Nursing in the UK

[RocktheBoat]

I have a project for grad where I have to learn about nursing in another country. Some questions I have are: what is your nursing specialty and what duties does that job entail, what is your education, what are some current issues in nursing, and how are nurses treated? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[darkest-star]

Hi RocktheBoat.

I'm currently waiting to start a intensive care/high dependency post sometine this month, duities wise, well can't really say at the moment until I get a start but at interview it was evidentthat I had all the skills needed (communication time management leadership wound care). I would say I have the holistic approach I pretty much do the lot. I have just resigned from there were only two of us from around twenty five registered nurses that were able to insert I.V. Cannulae and we both worked nights!!!!!!!

I want/need those skills maintained for a modern working environment. It's all well and good to offer personal care feeding those who canot etc, but at 4am when a confused post op patient needs fluids and has just removed their cannula and the doctors are attending a cardiac arrest I need to be sure my patients survive also.

Current issues. Personally training and development, the move to all degree standard nurses and the financial implications subsequently, timely use of the Liverpool Care Pathway, pay and conditions etc etc.

Education... lifelong never stop most things are short courses, would like and will complete my degree will have the chance in the frture to do critical care nursing degree On reflection nursing school was lacking but i suppose the university have to have approach as with say sciences maths art architecture etc

How are nurses treated? Well depende who/what you are. Managers don't give a hoot, most patients are grateful and glad you are there for them the media...cannot say. On the whole Nurses do a dammed good job in some difficult circumstances.

We had a patient last year who became very unwell post op with pneumonia and was to frail to fight it. His family were wonmderful and so co-operative with his situation. One night he became more unwell and it was evident he wouldn't survive. we had several empty beds on the ward that night and I wanted to move him and his family into a six bedded bay by themselves instead of being in a very small cramped side room. They said no thanks as the saw it as too much trouble which it wasn't and never would be. He died later that day and a couple of weeks later I recieved a copy of a letter the family wrote to the chief exec of the trust, thanking the staff over and over.There was an outpouring of emotion in the letter and it brought tears to my eyes.

That sometimes is how we are regarded not often but once in a while is good.

May be long winded but I hope its a start for you

[RocktheBoat]

Thank you so much for the reply darkest-star!