Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health·Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Anaesthesia Assistant works in collaboration with the Department of Anesthesia to monitor patients and provide preoperative support. They are responsible for assisting with anesthesia care, including airway management, procedural sedation, and technical support in the operating room.
Click here to apply as an internal applicant.
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region.
We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia.
People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities.
We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes.
We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs.
We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.The Opportunity Reporting to the Manager of Children’s Perioperative services, the Anaesthesia Assistant will act as an integral member of the Perioperative team. He or she will work in close collaboration with the Department of Anesthesia and will be responsible for assisting the Anaesthesiologist in all aspects of anesthesia care. The Anaesthesia Assistant will, under the supervision/delegation of the Anaesthesiologist, monitor patients under anesthesia, provide preoperative support and develop anesthesia plans. They will work to full scope including the placement of PICC lines as well as providing procedural sedation as part of the AA led sedation team. He/she also provides technical support in preparing for patients who are undergoing anaesthesia care, both in and out of the Peds OR suite including assisting with awake intubations, difficult airways, and emergency situations. Other related duties include, but are not limited to, education of various health care professionals and introducing new technology.Hours of Work Monday to Friday; day and evening shifts, on call 24/7 coverage.Your Qualifications
Successful completion of a Diploma/Degree in Respiratory Therapy from a recognized/accredited Canadian program required.
Anesthesia Assistant Certification/Diploma required.
Certified Clinical Anesthesia Assistant designation required (or the ability to attain designation within 3 months of hire).
Registered with the Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapy (NSCRT) required.
Current successful completion of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (BLS) Program within the last 12 months, or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate.
Two years of recent (within the last 5 years) pediatric anesthesia or respiratory therapy experience preferred.
Demonstrated clinical and technical competence in a Neonatal/Pediatric Critical Care setting preferred.
Demonstrated competence in communication, interpersonal relations, problem-solving and computer applications required.
Competencies in other languages an asset; French preferred.
Required to arrive at the IWK Health Center within 30 minutes when on call. **Where there are no qualified candidates, consideration may be given to those who have enrolled in a recognized Anesthesia Assistant program and will be expected to successfully complete within 2 years**Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
Candidates must hold a Diploma or Degree in Respiratory Therapy and an Anesthesia Assistant certification. Registration with the Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapy and current BLS certification are also required.
Market context
Demand for anesthesia support roles in Nova Scotia is typically tied to operating room activity, surgical backlogs, and the need for clinicians who can work safely in perioperative teams. This role is competitive because it requires both Respiratory Therapy education and Anesthesia Assistant certification, plus registration, current BLS, and the ability to adapt to high-acuity settings. Before applying, confirm your credentials match the posting and review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here, which condense the original job description to save research time.