TT556
Hi TT. I just want to note that while you're a nurse you can't study to be an anaesthetist, which is a specialist doctor. You could however be an anaesthetic nurse, which is a type of nurse that assists the anaesthetist. I've attached some information below on them from the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses.
The anaesthetic nurse is the assistant to the anaesthetist. They:
• prepare the environment and equipment for the patient
• prepare equipment for administering the anaesthetic
• receive the patient into the operating room and establish rapport with the patient by asking and answering questions and checking identification and consent
• communicate relevant patient information to the other members of the intra-operative team, both nurses and doctors
• assist with intra-operative patient monitoring and ensure the patient’s safety, comfort and warmth
• assist the anaesthetist at the end of the procedure as the patient emerges from the effects of anaesthesia.
Knowledge and skills
•good assessment skills
•a knowledge of anaesthetic methods, anaesthetic agents and equipment
•an understanding of fluid balance and respiratory monitoring, cardiac monitoring and haemodynamic monitoring, and •the ability to identify any changes that may have impact on the patient
•knowledge of airway anatomy and physiology, airway management strategies and anaesthetic complications.
Apart from that, I think it's very healthy to be considering things like work-life balance and whatnot when considering your future career, so props on that.
I'd recommend looking for career expos (such as ACN Nursing and Health Expo 2025) in your specific state as conditions vary state-by-state so you can chat to people in the field in person.
Good luck. Lastly, keep in mind that you don't need to decide now, even if you finish high school. I didn't decide to go to university until I was in my early 20s and I'm now in medicine. There's always pathways, and being a few years deciding while you do other things isn't so bad.
