Anaesthetic Nurse Jobs

What is an Anaesthetic Nurse?

A nurse anaesthetist is a caregiver within the anaesthesia team.

They administer general anaesthetic, monitor patients’ vital signs, provide pre-surgical assessments and post-surgical care.

Most often, nurse anaesthetists work within acute care units such as accident and emergency wards or intensive care units. Key skills and qualities required of those working as a nurse anaesthetist include:

• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Resilient to stressful or high-pressure environments
• Emotional intelligence and empathy
• Excellent time management
• Organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively
• Strong communication and teamwork skills

As healthcare professionals that work within the field of anaesthesia, upon completion of their diploma they may register to be members of the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ voluntary register.

As part of the anaesthesia team, nurse anaesthetists work as part of a larger team of medical professionals to provide care for patients. Some of the colleagues they may work with on a daily basis include anaesthetists, theatre nurses, surgeons and doctors specialising in emergency medicine.

What does a nurse anaesthetist do?

A nurse anaesthetist, also known as an anaesthesia associate, provides anaesthesia, respiratory care and other emergency or life-sustaining services within the anaesthesia and critical care environments.

They work under the close supervision of a consultant anaesthetist and there are clear boundaries set as to what the nurse anaesthetist can and cannot do. Some examples of their duties and responsibilities include:

• Conducting preoperative patient interviews

• Taking patient information, including medical history, physical examinations, laboratory, radiographic and other diagnostic data

• Implementing anaesthesia care plans

• Administering general anaesthetic for surgical or medically related procedures

• Administering drugs as prescribed

• Identifying postoperative problems and taking appropriate actions

Whether they’re working in an NHS hospital, private hospital or clinic setting, nurse anaesthetists play an important role within the multidisciplinary anaesthesia team. Under the supervision of a consultant anaesthetist, they carry out general nursing and care duties to support the wellbeing of patients both before, during and after anaesthesia.