Training in Anaesthetics

So what does a typical day look like for an anaesthetist?  It's a hard question to answer due to the sheer number of sub-specialties and hugely varied careers within the specialty, particularly as you advance to higher training and consultancy.  What all days will have in common though, is the utilisation of a specialist set of skills that no-one else in the hospital will have, and as such, other doctors and the patients you care for will be extremely grateful for your input.

Example consultant weekly diary
There is no typical week as there is no typical anaesthetist

• You could be a Cardiac Anaesthetist with an all-day case in theatre, followed by stabilisation of your patient on the Cardiac ITU.
• You could be the HEMS doctor on-call that day, flying to serious and complex trauma cases in remote areas before stabilising your patients for transfer to hospital.
• You could be anaesthetising a high turnover list for cataract surgery, or challenging airway cases for ENT intervention.
• You may be running the intensive care unit, managing the most acutely ill and  complex patients in the hospital.
• You may be running outpatient pain or pre-assessment clinics.
• You may be involved in research or teaching.
• You may take on a senior management role, helping clinicians deliver frontline care to many thousands of patients every year.

Example trainee weekly diary
This is somewhat more predictable than the consultant diary as 'core training' unsurprisingly consists of learning some 'core' skills.

• Monday: General Surgical list in am, and Urological list in pm
• Tuesday: Paediatric list in am, and Pre-Assessment Clinic for complex surgical patients in pm.
• Wednesday: Pain ward round in am, and Trauma list in pm
• Thursday: Intensive care unit SHO 8am-5pm, with evening on-call till 9pm anaesthetising for the emergency list whilst helping cover A&E and ward resuscitation with your registrar.​
• Friday: Emergency obstetric anaesthetist in am, and Departmental Teaching in pm.