Help me pick a surgery to observe!!

psu_213, BSN, RN · May 30, 2018

Do you know what your OR rotation will consist of? Not to be a downer, but my "rotation" consisted of standing in the corner of room for 2 surgeries. One was a hernia repair, the other a lap chole...I saw and did nothing. I'm not trying to kill your enthusiasm--if you are going to be caring for the same pt before and after while observing during the actual procedure, go with what is of greatest interest to you. And consider yourself lucky for having a choice.

Sour Lemon · May 30, 2018

If you're there for one day, what are the odds all of that will be going on while you're there? And will you actually get to "pick"? I don't remember having a choice of more than two or three procedures, max. Staff may decline to have you there for whatever reason, too.

Trauma would be the most interesting, to me. Pediatric surgery would be one of my last choices because I remember the rooms being kept very warm.

Sbhayes09, ADN, RN · May 30, 2018

We do not get to do anything of substance but observe. That's enough for me though. Just to be in the room while something like this is happening is a thrill. Thank you for your input :).

Sbhayes09, ADN, RN · May 30, 2018

Thank you! It's a very large teaching hospital so we were told to choose a few that interest us and they'd find one for us. We have a great relationship with this hospital so I'm hoping I'm not declined for entry.

Sour Lemon · May 30, 2018

Now that I think about it, it's the surgeon that makes the experience interesting, or not. The entire team, really, but the surgeon sets the tone. What's actually occurring is not as important. You can't see or follow much unless the team engages you. So, I'd say ask for someone who has a reputation for being engaging.

allnurses Guide · May 30, 2018

Now that I think about it, it's the surgeon that makes the experience interesting, or not. The entire team, really, but the surgeon sets the tone. What's actually occurring is not as important. You can't see or follow much unless the team engages you. So, I'd say ask for someone who has a reputation for being engaging.

So true - when I did a surgery rotation the surgeon told me to put my hands behind my back so as not to touch anything then invited me in for a closer look. It was a great experience.

Hppy

OsceanSN2018 · May 30, 2018

Anything but ENT & General

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 30, 2018

I think trauma and neuro would be fascinating. When I was a student I observed two surgeries, a lap chole and a hand surgery. Didn't get to see much of anything because it was feared that a student would contaminate the sterile field (even though sterile procedure had been drilled into us by the skills-lab instructors). So when I became an RN, during orientation I was to do a couple of days in the OR, and I was invited to catheterize the unconscious patient. Guess what I did? Contaminated the sterile field. LOL.

springchick1, ADN, RN · May 30, 2018

The facility may decide for you. We don't allow students in our total joint or spine cases.

DowntheRiver · May 30, 2018

I third what others say about the surgeon. The surgeries that I saw in school were general surgery (appendix, hernia repair, lap choly) BUT both the surgeon and the CRNA were enthusiastic about teaching so I got to see a lot. Even the techs were engaging and explaining all their instruments. Just remember to stay sterile!

Editorial Team / Admin · May 31, 2018

You may not be given much of a choice. Here's why:

1. Infection concerns. That may limit the type of case the facility is willing to allow observers into. In my facility, joints and cardiac are automatic no go for observers.

2. Staffing. Sorry, but staff on orientation come first. If they need to be in a particular specialty to get the experience, another body is an even bigger distraction.

3. Staffing. Staff just off orientation are still learning the role and a distraction in the form of an observer can be overwhelming.

4. Staffing. Some surgeons and staff just aren't going to be the best experience for students.

5. Scheduling. Depending on when you show up, if you want to see something from start to finish it's going to be a case that starts after you arrive and ends before you leave.

6. Scheduling. Not all of those are likely to be happening on the same day. Some aren't high volume cases. Some are surgeons who only work in the OR certain days of the week.

I do recommend heading over to the OR forum and reading the thread (either in the articles tab or the FAQs tab) call "Sooo you're observing in the operating room"