Nursing in the United Kingdom

[aus nurse]

Originally posted by kona2

Interesting to compare working conditions & wages in different countries. One of our staff RNs (California) just moved to Australia. In her letter that we recently received, she told us things we could not believe about the nursing role over there. Not sure if it's true at ALL Australian hospitals, but supposedly she works at a 400 bed facility where RNs do not carry stethoscopes. They don't auscultate hearts, lungs or abdomens at all!

Get this- the MDs put in all IVs and foley caths. (Could you even picture calling the doc to put a IV in?). Also, the RNs have minimal charting (she claims they only chart once/day then just a bit of minor box checking).

Well, before you all move over there, LOL, be forewarned...she also said nurses get about 9 patients/ each dayshift. I guess they keep busy too!

And on top of all that, she told us that nurses can give over the counter meds to patients w/o an MD order when the patient is hospitalized (like Tylenol, maalox, etc.).

It's a whole different ball of wax, I guess. It's socialized medicine over there, so you can get wait listed for procedures and treatments for a Loooong time, I hear. She says MDs are very respectful of the nurses, as are the patients. And she says the patients are very appreciative for the nurses help & care, and don't seem to abuse the call light (not like where I work, ha ha).

I still can't get over the "no stethoscopes" thing. I'm just one of the "new nurses," so I guess it was like that here a few decades ago? Hard to imagine!

~kona

Ah kona, this is only one example of hospitals in Australia. I have nursed here for 20 years nearly, and have worked in a variety of places. Most hospitals I work in I cannulate. Usually each place has a competency workshop to attend. There are some hospitals around, mostly the private places where RN's do not cannulate, but in my experience these are the minority. Many larger hospitals have IV teams too. I have NEVER worked anywhere where MD's put in Foley's:eek: that is an RN job.

I frequently carry a stethoscope and ausculate chests and abdo's.

RN initated drugs vary from hospital to hospital, but usually cover the general OTC stuff.

9 patients sounds a lot for a day shift..more likely on a night shift. Perhaps she also was teamed with another RN, EN or AIN.

And finally.........some of the aussie patients I look after sure do abuse that call bell:rolleyes:

[karenG]

hi

I work in General practice in London- and I can prescribe! the list of drugs that i can prescribe is limited but hey its a start! I am a nurse practitioner - there are about 2000 of us here ( that have actually done the degree course!) and am one of the first independant nurse prescribers in the country. The role of the nurse here is growing, changing and maturing. It is a case of watch this space!!! The only problem is pay or lack of it but one day...........

Karen

[karenG]

hi

I work in General practice in London- and I can prescribe! the list of drugs that i can prescribe is limited but hey its a start! I am a nurse practitioner - there are about 2000 of us here ( that have actually done the degree course!) and am one of the first independant nurse prescribers in the country. The role of the nurse here is growing, changing and maturing. It is a case of watch this space!!! The only problem is pay or lack of it but one day...........

Karen

[Catherine UK]

Well done Karen. Shame about the pay though - it seems that nurses are expected to take on a lot of what the doctors used to do but the extra work load isn't being reflected in the pay packet at the end of the month. Still I suppose money wasn't the first reason why we came into nursing hehehe.

[Catherine UK]

Well done Karen. Shame about the pay though - it seems that nurses are expected to take on a lot of what the doctors used to do but the extra work load isn't being reflected in the pay packet at the end of the month. Still I suppose money wasn't the first reason why we came into nursing hehehe.

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Interesting comments.

Jayna-

Well, yes, I have to admit that I depend on my stethoscope as an assessment tool. I'm sure there are certain tools that you rely on, that maybe you would have a hard time giving up also. I really like to know what those lungs, heart, and abdomen sound like.I use it to check manual blood pressures. I use it also when assessing AV grafts of our renal patients. Please don't misunderstand me. I know it is possible to give good nursing care without these tools. I just rely on my stethoscope so much, in helping me figure out "the big picture" with my patients. I can't tell you how many times I call the doc b/c a patient is going bad, and they ask me, "How do the lungs sound?" etc. I think it is interesting to learn how healthcare is managed in different countries. Believe me, I KNOW the US sytem has it's problems! I could write you a book about all the flaws and waste in OUR system! Maybe I was silly to be surprised by this, but oh well, lesson learned. :)

Aus nurse- Thanks for setting me straight. I knew maybe her (my coworker who moved to Australia) experience was unique, and definately not representative of all Australian hospitals. Maybe her "story" surprised you as well! LOL! She did say she was working with an "EN." It was just really fun for us to imagine calling the doc to start an IV or put in a foley! I know even without doing those things, she is still responsible for assessing changes in patients' status, etc. She did stress that her job kept her very busy! And I'm sorry to hear you have the same problem with call lights as I do. I can spend 40 mins straight with one patient, and thinking I have met their every need, leave the room only to have them call for me 5 minutes later! Hee hee.

Have a great day everyone!

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Interesting comments.

Jayna-

Well, yes, I have to admit that I depend on my stethoscope as an assessment tool. I'm sure there are certain tools that you rely on, that maybe you would have a hard time giving up also. I really like to know what those lungs, heart, and abdomen sound like.I use it to check manual blood pressures. I use it also when assessing AV grafts of our renal patients. Please don't misunderstand me. I know it is possible to give good nursing care without these tools. I just rely on my stethoscope so much, in helping me figure out "the big picture" with my patients. I can't tell you how many times I call the doc b/c a patient is going bad, and they ask me, "How do the lungs sound?" etc. I think it is interesting to learn how healthcare is managed in different countries. Believe me, I KNOW the US sytem has it's problems! I could write you a book about all the flaws and waste in OUR system! Maybe I was silly to be surprised by this, but oh well, lesson learned. :)

Aus nurse- Thanks for setting me straight. I knew maybe her (my coworker who moved to Australia) experience was unique, and definately not representative of all Australian hospitals. Maybe her "story" surprised you as well! LOL! She did say she was working with an "EN." It was just really fun for us to imagine calling the doc to start an IV or put in a foley! I know even without doing those things, she is still responsible for assessing changes in patients' status, etc. She did stress that her job kept her very busy! And I'm sorry to hear you have the same problem with call lights as I do. I can spend 40 mins straight with one patient, and thinking I have met their every need, leave the room only to have them call for me 5 minutes later! Hee hee.

Have a great day everyone!