Phrases and puns unique to the OR (Tales of a new OR nurse)

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in Pediatric and Adult OR.

The first time a resident said to me, "Wanna dance?" I stared at him, confused, blushed a little, and said, "No, not really," until I realized he meant do I want to turn so I can tie my gown.

Whenever the circulator straightens out the bottom of my mayo cover, she refers to it as, "Tugging at my skirt."

I never heard Normal Saline referred to as "Nackle" (NaCl) until I got to the OR.

I heard anesthesia one time refer to propofol as "Milk of Jackson" (too soon? ;) )

I am sure there are more, but I can't think of any at the moment. Share with me some unique OR lingo!

Specializes in CST in general surgery, LDRs, & podiatry.

Most of the time the propofol is known as "Milk of Amnesia"! Great stuff - I have had it myself and it always does the job with no bothersome side effects.

Specializes in Pediatric and Adult OR.

Oh, I thought of another one. Whenever an instrument is dropped, the scrub will ask me, "Can you turn the gravity down in here?" The first time I heard it, I looked around, puzzled, for this so-called "gravity meter"...

Specializes in Obs & gynae theatres.

Some of our anaesthetist call propofol 'Jackson Juice'.

I work in gynae and patients usually come to theatre in disposable knickers (panties to most of you I think), so we perform 'knickerectomies'.

Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

I learned real quick like to not as the male scrub tech "Do you want me to hold your thing?" when assisting him tie in (the card on the exterior of the gown.)

I'm a male anesthesia tech and a pre-nursing student and I remember oh too well the first day one of the more experienced middle-aged scrub nurse looked at me and said "wanna dance?" I thought she was absolutely nuts! So glad I'm not the only newbie that thought that was funny :p. Yes, and the "milk of amnesia" was a very popular term for propofol, as was simply "gimme some pro!"

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