NHSScotland Careers
13 May 2025
•4 min read
From military service to a healthcare career
My healthcare career began after I left the military. It wasn't a direct path, but a deliberate step towards a new career. My first role, as a rehabilitation assistant, was a great starting point. Working closely with physiotherapists and occupational therapists, I wasn't just delivering therapeutic care. I was learning, observing, and understanding the impact it had on people's lives.
I then worked for 6 years as a theatre support worker at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, or UCLH for short. During that time, I worked with lots of anaesthetic practitioners, and they inspired me to follow a similar path.
Returning to study as an adult learner
As an adult learner, my journey into nursing might be different from what you’d expect. While still working full-time, I retook my Maths GCSE and did a diploma in Advanced Clinical Health, so I could apply to university.
Fast forward to the final year of my nursing degree. I picked anaesthetics for my sign-off placement, and I knew it was where I wanted to take my first steps as a newly qualified anaesthetic practitioner.
Technical skill and human connection
From day one, the feeling that I’d made the right choice was undeniable. It wasn't just about the technical skills or problem-solving, although I loved learning from senior anaesthetic practitioners and anaesthetists about how things work and why we do them.
The real connection came from those brief moments with patients. A surprising aspect of my role is the level of emotional support we provide. Beyond our technical skills, we play a crucial role in calming patients' fears and anxieties, making sure they feel safe and cared for during surgery.
Connecting with a patient: a memorable interaction
I remember one patient who was very anxious before surgery. But nothing we were doing seemed to help. Then I noticed a small tattoo on his arm. It sparked a conversation.
We talked about what it meant, the story behind it, and as we spoke, something shifted. His worries began to ease, and he became calm.
Focusing on something personal made all the difference, and we were able to proceed safely with his anaesthesia and surgery. That moment, reaching someone on a human level when they needed it most, felt amazing
Teamwork is everything
Inside the operating theatre, teamwork is everything. It supports workflow efficiency, patient safety, and knowledge sharing. Each member of the team has a specific role, and we are all focused on the patient. Achieving the best possible outcome for every patient every time relies on the entire theatre team functioning as one. It's a powerful thing to be part of.
The surgeon leads the procedure, with the scrub practitioner anticipating every surgical instrument. The circulator nurse maintains the integrity of the sterile theatre environment and manages the patient’s safety and wellbeing throughout their surgical procedure.
As an anaesthetic practitioner, I work closely with the anaesthetist, who assesses the patient and develops a plan to manage anaesthesia during their surgery. Together, we discuss every detail of that plan and agree on appropriate actions should any problems arise.
What an anaesthetic practitioner really does
Let me share some of the other things I do in my role:
- Make sure medications are well stocked, in date, and readily available to the anaesthetist.
- Check that the equipment is in place, working, and safe to use.
- Assist the anaesthetist with intubation or insertion of Laryngeal Mask Airway placement.
- Assist the anaesthetist with regional anaesthesia, including nerve blocks and epidurals.
- Assist the anaesthetist with cannulation and line insertion, such as an Arterial line or a Central Venous Catheter.
- Care for patients from preoperative, intraoperative and transfer to postoperative.
- Safety checks, which include consent forms, theatre checklists, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) form.
- Quickly setting up a theatre for trauma, interventional radiology, CEPOD, and maternity emergencies.
Every day is a learning day!
The top 3 best things about my job
I want to share the top 3 things I like best about my job as an anaesthetic practitioner:
- There's always something to learn. You could have a patient with a condition you've never seen before. You can find out what happened to them and why, and the pathology behind it.
- There's never a dull moment in theatres. One minute, you can have a general case, and the next it could be a vascular case.
- Building a rapport with the patient. You only have a short time to do this before their procedure. They're putting their life in your hands and you could be the last person they speak to. It's an honour to care for them when they're at their most vulnerable.
Learn more about the role of an anaesthetic practitioner.
Adapting to the unexpected
In my role, adapting is an essential skill. The unexpected can sometimes happen, and I need to adapt quickly and effectively.
Driven by curiosity and learning
Choosing to become an anaesthetic practitioner and developing my understanding of quality improvement in the theatre environment has been my best career decision so far. But if I could go back in time, I would start this career earlier.
My passion for this role comes from curiosity. I want to know not just what we do but how and why. What's the pathology behind this disease? How does that pulse oximeter actually work? That drive to understand, to constantly seek out new knowledge and find better ways of doing things—that's what motivates me.
Shaping the future: research and quality improvement
In this role, there are always opportunities to learn something new from senior practitioners and anaesthetists. We can also attend courses and events, such as immediate life support training and symposiums on anaesthesia, like those organised by the Scottish Airway Society, provided approval is given and funding is available.
Looking ahead, my focus is on the future of anaesthetic practice – specifically, on driving change through research and quality improvement. I want to find smarter, more efficient ways to deliver care in the theatre.
That's why I've applied for a Research Development Fellowship. It's about gaining the skills and experience to translate ideas into action. I want to bring tangible improvements to my department. ultimately, I want to make a real difference in how we care for people when they need it most.
Is an anaesthetic practitioner role right for you?
The operating theatre is a place of continuous learning and incredible experiences. If you’re looking for a career where technical skills, teamwork, and compassion make a difference, then think about becoming an anaesthetic practitioner. It's more than a job. It's a chance to make a real difference, every single day.