Should I accept this job?

[linuxgrl]

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I was hoping I could get some advice from some fellow pre-meds. I'm kind of having a hard time making a decision here. I just interviewed with the local hospital to become an Anesthesia Tech. They have a huge surgery center, lots of different stuff going on. From what I saw, this would be an awesome job to have. I would learn SO much.

It's the perfect job except for one thing - they want me to work full time, which means at least 32 hours/wk. I'm currently taking 3 classes, 2 labs - Orgo 1, Cell Bio and Public Speaking. In order to take this job, I'd have to drop Public Speaking and maybe take it some other time. The only reason I was taking it was for personal enrichment and because I need a letter of rec from one non-science/math teacher.

One other thing to add to the mix - I'm taking the MCAT in April.

I think I can handle all of this, I just wanted to get some other opinions. Do you think adcoms care what type of clinical experience you have - how would this job compare to the home health job that I have now?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[neuronerd]

I would take it if I were you. Since you said that you think you can handle it. THe LOR can come from your job right? That would make a great LOR in my opinion.

 

[cmb81]

i worked at MCV as an anesth. tech for a few years. It's good in the sense that you'll learn how a hospital is run and a good way to meet physicians for future shadowing experience. However, there is minimal patient care, if any, so it doesnt do much as far as patient care is involved. The job entails restocking the drug carts after each case, changing the circuits, taking blood to the lab, etc. I dont think that it is worth it to work full time with such a full course load.

 

[sahir j]

does beign an anes. tech require any sort of certification--is there a class or test one has to take?

btw, i think you should take the job

 

[linuxgrl]

does beign an anes. tech require any sort of certification--is there a class or test one has to take?

Nope. They prefer CNA Experience but I think it just requires a high school diploma.

 

[linuxgrl]

i worked at MCV as an anesth. tech for a few years. It's good in the sense that you'll learn how a hospital is run and a good way to meet physicians for future shadowing experience. However, there is minimal patient care, if any, so it doesnt do much as far as patient care is involved. The job entails restocking the drug carts after each case, changing the circuits, taking blood to the lab, etc. I dont think that it is worth it to work full time with such a full course load.

That's a good point. I never thought of it that way. I just thought it would be terrific experience to help out in surgeries. Hmmm... Just curious - at MCV did you ever meet any doctors named Lopez or Szentpetery?

Thanks for your comment! I'll keep it in mind!

 

[gotigers]

just curious--

what sort of training is required to become an anest. tech? thanks!

 

[Haybrant]

i would say if you aren't yet sure if you are interested in medicine use this opportunity to find out if you are; if you already know, just be a doctor once you actually become one. Do something else that will benefit society like research or nuclear non-proliferation advocacy or referee the 100m dash for the special olympics; you get the idea....

 

[Fusion]

i worked at MCV as an anesth. tech for a few years. It's good in the sense that you'll learn how a hospital is run and a good way to meet physicians for future shadowing experience. However, there is minimal patient care, if any, so it doesnt do much as far as patient care is involved. The job entails restocking the drug carts after each case, changing the circuits, taking blood to the lab, etc. I dont think that it is worth it to work full time with such a full course load.

I think this varies among hospitals. I worked as an anesthesia tech, and I can tell you it is probably one of the best clinical experiences a premedical student can hope for. It's true that at a lot of medical centers, especially academic hospitals, the anesthesia tech's responsibilities are rather limited (i.e., changing breathing circuits, stocking carts, washing laryngoscope blades, etc.). However, I worked at a private hospital, and the things we did were very hands-on. We would assist with intubation, arterial lines, central lines, etc. Certain surgeries like thoracotomies and spinal fusions required us to do even more. By law, we were never allowed to actually poke the skin, but we got as invasive as was allowed. We would routinely assist with epidurals and spinal anesthesia, and received a whole lot of patient contact. We learned about sterile procedure as well as operation of the cell saver machine. A lot of times, it's actually up to the anesthesia tech to keep the patient at ease while waiting for the anesthesiologist or surgeon, especially when the scrub techs and circulator nurses are busy. I not only learned a lot about anesthesiology, but about surgery as well, since I worked in the O.R. full-time and was assigned to all sorts of procedures from neurosurgeries to plastics, ortho, cardio, cystoscopies, and of course all types of general surgeries.

