Nurse Practitioner UK

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2011

Nursing is a very different profession over here in the US. Dr's can be very rigid and old fashioned. Dr's tend to be the 'boss' which was never the case in the UK

JodieMay · Aug 2, 2011

From some of the post's on the previous thread, it would seem that some of the nurse's are a little old fashioned too

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2011

When I came to the US it was so different I cannot imagine if I could return to the UK to nurse anymore. Almost 6 years changes you.

The power here lies with the Doctor there is no question about it. The RN's have no choice but to know this as the DR can get you fired!

This would never happen back in the UK

Dont get me wrong there is so many positive things over here like the access to quick MRI's and CT's.

My co-workers have been fantastic.

In the UK the doctors and nurses are very separate professions and there is a clear divide line

In the US the control is not with the nurses at all. The line is smudged if you know what I mean.

UK nurses have a lot of power which I am not sure I appreciated as much as I should have.

When I came to the US in 2005 there was 'a nursing shortage' so jobs were in abundance, now there is still a nursing shortage but the powers that be do not fill the jobs instead they make a higher nurse pt ratio. I kid you not when I tell you I worked 1-4 pts on a med/surg floor and then 4/1 on a cardiac step down unit. I honestly thought I had died and gone to heaven.

I worked 1-24pt sometimes in the Uk when we were short of staff LOL and rarely did we have more than a couple of RN's

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2011

OH yeah and this is the best thing, you know how we call Dr's by their first name unless they are consultants well here you have to address the doctor by Doctor XXXXX

even if they are a brand new doctor!

Trauma Columnist · Aug 2, 2011

Appreciate the insight you two have.

You failed to mention the guiding light of the US medical system - liability and the litigious society in which we live!

That guides ALL our care.

JodieMay · Aug 2, 2011

OH yeah and this is the best thing, you know how we call Dr's by their first name unless they are consultants well here you have to address the doctor by Doctor XXXXX
even if they are a brand new doctor!

That would be pretty hard to get my head around, especially on the work's night out :lol2:

JodieMay · Aug 2, 2011

Appreciate the insight you two have.
You failed to mention the guiding light of the US medical system - liability and the litigious society in which we live!
That guides ALL our care.

We do have liability and litigation here too. As I previously mentioned, as ANP's we are autonomous practitioners, who are able to make autonomous decision's for which we are accountable. This does not stop all healthcare professionals working together as a team. We all have respect for each other's role and appreciate that everyone should have a say at all level's of care. Hence my original statement that we don't take "orders"

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2011

TraumaRUs is a APN she has a lot of Autonomy and she is very specialised, especially as she works in the Renal community which tends to have a more autonomy than other specialties

JodieMay · Aug 2, 2011

I appreciate the differences in practice. I have worked in the UAE, totally different there too.

The day's are gone, in the UK at least, when nurses are considered mere hand maidens to the almighty doctors. Yet there are people on these forums still talking about taking orders from a doctor. It just doesn't happen here. maybe its the difference in practice that has been spoken about, I don't know.

All I know is that as an ANP I worked hard and long to get where I am and I treat my fellow workers with respect, as they do me. We don't work under orders, we work as a professional multidisciplinary team to give the best care and outcomes to our patients. It is not always perfect, but then what is?