Top O.R. Moments of the Week: This Week in CRNA School

No I did not take this picture in the OR. I googled it.

1. I saw my first open heart surgery.  It was awesome.  The heart was in V-fib and they pulled out those tiny little paddles and shocked it.  The Fray was playing in the background and the cute surgeon was funny(of course, not as funny or cute as my husband).  I wondered for a moment if I had been transported to the set of Grey’s Anatomy.  I was looking for Christina Yang, but couldn’t find her.  She must’ve had the day off.

2. Girl in her early twenties has an infection, so we were taking her back to the O.R. to clean it out. Conversation that took place as we head back:

Me: So how did this happen?

Her: I don’t know exactly, I cut myself shaving- See that little scab? That’s the only way I could imagine that this had happened.

Me (what I say): Oh, ok.

Me (what I think): Oh really?? You don’t think you could imagine that you got an infection from all that HEROIN you’ve been shooting up?? Nice track marks. Oh, and the nurses are having trouble starting your IV’s not because you’ve been in the hospital for two days, but because you’ve ruined all your veins.  Way to go!

3. Almost peeing my pants as I hear the surgeon say, “Oh SHIT!!” as he’s dissecting the carotid artery.  “Oh Shit!” is one of the phrases that you NEVER want to hear a surgeon say.  Especially when they’ve got their little scalpels near big arteries.  Don’t worry- everything turned out fine.  I did not urinate on myself and the patient was okay too.

4. I was mildly amused and moderately annoyed when a patient’s family member calls after me, “Make sure to watch her blood pressure- it really bottoms out.” as we’re headed back to the O.R.  Phew! Thank you SO much for reminding me to do that.  Because I might have forgotten monitor it, no less chart it on a piece of paper every five minutes.  Oh, and by the way, ‘family member that thinks you’re in the medical profession?’ She didn’t bottom out-  I had to give her almost every single medication I had available to lower her blood pressure due to her hypertension (high blood pressure).  Quit Wikipediaganosing your mom.

5. My patient tells me that they’re allergic to versed (in the same drug family as valium and ativan).  I ask what happens.  They reply that it makes them sleepy.  Mmmm…okay.  Listen pal,  that’s what it’s supposed to do. You are not allergic to versed, but whatever.

6. I explain to someone that I have recently joined the Army, they say, “That’s too bad.” I look at them and say, “excuse me?!?” and I get the “I’m a pacifist” response.  I imagine kicking his pacifist shins and running away, but just bite my tongue because he’s writing my evaluation for the day.  Asshole.  He’s up there with the ones who told me I shouldn’t have gotten married before school because they happened to divorce while in anesthesia school.  Thanks a lot.

7. This is more of a bottom moment.  I put on my scrubs this week and notice that they are feeling, um…a little restrictive.  This is NOT a good sign when your scrubs are getting tight.  So what do I do? I ate ice cream for dinner last night.

Tagged as: Anesthesia, CRNA, School