uk nurse in italy

paws2frolic · Jan 21, 2005

It does sound scary! What is your "new career"?

Hi there all.... yep I know it's been an age since I visited and posted on the forum but loads has happened so I wanted to bring you up to date with " nursing in Italy".Well the comitte finally agreed that I was a safe practitioner and I got a job working as a nurse in one of the biggest hospitals in Rome. Unfortunately the agency I work for couldnot place me in ITU, so I found myself in emergency surgery. This was fine, no probs with the work, type of interventions etc, but the practice! Oh my God. I cried every night I got home. Just to tell you the worst:
The meds are written by the doctor, then the sister writes in pencil on a sheet of paper, then the nurse on the floor writes a list of the meds and often the next shift prepares the meds for the next shift. Often I saw nurses putting 3/4 drugs in one bottle of Na Cl! Patients questioned my practice when I gave them separately.We had patients on verapamil without cardiac monitoring and patients on nitrates which were disconnected ( often by the patients) to go to the loo!!!!! There were unlabelled syringes and no proof of having given a drug. We had no handover... just read a book of changes and every patient was a bed number. In every room there were 3 patients without screens or curtains and enough space to swing a small mouse. The docs did the dressings so you never got to evaluate the wounds of patients and when we washed the patients we used baby wipes and only washed their genitals! There are more things but I won't bore you.
I stuck it for 4 weeks and then said " NOOOOOOOOO!" I left just before Xmas to begin a new career in the comunity where things are better but not brill.
However, the weather is great, the kids are happy,the people are lovely and the summers are to die for so I think we'll press on!
Anna

Blackbird · Jan 22, 2005

Salve, Bella. My partner is from the north - in Udine so our Italian is Fruilian.

I'm currently a student in Australia and will keep a keen eye on this thread.

scarlet2 · May 4, 2010

Hi there just wondering if you have any information or advice on moving to Italy or nursing?

Grazie

J X

ShaSha504 · Jul 24, 2012

Hello all, I'm new to the forum but hope to exchange loads of info with everyone. My post is quite specific. I have worked in the uk for 14 yrs in ITU, but now I live in Italy. I would like to meet anyone who is currently nursing here in Italy. I hope to begin work at our local hospital in September but of course this will be my first time nursing in Italy.Would love to chat, exchange info and learn lots.
I can speak and write italian so I hope this helps anyone reply.
Ciao
Anna

Hi Anna,

MY name is Sharon, RN.... my first time on this site, and just read about you now liviing in Italy. I'm here in the US Houston TX and is considering moving to Italy myself soon. I'd love for us to become more acquainted so please keep intouch. my email is [email protected]

Ciao

Sharon