What attracts people into anaesthesia? As one of the largest hospital specialities that answer is very varied.
- It is very much a hands-on practical specialty. Routine practical skills acquired include tracheal intubation and insertion of arterial lines, central lines etc. The use of local anaesthetic techniques including epidurals, spinals and other nerve blocks are a routine part of anaesthetic practice.
- The variety of work that an anaesthetist can choose. Anaesthetists are involved in diverse areas such chronic pain, obstetrics, ITU, paediatric cardiology, invasive radiology and of course, the core discipline of operative surgery.
- An interest in physiological sciences. Anaesthetists acquire an in-depth understanding of applied physiology and pharmacology
- The challenge of looking after the critically ill
- An interest in teaching. Anaesthetists play a major role in teaching both medical and non-medical staff. They are instructors on courses such as ATLS, ALS, APLS; are involved in simulator training and of course teach their own trainees.
- The ease of working part time
- An interest in research. One of the attractions of the Welsh school of Anaesthesia is the very strong academic department at the University of Wales
