Do I make you nervous?

Does the thought of working in the surgical department make your knees knock?

Here are some details that may ease your mind.

• The surgery suite runs like a sterile auto mechanic shop.
• Each patient that is admitted has a laundry list of “services” that need to be fulfilled.
• Each procedure is performed in a certain order.
• Each patient is screened for blood abnormalities, heart issues, etc.
• Sedation is tailored for each individual patient.
• I.V. catheters are placed as well as endotracheal tubes, so you always have an open airway and venous access if a “situation” should arise.
• Monitors, monitors, monitors.  Pulse oximetry, blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, capnograph, etc.  You will know more about your patient’s vitals in the surgery suite than in almost any other area.
• A doctor is always with you.
• The power of drugs.  Emergency drugs either work well or they don’t.  But when they work well you can stimulate respiration, reverse sedation, and kick start the heart.
• Sometimes you may be asked to hold a spleen, assist in closing, or retract.

To me surgery offers a certain degree of control that I can really appreciate.  Of course it can be full of surprises, stress, and sometimes (but rarely) loss as is the case in any department.  But maybe now you may want to give it a shot after seeing it from another perspective.

• Are you wary of surgery?
• What concerns do you have about it?
• Do you live for surgery?
• What do you love about it?