The Origins of Anesthetic Nursing Roles - Essay Example

?The origins of anaesthetic nursing roles Anaesthesia is the medical condition in which all the pain sensations are temporarily stopped in order to enable the completion of a medical process like surgery. It is caused by use of pharmacologically active components, which are known to cause lack of response to the feeling of pain. In such a situation, the skeletal muscles also lose their ability to reflex hence reducing the rate of response to pain stimuli. Different types of anaesthesia have been used in the medical occupation; nurses predominantly did the administration of anaesthesia during the 19th century. During this time, there were high mortality rates arising from use of anaesthesia during surgical operations. Anaesthetic nursing training evolved in three distinct phases in both Europe and the United States. In the first phase, nurses were initially trained through apprenticeship by surgeons on how to administer anaesthesia. The student nurse was then taken through anaesthesia administration training as part of the second phase in the development of anaesthesia. Specialized training in higher institution of learning began to offer postgraduate training in nursing anaesthesia from the beginning of the 20th century. This was the third phase of anaesthetic training across the globe (Handerfelt, 2006). The first UK anaesthesia was administered in 1945 according to Kane and Smith (2003). Educational qualification for professional anaesthetics was first developed through the introduction of a diploma in anaesthesia for professional nurses. As a result, the faculty of anaesthetics at the Royal College of Surgeons of England was created; a charter granted to the college in 1992 saw it develop to the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The royal college of anaesthetist has a responsibility of ensuring that the quality of patients care is improved in line with the standards of the association. Alice Magaw was called the ‘mother of anaesthesia’ for her pioneer role in the anaesthesia administration. Catholic nuns in the initial development of this nursing profession also played a major role. As many hospitals within this period were developed by religious organisations, the religious leaders had a major role too in the development of this speciality (Bankert, 1989). Initial administration of anaesthesia also met a lot of resistance and theatre room revolt among patients. This was due to the uncontrolled administration of the drug during the early stages of anaesthesia development. Anaesthetic use was then associated with the high number of theatre deaths in the hospitals. This caused public panic and negative awareness on the effects and importance of anaesthesia. A frontier was therefore created for the nurse anaesthetics to prove that their role was meant to save and not to end life (Hadenfelt, 2006). The anaesthetic nursing profession grew and developed during the World War 1 as more nurses were captured and force to serve at the forefront. Today, this is one of the most decorated professions in the military of the United States and anaesthetic nurses are always honoured for their services to the soldiers. After the demand for anaesthetic nurses during the World War 1, most institutions developed nursing anaesthetic programs to help bridge the existing deficit. Nursing anaesthetics are assigned major roles in major hospitals where they educated other nurses and medical interns on anaesthesia (Bankert, 1989). With this profession growing and demand increasing, the American association of nurse anaesthetists (AANA) was formed in 1931 to represent the anaesthetic nurses in the country. This association had a mandate to ensure the promotion of operation standards and provide consultation services to government agencies whenever necessary. The association also ensures that more professional are trained in this profession so as to keep up with the rising demand for anaesthetic services. Different agents have also been used as anaesthesia from the first time this medical application was discovered. Opium, an illegal drug in most countries today was the first analgesics used in the procurement of surgery for anaesthetic purposes. Alcohol was used to reduce pain in the process of surgery. However, the development of modern anaesthetics changed the whole process from the regulation to the analgesics used in the operations. Morton used ether in 1846 in one of his tumour surgical operations and this opened a new frontier in nursing anaesthetics (Kane and Smith, 2003). As the nursing profession developed and progressed in the early years of the 18th century, aesthetic nursing also developed. Nurses were becoming an integral part of the theatre rooms as they developed into anaesthesia specialists. Surgeons were also over occupied with the operation procedures to take care of nursing the patients. Comfort during surgery became a major concern in theatre rooms; this is because most of the patients would undergo complications because of panic. This necessitated the need for the development of anaesthetic nursing into a speciality. Anaesthetic nurses had a major role of ensuring that patients in a theatre room felt safe and assured of their health despite the sedation (Hadenfelt, 2006). The development of physician anaesthetics occurred at the same time as anaesthetic nursing. Physicians who witnessed the problems associated with caring for a patient under surgical operations while at the same time undertaking the procedures developed interests in this area. They pioneered the development of different