Has anyone ever seen a surgery? - Page 2

I LOVE watching surgeries!!!! They are so interesting to me. I have seen several C-sections, a TURP, and the correction of a broken femur.

The TURP was cool - probably because I had an awesome surgeon who let me sit at the controls of the DaVinci and look inside this guy's abdomen. But the best was definitely the femur. I got in on that surgery on a whim... It was during my pediatric rotation, and my patient was going into surgery and his parents begged that I go in with him. Who was I to say no? HAHA! It was truly awesome. Ortho surgeries are truly amazing. I had hilarious surgeons on that case as well... at one point one of them said (as he was pounding this giant bendable nail into this kids femur with a hammer) "THIS IS SO MONEY!"

Love. it.



I could easily be an OR nurse, but I would just want to watch all day and not do anything else. And I do prefer my patients awake.

I saw a BKA last month...I was worried going in that I might pass out or something, but in fact, I was quite interested. Amazing stuff! Once they cut through the bone with a Gigli saw and threw the leg in the biohazard bag, I had to leave. All I could think of was that it was lunchtime and I was starving! (Sick? Probably LOL) ...I was about to pass out, not because of the blood & gore, but from low blood sugar!

(And yes, I had eaten breakfast that am)

In my 2nd semester, I watched bilateral total knee replacements & a knee scope. Ortho surgery is pretty brutal! But seeing those, plus the tibial nailing in 3rd semester, has helped my perspective now that I work on the ortho floor caring for these types of patients. When you've seen the hammering & bone chips flying, you never question the amount of pain these patients have! I also watched a couple EGD's & tonsillectomies in 3rd semester. I think I would like to try working OR, but don't know if I could manage to stand still for soooo long in one position. I had more back pain after standing still & just watching than I ever have had on an 8-hr shift on the floor.

@kdbean530: I have only limited experience with surgery. And, that experience is that of the point of view as a patient. I've had 5 surgeries starting when I was 16 up until last year, I'm 38 now. Three major surgeries and 2 minor ones all requiring hospital and inpatient care.

I found the operating area fascinating. Lots of people running around, phones ringing and people talking on the phones, lots of talking and sometimes laughter, papers ruffling, people typing on the computers, listening and watching the doors open and close, watching people being wheeled in and out, doctors coming in and out, a chaplain placing blessings and prayers on patients who wanted them, everyone in scrubs, caps and masks. It was a very busy place and very cold. Brrrr.

I remember the anesthesiologist asking me questions and 2 CRNAs at my bedside before I was wheeled into the surgery room. All of them very nice and reassuring. The nurses were kind, calm, happy and helpful. They did their best to make sure I had everything I needed, a warm blanket, a cap for my head, a hand to hold, and just someone to talk to before it was my time for surgery.

When it was my time to go in, I was given an IV anti-anxiety med and was wheeled into the surgery room. It was BRIGHT and cold. I was transferred to a very, very narrow table. My gown was removed and blankets were reapplied. They repositioned me in the needed way for surgery. I remember lots of things being opened and things being moved around. People talking and walking around. I remember seeing alot of equipment and a huge light over my table. Finally, my doctor was at my bedside talking to me, and that was the last thing I remember before I woke up.

I wish I could've seen more, of course, that isn't possible when you're laying down on a table. Umm...hello!!!! I am really excited to do my OR clinical rotation when I'm in school, and actually not be the one having surgery.

@ kdbean530 yes, it was an amazing experience from what all i could see and hear. i'm in good health now and everything is going great. i'm sure i'll enjoy it very much and happy to hear you enjoyed it too. good luck.

two hysterectomies (1 laproscopic, one open) one of the surgeons let me hold the uterus after he took it out! haha
a handful of tonsilectomies
two tooth extractions
3 c sections
a breast reduction
and a total knee.

they were cool to watch but i definitely dont want to be an OR nurse. its a lot of standing in one place for a long time, and i like to actually interact with my patients, hard to do when they are zonked out for hours and then whisked away to pacu. but hey, its not for everybody, and im glad there are people that are interested in it!

Hi Mag28.
I love the OR and would do anything to go straight to it (I'm a new grad)
My question is, Why don't you want to be an OR nurse?
I'm curious about what you may not like about it.

The only thing I can think of is the smell as they cauterize the flesh.
But seeing the surgeries are so awesome!