The non-physician anaesthetist in a teaching hospital

There is an overall shortage of physician anaesthetists in the West African Subregion. The non-physician anaesthetist (nurse anaesthetist) is used to provide adequate clinical service. However, in a teaching hospital setting it usually lead to the frustration of the efforts of resident physician anaesthetists. The Society of Anaesthetists of West Africa has therefore recommended that where possible nurses should not be involved in the administration of anaesthetics in the Teaching Hospitals. They should be placed out into intensive therapy units and recovery rooms.