professional bodies to develop the curriculum for specialized anaesthetic training. This also led to the broadening of the role played by the specialists to include caring for a patient recovering from operation procedures. The history of nursing anaesthesia has developed progressively and witnessed the revolution of medical surgical operations. Today, several specialists oversee the entire operation procedure with the nursing anaesthetics playing the role of ensuring the safety and comfort of the patients. The development of this field can be attributed to the challenges met by professional surgeons who had a problem taking care of the comfort needs of the patient while treating them at the same time. Modern training and royal college requirements A number of colleges in the United Kingdom has developed modern training curriculum for nursing anaesthetics. This has enabled the continuous provision of highly trained and specialized anaesthetic services in the area and the region. Students are exposed to a number of modern surgical operations including neurosurgical operations, obstetrics, organ transplantations, gynaecologic operations and genitourinary correctional surgery. Modern, more sophisticated and efficient anaesthetic tools are provided to the students during training. WHO, (2003) acknowledged the need for developing a more current and up to date curriculum that can address the emerging issues in surgery. Nursing anaesthesia must incorporate the use of modern medical tools like ventilators to support respiration of patients during correctional surgical procedures. This will ensure a more efficient recovery process not only from general anaesthesia but also with local anaesthesia. Patients need to remain awake during the entire surgical proceeding helps in monitoring the progress of the patient’s recovery. Anaesthetic nurse must first complete the general nursing training before undertaking a postgraduate qualification education in anaesthetic nursing. The postgraduate training will provide the nurses with a better knowledge base training, which ensures they acquire specialist skills. The advances in medical technology and modern methods in surgery are also incorporated in the postgraduate qualification. The curriculum must also ensure that the nurses are equipped with the necessary expertise that can enable them make independent and accurate judgements under the pressures of operating theatres (WHO, 2003). Anaesthetics nursing curriculum should also ensure that these specialists are equipped with skills that can enable them undertake major holistic roles as opposed to mere assisters in theatre rooms. They should be able to effectively care for patients recovering from surgery, preparing to enter a theatre and those trying to recover from the sedation effects of the anaesthesia. The modern nursing curriculum has a number of objectives and aims that upon accomplishing will make the specialist more averse with area of nursing. Students in this postgraduate training should be provided with current educational experience that will develop their intellectual and judgemental abilities. This will enable such students, upon becoming full professionals to make independent and reliable decisions that can save the lives of patients. An education framework that seeks to enable students develops their analytical and critical skills are a necessary component of this modern curriculum. This will enable them integrate the theory and the practical aspects of this area of nursing (WHO, 2003). Responding to the changing face of anaesthetic nursing is a beneficial trait that the modern curriculum should incorporate. This will enable anaesthetic nursing professionals to be in a position to adapt to the new tools and ways of practising. Anaesthetic nursing curriculum should incorporate the principles of medical research to enable graduates in this area to conduct independent research on the new methods of anaesthetics. The requirement for entry into the post graduate program in anaesthetics nursing varies depending on the college. However, an undergraduate nursing degree is applicable to all those who may seek to enter into this program. The royal college has unique entry requirements for students both local and international. This is applicable to both residents and non residents of the European Union; moreover, the British Anaesthetic and Recovery Nurses Association determine the entry into this program. Non-UK practising nurses who would like to join this program must first register with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council. This body governs the activities of nurses in the country. Such individuals will then receive necessary advice as to whether their training is adequate for them to proceed with a postgraduate training in anaesthetic nursing. In case your transcripts are not written in English, translation of the results will be done. The number of hours that an individual spent in lecture halls for his undergraduate degree units will also be accessed to enable the admission board gauge your eligibility. The Royal College of Anaesthetist is one of the leading institutions in offering postgraduate qualifications in nursing anaesthetist; moreover, the college develops curriculum for anaesthetics trainings in the region. Before beginning of the postgraduate training course in anaesthetics nursing, all students are required to undergo an Acute Care Common System program. This will enable the trainees to garner important knowledge that can enable them assess acute ill patients. It also provides trainees with important resuscitation training