Week 7

Alright, y’all. I’m going into week 7 down here in Salisbury! I’m on my first ever travel assignment and honestly, I’m learning a lot. It’s a special kind of job where you can visit cool places, meet new people, and see how different ORs work. I’m not going to get into specifics about how this OR works, but I am going to share 7 things that I’ve learned as I enter into week 7!

1: I am a guest in someone else’s house.

If there is anything I’ve learned in this first assignment, it is that I am, first and foremost, a guest. I am not a permanent staff member, and everyone that works in the OR is very aware of that fact. When you go into someone else’s house, what do you do? You follow their house rules! The most important thing to do is understand policy, and do things how they do it there, as long as you are still keeping your patient safe. Patient safety is #1.

2: Preference cards will save your day!

READ YOUR SURGEON’S PREFERENCE CARD!!! The preference card has most everything you need to know to do a case successfully, even if you have never done it before. Preference cards and pick lists contain items needed for cases, equipment you need, and tips and tricks for how the surgeon likes things in the room. If the preference card says the surgeon wants the cautery pedal on the right, you put that cautery on the right! A lot of mistakes can be avoided by reading the preference card before you start a case.

3: Rely on your charge nurse and ask for help if you need it.

As a traveler, your charge nurse is your resource person. Staff nurses are great, don’t get me wrong, but they all have cases to get ready for, too! Any charge nurse worth her sodium chloride is going to be willing and able to help you out, whether that is with surgeon preferences or equipment you haven’t seen before.

Another big thing is to realize when you are in over your head, preferably before you’re drowning, and ask for help. There is absolutely no shame in asking for help.

4: There is no such thing as a stupid question!!

As a follow-up to #3, there is no such thing as a stupid question! When you go into a new place, there are TONS of questions to ask. Where’s the lab? Where is the supply room? Where do I get my instruments? Where is the pooping bathroom? If you don’t ask questions, how are you going to know how to do your job?!

5: It is difficult to learn where everything goes.

The scariest thing about starting this adventure, for me, was the idea of relearning where everything goes in the new OR I’m working in. As a circulator, knowing where supplies is is super important. Surgeon needs a new burr? They want it ASAP, because without it, they can’t do any work. Time is key, and the longer you spend looking for things, the longer you’re in a case. Try your best to learn where everything goes, but also know that at the end of you’re assignment, you’re probably not going to know where every supply goes in the supply room.

6: Go to work outings and participate in pitch-ins!

For one, it’s fun!! My go-to for pitch-ins is puppy chow. Super easy, low effort, and everybody loves peanut butter and chocolate! For another, going out with your coworkers helps build relationships. Just because you’re a traveler, doesn’t mean you’re not making new friends. One of the reasons I’m doing this is to meet people and make friends all over the country!

7. Kill ’em with kindness (even if they’re not kind back).

Be kind, be friendly, and do your best. Even if people are pissed off at you. That’s all you can do.

Alright, y’all! Thanks for reading!! I hope you learned some things and gained some insight into what I have learned in my first assignment!

Cover photo credit goes to Cody Feller!