Difference between nursing in the UK vs nursing in the US? - Page 3

Yes we can give Paracetamol (acetaminophen), gaviscon, lactulose without an order. We write it on the front of their drug charts and the docs can sign it later.

I thought the question was ok.
well, I'm not there (US) yet! But my mum has gone over there 5 years ago and is loving it. It's not just the massive pay increase, it's the whole way of life. She's in CA, so for 10 months of the year it's beautiful weather and you can live outside a lot more. People are nicer to each other. Realise I'd better be careful as things can be interpreted the wrong way. But all I know that is when I go into a shop in the US and buy something the staff are actually nice to me, I actually nearly had to wrestle a very kind shop assistant from Belaire(?) I think as she wanted to take my shopping to the car, I just wasn't used to such kindness, here, a shop assistant will barely look up if I ask them for something and then they usually grunt at me!
There are CCTV camera's EVERYWHERE - it was in the news the other day that UK is the most 'Big Brother' type nation. People walk with their head down with no eye contact. I live in Manchester and it's always grey and raining! Need I say more???
Right I've finished. Janelola

Skwidward I did NOT do that to your name intentionally. I just cannot spell or type and I didn't check back to see what your name actually was before I typed it. SORRY!!!!!!

Maybe speaking a bit out of term but think this thread is getting a bit heated. It doesn't matter where we work in the world nurses have different roles and different way of doing things. Surely we can answer the OP's question without getting at everyone.

hear hear!

I'm a UK nurse who is also "legging it" across the pond. I'm leaving for many of the reasons that Janelola mantioned along with the congestion, draconian parking measures, stealth taxes etc.

Also I do actually know where the OP was coming from with the original comment where he talked about RN's being like CNA's. What I think was meant was the fact that here the RN is expected to take full care of the patient. For example, When I get my allocated 5 patients (I'm lucky enough to be in the private sector where my maximum caseload is usulaly 5) I have to do everything for them that shift be it washing them, making their bed, helping them with their meals etc etc as well as meds, careplanning etc etc. This is where I think the idea of the UK RN being like a CNA comes from because we have to do the whole lot. When I was in the NHS my role also included washing the bed area & locker too, cleaning up with the mop if anything was spilled etc etc!

However, I don't have a problem with orders because if a patient goes into retention I can just OK it with the RMO (resident medical officer) to put a cath in etc. Only occasionaly do I have to call their consultant for orders. I am certified to cannulate & take bloods but in the UK we are not taught to listen for heart or lung sounds (although I do listen to the latter if I'm concerned about fluid retention etc) however, bowel sounds are definitely part of my remit because we have plenty of gynae surgery on the unit.

I quite liked the original question because I have wondered what attracts UK nurses to the US.


Rn's roles in the UK are very practical, we have alot of hands on care. I love doing direct patient care such as baths, oral and eye care, doing and recording obervations (vitals) it gives me time to talk to my patients and get to know them. We do not do formal physical assessments such as listening to heart, lung and bowels sounds routinely although in my area if the nurses are concerned about a particular patient they will listen to chest and bowel sounds.

We are able to act on our nursing assessments so that if we feel a patient is in retention we will catheterise, we make decisions to remove catheters post-operatively. If we have patients who we feel needs naso-gastric tubes then we will pass them without asking the medics.

One poster asked about litigation and who would be sued. In the UK although things are changing at the moment legal action against nurses is not common. I do think this is changing but providing the nurse can give sound justification and rationale for the care provided it is part of the care we provide.

I love hands on nursing and the time I spend with my patients, in fact something like a complete bed bath and hair wash for a totally dependent patient is one of my favorites.

We give out the medications and use judgment to administer as required meds such as analgesia, angina meds, anti emetics.

Essentially UK nurses are hands on nurses who provide all aspects of patient care with the assistance of health care support workers.

Nurse to patient ratios can vary from hospital to hospital where I work we have 32 bedded wards and these will be staffed with 6 qualifieds and 2 support workers.

[QUOTE=RGN1]
Also I do actually know where the OP was coming from with the original comment where he talked about RN's being like CNA's. What I think was meant was the fact that here the RN is expected to take full care of the patient. For example, When I get my allocated 5 patients (I'm lucky enough to be in the private sector where my maximum caseload is usulaly 5) I have to do everything for them that shift be it washing them, making their bed, helping them with their meals etc etc as well as meds, careplanning etc etc. This is where I think the idea of the UK RN being like a CNA comes from because we have to do the whole lot. When I was in the NHS my role also included washing the bed area & locker too, cleaning up with the mop if anything was spilled etc etc!

QUOTE]

That is the nice part of the job though isnt it - dont you think? I like being able to take care of the "whole" pt, washing them, changing the bed etc etc...this is basic nursing care at the end of the day and I personally dont think it should be beneath any nurse to be able to do it, (I am not saying that anyone is saying it is either) the question is whether you have time to help the CNA's to do it with the workload most nurses have.

The assessment process in the USA is different to the UK in that in the USA we listen to lungs/heart sounds and start IV's...these are the things that myself and other UK nurses have struggled with initially, so if you are one of those UK nurses on their way here - practise as much as you can while you are there to get heads up - it will be so much easier then when you get here.

[QUOTE=XB9S]

I love hands on nursing and the time I spend with my patients, in fact something like a complete bed bath and hair wash for a totally dependent patient is one of my favorites.

QUOTE]


Me too - plus this is the ideal time to check your pt thoroughly all over for anything for breaks//bruising etc.