skills that are important in case a patient may require post theatre resuscitation. The royal school of medicine provides specialist training in nursing anaesthesia. This enable graduates to be in a position to care for the various situations that may arise from the surgical operations. The intensive medicine training enable anaesthetic nurses gather essential knowledge on how to care for patients who are at risk of recovering from threatening illnesses. All anaesthetists are also taken through the intensive care medicine training. This enables royal college graduates to be lead consultants while at the same practising anaesthesia. Patel et al (2012) highlights the requirements for one to join anaesthetics training at the royal college of anaesthetists. Prior six months exposure in emergency medicine is highly critical for one to admit into this program. Physician assistant and anaesthetic nurse consultant Physician assistant are professionals trained to work with an anaesthetic team but under the supervision of the consultant anaesthetist. In order to be a physician assistant, one must be well trained in the anaesthesia at postgraduate level. Physician anaesthetists coordinate the anaesthetics team during a surgical operation while conducting a preoperative assessment, providing sedation to other specialities within the theatre room and ensuring utilisation of the theatre. The presence of physician assistant within a theatre room has been proved to increase the success of the entire operation process. This is due to their important coordination role, which ensures smooth processes of sedation and cooperation within the anaesthesia team. Anaesthetic nurse consultant ensures the operational management and coordination of the anaesthetic and post anaesthetics care team takes place within a health facility. An anaesthetic-nursing consultant ensures that all staffs within his/her unit are well managed and coordinated. This involves prior planning of activities and delegation of duties well in advance before the operation process begins. This position also requires an individual to possess a vision coupled with the desire to succeed and develop new ideas. Anaesthetist nursing requires the ability to adapt to new and changing faces of healthcare and a consultant in this area must understand all the challenges that this role presents. The focus that the profession puts on patients requires that a consultant be able to amass enough experience and ability to evaluate great clinical services. An understanding of the different roles played by physician assistant and anaesthetist assistant is critical before making an informed career decision. While the two work under similar environment, they do not perform duplicate functions. The education curriculum for the two anaesthetic specialities also differs adversely. Physician assistant receive an education system which is quite general. Anaesthetic nursing consultant however has a more confined curriculum which restricts them from practising away from the field of anaesthesia. Cross practise for an anaesthetist nurse may require more specialized training in the basics of that area. With my nursing background, anaesthetic nurse consultant offers a fertile ground for my practise. This is because my current exposure to emergencies makes it easier for me to gain entry into the Royal College of Anaesthesia. A specialized training in this area will take a shorter time and grant me multiple opportunities in the country. According to Kane and Smith (2003), the 1997 audit exposed the shortage of anaesthetic nurses in the country. Despite the increase in training opportunities for professionals to take up anaesthetic specializations, the number of anaesthetic nurses has been very low. This means that any individual who enters this market with the right skills has a tremendous opportunity of growth. Anaesthetics nursing profession also offers a number of sub-specialities which will provide me with an opportunity to belong to a range of experiences in medicine. As a consultant, the number of clients handled plays a major role and therefore anaesthetic nursing is the best speciality for me. The progress that has occurred in the field of anaesthetic nursing has enabled the medical sector to progress significantly. Mostly affected is the surgery department that historically suffered from incidences of patient death during surgery. Today however, specialist can conduct a surgical process while leaving the process of anaesthetic application to anaesthetic nurses. References Bankert, M 1989, Watchful care: A history of America’s nurse anaesthetist, New York: Continuum. Hadenfelt, S 2006, A historical study of nurse anaesthesia education in Nebraska, [Online] Available at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=cehsdiss [Accessed 12 July 2013]. Kane, M and Smith, A 2003, exploring professional boundaries in anaesthetics: report for the national coordinating centre for NHS service delver and organisation. [Online] Available at: http://www.netscc.ac.uk/hsdr/files/project/SDO_FR_08-1204-028_V01.pdf [Accessed 12 July 2013]. Patel, S, Gulati, S, Jones, H 2012, Pre-hospital and intensive care training update, RCoA trainee committee newsletter, [Online] Available at: http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/system/files/TRG-AT-Gas3.pdf [Accessed 12 July 2013] World health organisation. 2003, WHO Europe Anaesthetic Nursing Curriculum: WHO European strategy for continuing education for nurses and midwives. [Online] Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/102258/E81550.pdf [Accessed 12 July 2013]. Read More