doctor can choose to specialise as an Anaethetist.

The route from Basic Specialist Training (BST) in Anaesthesia, including Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, to Specialist Anaesthetist (SAT), is an additional six year programme.

College of Anaesthetists of Ireland (CAI) under the aegis of the Irish Medical Council (IMC). CAI is the only body recognised by the (IMC) to provide anaesthesia training.

Anaesthesia training is based in accredited hospitals recognised by the CAI and is structured to maximise opportunities for learning and to provide a broad range of experience in different types of hospitals and of different sub-specialties in Anaesthesia.

Training comprises a combination of practical experience, clinical learning, theoretical learning, learning in non-clinical areas, individual study, mandatory elements including simulation courses. 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €70k - €160k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ HSE/ Talent.com/ Eireri/ Salaryexpert

Last Updated: April, 2023

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual average employment growth for medical practitioners was slightly above average over the five-year period, with strong growth between 2021 and 2022. Almost 30% of those employed in this occupation were non-Irish citizens, with employment permits still acting as a source of supply of skills; over 2,100 new permits were issued in 2022 across a range of specialities. Supply from the third level education system is set to expand by 200 additional places by 2026 (beginning with an increase of 60 places each in 2022 and 2023). Given the duration of medical training, however, this increased supply is not expected to have an impact on the labour market in the short-to-medium term.

Issues in relation to GPs are being addressed with an announcement that the number of GP training places will be increased to 350 in 2024 from 258 in 2022 and an expansion of the non-EU GP Training Scheme from 50 to 250 by the end of 2024.43 However, the increasing demand for medical practitioners as a result of factors such as the rollout of the Sláintecare Action Plan, the ageing population and the tackling of the lengthy waiting lists (exacerbated as a result of COVID-19) will result in continued shortages for this occupation.

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• College of Anaesthetists Ireland (CAI)

  • 22 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2.
  • (01) 265 0600
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Medical Council

  • Kingram House, Kingram Place, Dublin, 2
  • (01) 498 3100
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here