Thankfully, last weekend's blues didn't continue for the entire week. I was still feeling rather negative towards my instructor for the earlier part of the week, but he left for vacation mid-way through (weird, right?), so I wasn't complaining. Anyway, the best part of the week was being able to actually see an operation! I was slotted to see a right knee arthroplasty - aka: joint replacement - and all the steps that go into the pre-operative and recovery stages.
Words cannot describe how amazing the OR was. It's like its own little world, tucked away from everything else. I could not believe that I had the privilege to be in the theatre. I mean, who else gets to be right in the action, rubbing shoulders with the surgeon, up close and personal? I was conscious of the fact that students may pass out or feel queazy despite their best intentions, so at first I stayed at the back as they prepped. But within moments of the first incision, I was on my tiptoes, craning to get the best view as possible without falling into the sterile field. The entire procedure, from first cut to final suture, didn't take very long. The OR sounded like a construction site with the saws and drills buzzing away, and with bits of cartilage and bloodied bone zipping around - I wished I was wearing a pair of googles!
Seeing that kind of 'amazing-ness' made returning back to the post-operative unit rather depressing... but inspiring at the same time. The point of the OR follow-through was to see the different roles of the nurses involved - OR nurses are very important, but it was the actual cutting and sawing that I loved... it definitely sparked an interest, inspired me to go further. So who knows? Maybe I'll just be a professional student for a while longer and keep working my way up the medical hierarchy. Who knows where I will end up!
Danielle
Words cannot describe how amazing the OR was. It's like its own little world, tucked away from everything else. I could not believe that I had the privilege to be in the theatre. I mean, who else gets to be right in the action, rubbing shoulders with the surgeon, up close and personal? I was conscious of the fact that students may pass out or feel queazy despite their best intentions, so at first I stayed at the back as they prepped. But within moments of the first incision, I was on my tiptoes, craning to get the best view as possible without falling into the sterile field. The entire procedure, from first cut to final suture, didn't take very long. The OR sounded like a construction site with the saws and drills buzzing away, and with bits of cartilage and bloodied bone zipping around - I wished I was wearing a pair of googles!
Seeing that kind of 'amazing-ness' made returning back to the post-operative unit rather depressing... but inspiring at the same time. The point of the OR follow-through was to see the different roles of the nurses involved - OR nurses are very important, but it was the actual cutting and sawing that I loved... it definitely sparked an interest, inspired me to go further. So who knows? Maybe I'll just be a professional student for a while longer and keep working my way up the medical hierarchy. Who knows where I will end up!
Danielle
2 comments:
like.....like....like!!!
Danielle, I love your enthusiasm, although this post kinda freaked me out a little. Mainly just the "sawing" and the cartilage flying around. I'd let you replace my knee anyday. :)
Elisa.
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