Anesthesiologists

Medical Doctor (MD)

Obstetrical Anesthesiologist

Staff Anesthesiologist

Staff Anesthetist

What is an Anesthesiologist?

Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who specialize in anesthesiology, a field that focuses on the management of pain and anesthesia during surgical procedures and other medical interventions. Their primary role is to ensure patient safety and comfort before, during, and after surgeries by administering anesthesia, monitoring patients' vital signs, and managing pain relief. Anesthesiologists are highly trained in various types of anesthesia, including general, regional, and local anesthesia, and they possess a deep understanding of pharmacology, physiology, and the effects of anesthesia on the body. In addition to their role in surgery, anesthesiologists also provide pain management services for patients suffering from chronic pain conditions, and work in critical care settings, assisting in resuscitation and life support for critically ill patients. They play a critical role in interdisciplinary healthcare teams, collaborating with surgeons, nurses, and other medical professionals to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Job Outlook

Projected salary and job growth

New job opportunities are likely in the future. : Average

Finding local jobs...

Assessment

Related assessments and tests

No assessment available.

Related Occupations

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.

Technology Skills

Medical software
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint 365
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel 365
Electronic mail software
- Microsoft Outlook 365
Word processing software
- Microsoft Word 365

Tools Used

Gas anesthesia apparatus or machines
Electronic stethoscopes
- Precordial stethoscopes
- Pretracheal stethoscopes
Arterial line catheters
- Intra-arterial catheters
- Swan Ganz artery catheters
Cardiac output CO monitoring units
- Heart rate monitors
- Invasive hemodynamic pressure monitors
Endotracheal or tracheotomy sets
- Tracheostomy sets

Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

2 Active Jobs in South Africa

Avg Salary: R85,566pm

Is a Career as an Anaesthesiologist in South Africa Your Calling?

Choosing to specialise in anaesthesia is a profound commitment to patient safety and surgical success. In the current South African healthcare landscape, the demand for these specialists remains high, with 2 active jobs currently available. Financially, the trajectory is equally compelling. The average salary is R85,566pm, with market data showing a significant growth trend throughout 2024—climbing from approximately R75,298 in January to a projected R94,123 by December. If you possess a blend of scientific rigour and the ability to remain calm in a crisis, this could be your ideal career path.

Is Anaesthesiology Right for Me? (Psychometric Checklist)

Before embarking on this intensive journey, evaluate whether you possess the core traits required to excel in the operating theatre. Use this checklist to gauge your alignment with the profession:

Unwavering Vigilance: Can you maintain intense focus for long durations, even during routine procedures?
Crisis Management: Do you remain calm, logical, and decisive when a patient's vitals drop unexpectedly?
Meticulous Accuracy: Are you naturally inclined to double-check dosages and monitor fine details?
Strong Communication: Can you effectively lead a theatre team and reassure anxious patients in a matter of minutes?
Physical and Mental Stamina: Are you prepared for the rigours of long shifts and the emotional weight of high-stakes surgery?
Technological Aptitude: Do you enjoy working with complex monitoring equipment and pharmacological data?

A Day in the Life of a South African Anaesthesiologist

In a South African context, your day typically begins long before the first incision. Whether you are working at a state hospital like Chris Hani Baragwanath or a private facility such as a Netcare or Mediclinic, your morning starts with pre-operative assessments. You will meet patients to review their medical histories, explain the anaesthetic process, and mitigate their fears.

Once in the theatre, you are the "pilot" of the patient’s life-support systems. You will administer a precise cocktail of drugs, intubate, and then spend the duration of the surgery monitoring physiological markers with eagle-eyed precision. You work in close collaboration with surgeons, but you are the final authority on the patient’s stability. Between cases, you may be called to the ICU or the maternity ward for epidurals, making the environment fast-paced, unpredictable, and deeply rewarding.

Education, Specialisation, and Continuous Upskilling

The road to becoming a specialist anaesthesiologist in South Africa is one of the most rigorous academic paths in medicine. It requires a long-term commitment to excellence and a passion for life-long learning.

Formal Degrees: You must first complete a 6-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree at an accredited South African university, followed by two years of internship and one year of community service.
Specialisation: Following your general training, you must enter a Registrar programme to earn a Master of Medicine (MMed) in Anaesthesia or complete the Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists of South Africa (FCA SA). This usually takes another 4 to 5 years.
Professional Registration: You must be registered as a Specialist Anaesthesiologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Continuous Learning: Medicine evolves rapidly. Beyond formal degrees, you must participate in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes, attending workshops on new regional anaesthesia techniques, pain management, and advanced life support certifications.

Next Steps: Are You Ready?

The journey to becoming an anaesthesiologist is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires a unique temperament that balances high-level pharmacology with human compassion. If you are intrigued by the blend of technology, physiology, and critical care, you are already halfway there. However, the true test lies in your psychological readiness for the responsibility of the theatre. Test your readiness now by taking our specialised career assessment to see if you have the profile to thrive in this high-pressure, high-reward profession.

Skills

Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?

Post-doctoral training

69 %
Doctoral degree

25 %
Professional degree

5 %

Awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession

Work Activities

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing 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.
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.

Detailed Work Activities

Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
Implement advanced life support techniques.
Prepare patients physically for medical procedures.
Record patient medical histories.
Administer anesthetics or sedatives to control pain.

Work Interests

Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.