Observing a surgery

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What did you get to observe? I am afraid of knee replacements as they seem really bloody and barbaric, but I'm thinking that is probably what I'll get. What did you see?

A little more exciting, if you can see up close, the nervs branching off, and the spinal cord. It all looked like spagetti wrapped in Saran Wrap.

I agree, what's more boring than a lami seen from acress the room? Maybe cataracts from across the room. Be polite and professional and show a real interest in learning, believe it or not, if there's nothing to see it's OK to ignore the actual op site and pay attention to what the RN circulator in the room is doing, ask how he/she prepared the room for the procedure, how the pt was prepared (if you weren't there) talk to the CRNA or MDA and learn about the meds, etc. Eventually, the surgeon or circ will start to like you and maybe offer a peek in the microscope. (If nobody starts to become friendly, I'm sorry, it happens, but ideally nobody would place a student in a room like that!)

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Maybe cataracts from across the room.

We have an eye surgeon that loves to teach. He will personally hook the microscope cable to the TV tower, so a student can watch what he's doing on a TV. He does this for blephs, cataracts, corneal transplants, etc.

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Specializes in LDRP.

Saw a c-section yesterday-AMAZING! :) :)

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

In HS, I wanted to be an ortho surgeon, so they let me be elbow to elbow with the dr during an ACL surgery. It was so cool!

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I just got to see a prolapsed uterus repair and an open chole. The chole was awesome & the CRNA let me stand back with her at the pt's head. It was amazing! The docs were great & the CRNA explained a lot of what she was doing to keep the pt under. I loved it & I think that's where I want to be eventually! :)

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