Advice for day in the OR

[colleen10]

Hi everyone,

I am a first semester nursing student and in a few weeks will be spending one day in the OR to observe.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on anything to give me. I have no hospital experience what so ever. Up to this point we have been conducting clinicals in an LTC. I will be there completely by myself, no other students, no instructors, no one from my school will even be in the same hospital as me. I am quite nervous and excited.

The only thing our instructor told was "don't touch anything."

If you have any words of wisdom or advice of what to do or not to do I would be interested in hearing them. Also, feel free to talk about your experiences.

Thanks,

Col

[Rhoresmith]

When I was in Resp Therapy school and went in to surgery I was told if you feel faint then go lean against a wall. The cool walls will help. I saw a radical masectomy and the smell was terrible all the cauterizing of the many veins in the breast. Had to stand against the wall in that one... Saw an eye surgery, exploritory of a scrotum (that was interesting hmmmm) and a knee replacement. It was a long day and I was exhausted but the Doctors were wonderful and taught me alot and the CRNA were very helpful and they all seemed to enjoy teaching

Have fun and let us know how it goes

Rhonda

[Maura]

Remember that OR rooms are cold. So if you are prone to being cold, wear something more than a t-shirt. Of course, remember too that you will be wearing some sort of bunny suit over your own clothes (as well as a hat, mask, and shoe coverings). I got to see a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Very, very cool....

Maura

BSN in Dec '03

[Lorus]

Might not be a bad idea to throw a high energy snack in your pocket and a few bucks for a soda so you can refuel on the fly (in the break room) between cases, especially if something comes up that you dont want to miss. Have fun.

[colleen10]

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for all of your advice. I will see my fellow students at clinical tomorrow and will share all of your ideas.

I am very excited about the whole thing and really just nervous that my body will act up in unexpected ways at the site of whatever I am presented with. I do enjoy watching the operations on TV but one thing that I just don't think I could take is a masectomy or anything dealing with a breast or breast augmentation. I don't know what it is but no matter how many of those things I have seen on TV, well, my chest just hurts at the thought of it. Kind of like a guy watching another guy get hit in the groin. That and eye surgery, eeeksss!!!

My day is on a Saturday so more than likely it will be an emergency surgery, probably not scheduled in advance.

I will let you all know how it goes when my turn comes up.

Thank you all for your help and inspiration.

Col

[robyn SN/CCCC]

Don't touch anything blue, stay out of the way, wear comfortable shoes ~~ you'll be standing in one place a long time. And, make sure you eat breakfast.

[Catma63]

Boy, are you lucky! In my first weeks of clinicals, all we've been able to do is basic care....haven't been able to witness any kind of surgeries. I would love the educational experience of that. So jealous!

Don't forget to tell us your experience! :-)

[AmiK25]

If a smartass surgeon asks you to go get him/her a fallopian tube....DON'T DO IT! I am sure you know what a fallopian tube is but I had a friend in school who got so freaked out by the question that she actually left the OR in search of a fallopian tube before even realizing what she had been asked!!