Anesthesia Nursing in the UK

Hermione · Aug 25, 2003

:eek: I am at present doing my BSc in adult nursing(HONS)

I too am interested in becoming a nurse anaethetist but in America!!!!

I am hoping to come over once qualified and specialise with you lot.

You are better off staying in the US to be honest ,everythng costs so much over here and the weather isnt that good.

Im sure if you really want to come over you would be very welcome.

I am hoping to do my elective placement in the US and hopfully in Anaesthesia,maybe you could point me in the right direction.

Thanks:roll

abrnindc · Aug 26, 2003

That's great that you are thinking of studying anesthesia. It is very time consuming (schooling that is) but I think it will be worth it. Most programs here in the US require at least one year of ICU experience before starting, but I would say, get that one year and go ahead and apply! Check out the details of each program as well as you can to get a feel for the differences between them. Some are integrated and some are frontloaded. Integrated programs place you in the OR right away and combine classes as well whereas the frontloaded programs put all/most of the coursework in the first year and then clinical rotations the second year. I am in a frontloaded program...which seems to work but I feel like I have forgotten a lot. So it's really what you are comfortable with. And that's about it! Good luck to you! And it's definitely time to pioneer nurse anesthesia in the UK!!! Because I want to move! :cool:

Hermione · Aug 27, 2003

Thanks for replying.

I think the best thing to do is move out to the USA when I have qualified and get experience in the OR or itensive care as we call it!!

I should then apply to do the Masters in anaesthetics-you call it anaesthesia!!

I am married with three children and we all love the USA so it would be a big step.

Is it hard to get in to America or not too bad for medical staff?

I think I will get with an agency and sit the exams through them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Is the academic work hard?

Do you already have a nursing degree?

Bye for now

From Hermione:D

abrnindc · Aug 27, 2003

Hello!

To answer some of your questions, it should be fairly easy for you to get into the US to work as a nurse and a nurse anesthetist because there is such a shortage of both. The anesthesia course work is difficult in that it is a HUGE time committment, HUGE! Practically no free time for yourself. But it is temporary, which is how I cope with it.

I do have a bachelor's degree in nursing already, which you need before you start the program. And so I am working towards of MAster of Science Degree in ANesthesia.

So, I am still really thinking about living in the UK. My boyfriend is from there, living in London, and I really love it there. HE may be able to come here, but I love Europe and want to live overseas. Do you know if an Operating Department PRacitioner does what a nurse anesthetist does? And can you or do you know of anyone who can explain to me the differences among practitioners?

Thanks!!

Hermione · Aug 28, 2003

Hi there,

Thanks for replying.

I once considered a career as an operating department practitioner,the course itself is only two years which leads to a Diploma,in my opinion you would be too over qualified to do this over here.You call them surgical technicians I think !

We do have such a thing as an anaesthetic nurse which does practically everything an OPD does.

We are now piloting schemes over the UK which means they are trying to get nurses to give the anaesthetic as there is a shortage of anaethetists

I can understand your need to come to the UK if your boyfriend is here.

Just make sure you get a job over here that you will not be bored in because it sounds like you are very clever.

I start my BSc in adult nursing in september,I can't wait to get started now.

Can you find out what universities in Florida specialise in Anaesthetics and nursing-As you work differently out there to us it is hard for me to find universities.

I would ideally like central Florida as we want to buy a house there.

I dont expect you to do all the work ,but please can you give me a name of a university so I can put it in my search enguine,it will then hopefully come up !!!!

I of course will do anything this end to help you.

I really look forward to hearing from you

From Hermione

abrnindc · Aug 29, 2003

To send you in the best direction possible for anesthesia programs in the US, take a look at the website of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The website, I believe, is . If not, try http://www.aana.org> But I think the first is correct. Look under programs and they list all the programs by state..so click under Florida and you should be able to find what you are looking for. Good luck. Will definitely be back in touch soon. Gonna have to work on my political skills and see how I positively introduce nurse anesthetists to the UK! I am bound and determined!!! Take care.