First OR observation

OR observation tips:

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Hi,

I did my first OR clinical last week. To be honest, I didn't like it that much. The doctor's kinda ignored me. I saw two gallbladders right off the bat. They were nothing like I expected. BORING. I know the patient thinks it's a major surgery but it was pretty unimpressive to me. One cool surgery I did get to observe, was a past drug user, Hep C, w/compartment syndrome. It was especially cool to me because I learned about it in class the day before. So, my hint of advice for the OR, consider everything that they might possibly use sterile, stay out of everyone's way, and ask questions. Even if the staff is not educating, we are only there for a short amount of time. If you don't ask when you have the chance, you will never get your answers. Have fun.

OR is fascinating as it allows you to look inside a living human body. Listen to what is being said, ask the scrub nurse or the circulating nurse questions. Ask if you might shadow the nurse anesthetist also, they have the view of the procedure and control the sedation. You will learn so much.

I did mine last week. I thought it was kind of boring, too. If I had been an active participant, it might have been different. Generally, I like my patients awake.:)

I will never forget my first OR observation. Hemmorhoidectomy. Turned me off from OR completely.

Need I say more?

Super

Wow - I must have gotten really lucky. I've had a total of 5 days in the OR observing and they have all been great experiences. When the charge nurse is assigning you, ask her for a room with interesting procedures and/or surgeons who are receptive to students.

Most of the surgeons I observed were born teachers and if you show a little interest, they will really let you in on what they are doing. The nurses are really busy - so a lot of what you will do with the nurses is observational, but I had nurses let me help with positioning, insert foleys (much easier when your patient is asleep!) and I had a CRNA let me start an IV once the patient was asleep too.

Have fun, I really loved my experiences.

Amanda

Loved OR observations. Didn't know if I had the constitution for it, so when given the opportunity to choose, I picked a total knee replacement. Figured if I could get past the flying debris I'd be good for just about anything. Besides seeing some really cool stuff, there was a rep from the prosthetic company present in the OR who was more than happy to answer questions. In another operation (c-section), had the doc say, "where's that student nurse? Come and stand right here!" He then went on to show me all the interesting bits.

Anyways.. I'd ask around a little. If you've got a good rapport with your instructor, see if they can line something up for you. You never know, you just might get to see something really exciting.

Oh.. in case they didn't tell you... make sure you eat breakfast!