As for whether you should take the job, it's hard to say. Are you the type of person who can take on a lot of important things at once and do them all well? If so, then go for it. I can tell you, I for one am not. I need one thing at a time. However, a lot of my fellow techs were full-time college students, so it certainly can be done - although they were pre-nursing or P.A., not premeds.

As for training/certification, everything I learned was on the job. They do have anesthesia certification programs, but most hospitals do not require such formal training.

 

[45408]

If you think you can pull it off, I'd definitely get the job.

 

[frantic983]

.

 

[bewitched1081]

I was hoping I could get some advice from some fellow pre-meds. I'm kind of having a hard time making a decision here. I just interviewed with the local hospital to become an Anesthesia Tech. They have a huge surgery center, lots of different stuff going on. From what I saw, this would be an awesome job to have. I would learn SO much.

It's the perfect job except for one thing - they want me to work full time, which means at least 32 hours/wk. I'm currently taking 3 classes, 2 labs - Orgo 1, Cell Bio and Public Speaking. In order to take this job, I'd have to drop Public Speaking and maybe take it some other time. The only reason I was taking it was for personal enrichment and because I need a letter of rec from one non-science/math teacher.

One other thing to add to the mix - I'm taking the MCAT in April.

I think I can handle all of this, I just wanted to get some other opinions. Do you think adcoms care what type of clinical experience you have - how would this job compare to the home health job that I have now?

Thanks for any advice!

32 hrs?? there is no way in heck anyone should take on that much more work. focus on getting the best grades possible first. great clinical experience does not come around just once. there are other opportunities.

 

[thegenius]

I was hoping I could get some advice from some fellow pre-meds. I'm kind of having a hard time making a decision here. I just interviewed with the local hospital to become an Anesthesia Tech. They have a huge surgery center, lots of different stuff going on. From what I saw, this would be an awesome job to have. I would learn SO much.

It's the perfect job except for one thing - they want me to work full time, which means at least 32 hours/wk. I'm currently taking 3 classes, 2 labs - Orgo 1, Cell Bio and Public Speaking. In order to take this job, I'd have to drop Public Speaking and maybe take it some other time. The only reason I was taking it was for personal enrichment and because I need a letter of rec from one non-science/math teacher.

One other thing to add to the mix - I'm taking the MCAT in April.

I think I can handle all of this, I just wanted to get some other opinions. Do you think adcoms care what type of clinical experience you have - how would this job compare to the home health job that I have now?

Thanks for any advice!

OK, I think I can offer some perspective on this. Currently I'm working full time and I'm OUT of school. I work about 50 hours a week, so 10 hours a day. I also studied for the past August MCAT and I started last April.

I'll tell you it was difficult to study for the MCAT, which takes up about 25 hours a week, and go to work for another 50 hours a week. My day would be the following:

Get to work between 8:30 - 9:30,
Leave work 5:00 and 5:15,
On Tue and Thu go to Kaplan class from 6:00 to 9:00.
Eat dinner, unwind
Start studying between 7:30 - 8:00 and study until about 11:00
Go to bed.

I did this for 4 months and it was difficult. Not impossible, mind you, but it was challenging.

I can't imagine going to work 32 hours a week, take basically a full course load, and study for the MCAT.

You are looking at, per day:
- 3 hours studying for MCAT
- 6.5 hours working (on average)
- 3-4 hours class time?

That is 12 - 14 hours a day of working. That's a ton of work. It really is.

 

[Medikit]

Zombify yourself!