Tori Badura

12/9/2014
Career Journal #9
Anesthesiologist
Sevofluorene:
Route of administration: inhaled
Mechanism of action (How does it work?): Sevofluorene works by suppressing the central nervous system and
causing loss of consciousness.
General uses: used to cause general anesthesia (loss of consciousness) before and during surgery.
Possible side effects: cough, agitation, lowered blood pressure, nausea, reduced heart rate, vomiting, chills,
dizziness, fever, and headaches.
Nitrous oxide:
Route of administration: inhaled
Mechanism of action (How does it work?): The way nitrous oxide works is still slightly unknown, but it mostly
just disinhibits all forms of sensation, especially touch and pain.
General uses: used for short-term procedures, mostly in dental care.
Possible side effects: paresthesia, tingling, giggling, euphoria, and sleepiness.
Thiopental:
Route of administration: intravenously
Mechanism of action (How does it work?): It is a barbiturate that causes the central nervous system to be
depressed, causing sedation.
General uses: used to cause drowsiness or sleep before surgery and can also treat seizures.
Possible side effects: coughing, sneezing, and hiccups.
Propofol:
Route of administration: intravenously

Mechanism of action (How does it work?): This anesthetic, which works within 40 seconds, causes a decrease
in minute ventilation which causes an increase in carbon dioxide tension.
General uses: used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia.
Possible side effects: hypotension, nausea/vomiting, bradycardia, and hypertension.

o Education & Training Required:

Requires a minimum of 12 years of postsecondary education. A suggested course is obtain a Bachelor of
Science in premedical studies (4 years); become a doctor of medicine (4 years); then undergo a 4-year
residency in anesthesiology.
o Daily Duties & Responsibilities:
Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, talk with other medical professionals to
determine type and method of anesthetic to use, coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons,
decide when patients have recovered enough to be sent to another room or be sent home following
outpatient surgery, examine patients, obtain medical history, use diagnostic tests to determine risk during
surgical procedures, and monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia.
o Salary Range:
The mean annual wage is $235,070.

Transplant Surgeon
o Education & Training Required:
Following a bachelors degree, 11-14 years are required to become a transplant surgeon. After undergrad,
medical school takes 4 years and all future transplant surgeons must complete a 5-8 year general surgery
residency program. Then a 2-year clinical transplant fellowship should be completed for specialization.
o Daily Duties & Responsibilities:

Analyze patient's medical history to determine the best procedure; examine patient to determine surgical
risk; consult other physicians and surgeons; prescribe preoperative and postoperative treatments and
procedures; direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, and residents; and operate on
patients.
o Salary Range: On average, transplant surgeons make $250,000 annually and $20,833 monthly.
Specialists usually earn more.

Perioperative Nurses (OR)

o Education & Training Required:
To become an OR nurse, must have previously obtained an undergraduate in nursing. Usually RNs
participate in these perioperative programs that take about a year. Having CCU or ER experience helps.
o Daily Duties & Responsibilities:
Assist surgeons during operations; prepare patients for surgery; care for patients after surgery; responsible
for the sterilization of the operating room; communicate to the families; handle surgical tools; and control
bleeding, exposed wounds and suture incisions under the surgeon's supervision.
o Salary Range: The median annual wages for an OR nurse is $62,450.

Pharmacist
Classes of Immunosuppressant Drugs:
Corticosteroids

Given before transplant to decrease immune systems activity, reduce

inflammation, and prevent rejection; taken after transplant with decreasing dosage until
minimum amount is taken. Taking corticosteroids long-term can cause glaucoma or
steroid-induced diabetes.

Calcineurin inhibitors

These drugs block the message sent to the brain that causes rejection;
calcineurin will most likely always need to be taken. They can cause high blood pressure
and kidney problems, as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.

Antiproliferative agents

This drug prevents the immune system from attacking the donor organ. The

common side effects are nausea, anemia, high triglycerides, and intestinal upset.
Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies block the growth of immune cells and are used right after

the transplant in combination with some of the other immunosuppressant drugs.

Polyclonal antibodies

It works by temporarily depleting the immune systems cells; this is why this
medication is used directly after the transplant surgery. They can also be used again if
the body begins to reject the organ. Side effects include fever, itching, and joint pain.

A pharmacist would assist Diana in maintaining all of her immunosuppressant drugs after the
transplant. She would explain to Diana any side effects of the medication she is taking and the risks of
medications and what medications she should not take while on immunosuppressant drugs. Her pharmacist
would play a major role in her everyday life because of the consistent flow of medications that Diana will need
to ensure her body does not reject her transplant.

Interview for Transplant Surgeon:

o

Why did you choose this career? I wanted to work on a team and help people who would otherwise

not have a chance at life. I love being able to turn someones life around completely.
o

What are the most important rewards you expect in your career? The monetary reward and the

reward of seeing my patients go on to live a better quality of life.

o

What makes you qualified for this position? I have 12 years of schooling and 3 years of clinical

experience, along with missionary work in the field.

How do you see yourself advancing in this career field? I see myself moving to a permanent position in

the mission field. This will be an extended period of time, such as a few years, and I also hope to open a
special clinic that specializes in the donation of organs.
o

How important is team work to you? This is a very important aspect of the transplant team. If we dont

flow together and execute ourselves in an organized manner, we could be putting our patient at risk.

Sources

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Inhalation Sedation (Laughing Gas). (n.d.). Dental Phobia and Dental Anxiety. Retrieved December 11, 2014,
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