CRNA in Europe

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CRNA in Europe

I was wondering if anyone has any information on CRNA's in Europe. I mainly want to know if any of Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Finland or Norway have CRNA's play a similar role to that in the US as I have heard in some countries they are treated more as assistants and are paid not much more then other RNs. If you are able to answer any part of this it would be much appreciated.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
IFNA - The International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists
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Hi, I am a RN anethetist from Sweden, and I can inform you that we pretty much do everything when it comes to anesthesia care for patient during surgury and post operation. We put the patient into sleep, take care of the airway, give pain killer, sedativ, muscle relaxation and so on.

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zhale sami said:
Hi, I am a RN anethetist from Sweden, and I can inform you that we pretty much do everything when it comes to anesthesia care for patient during surgury and post operation. We put the patient into sleep, take care of the airway, give pain killer, sedativ, muscle relaxation and so on.

Are you allowed to have your own independent practice without anesthesiologists?

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No, not open a practice, but we can work independently when it comes to sedate patient within ASA 1-2, without an anesthesiologist "s presentcs

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

It is common for CRNAs to work independently in the United States, and all the US military CRNAs practice independently. I think what you consider independent is different than what we in the US consider independent.

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Thanks for your responses, certainly cleared some things up! :D

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Hi, yes that is right, when I say independentley, I mean we see the patient and pre anesthesia and check their medical bakground and if a patient is'nt a suitable candidate for anesthesia, we wont go on operating or sedate them. Big responsibility but we love it.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I could totally envision myself being a CRNA in Europe. Too bad I'm only fluent in English, Spanish, and Catalan. I can uphold a decent conversation with someone in Italian. I know "book French" but I'm sure I would pick it up quickly with daily practice and conversation.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
zhale sami said:
Hi, yes that is right, when I say independentley, I mean we see the patient and pre anesthesia and check their medical bakground and if a patient is'nt a suitable candidate for anesthesia, we wont go on operating or sedate them. Big responsibility but we love it.

To me working independently is that you are capable and often work without anesthesiologists. You can work solo in the hospital taking care of ASA3-4+ patients and you are completely interchangeable with anesthesiologists.

I take care of patients from preop through postop, and do my own follow ups as needed. I do my own lines, blocks (ultrasound guided PNBs, CVLs, neuraxial etc).

I think the practices in Europe resemble more of ACT practices in the United States.

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In Sweden you can come a long way wirh only with English, because English is the second language here.

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Hi! I don't know if you will see this, but I just had a couple of questions about being a CRNA in Europe. I know about IFNA...but finding the specifics is kind of hard. So, in Sweden for example, what are your hours like? Here in the states if varies. For example my cousin is a CRNA and she works 2 long shifts a week, whereas my coworker works 3 days a week 12 hour shifts. And pay is also pretty hard to find online...

I want to live/work in Europe and I just want to know the specifics!

Also language will be a barrier, but I speak Spanish, so I could work in Spain. In Sweden/Denmark do you know any RN anesthetists that speak English?

Sorry for the lengthy message :)

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