Learning a new Doctor…

You guys, I’m sure you all know how nerve-wracking & scary it can be to learn a new doctor! Last week we got a new ophthalmologist – Dr. P. We hadn’t even met him yet and we were starting his cases! Thankfully, he is super nice & patient! We had no clue how to set his things up. We had a picture & instructions from a photo but it was still a huge struggle! It took us an hour before we could even start & then we still didn’t have the right stuff… we ended up only doing one and canceling the rest! Also, instead of the preloaded lenses we are used to, he has very expensive (patient paid) lenses, that we have to manually load!

On Monday I had to do 2 more cataracts with Dr. P. & it went better. It’s just so different than what we’re used to with Dr. H. We are used to doing 17 cataracts in one day or 6 in the afternoon. Dr. H. is VERY quick! He also has way fewer instruments… so it’s a huge adjustment to a new doctor with a different way & a lot more instrumentation to figure out in a short period of time! AND I’m the first to do his cases…

Knee Scope – Arranging Cords w/out a Mayo Stand

Hello!! It’s been a while since I made a post. I finally got a photo of my cords and how I set them up for our knee scopes. One of our surgeons likes them on a mayo stand. This one does not. He just likes them up on the patient. So, I devised my own way of making quick work of the cords!!

Laparoscopic Appendectomy – On Call

Our emergency Lap. Appy from our Holiday call. I finally had the chance to break out & get a good photo of one of these for my binder!! We don’t do them too often, but when we do it’s usually an emergency case.

I thought this would be a great opportunity to share my photos & some tips/tricks…

Gamma Nail – Long vs Short

Short Gamma

Long Gamma

🔨The important thing about these cases are the disposables. The rep will open disposables that will need to be relayed to your circulator. When the rep opens the disposables, they will show them to your circulator & give them the packaging but I was taught to still let them know, “Hey, I have plus one ball tip guidewire or plus one drill bit or plus one k-wire, etc.”

Port Placement Surgery

The thing about surgeons & surgeries is that every surgeon does things differently. I can only give others a general idea of how a case may go & then you just have to adjust to how your surgeon prefers to perform each surgery.

Cataracts – Updated

Cataracts are very fast & were hard to keep up with for me when I first started scrubbing them. My brain takes extra time to process & learn everything. But once I got the hang of it I have really enjoyed scrubbing them. We do up to 18 in a day. But you know what to expect & you pretty much do the same thing over & over again. It can actually be pretty quiet & peaceful.

Hip Hemiarthroplasty – Call Weekend

I figured that it was about time for an update! Life in the O.R. has been so crazy. I’ve just been soaking it all in & learning/remembering what I can.

I noticed you can’t find much information on Hemis for hips (just totals) so I will share some of my photos I was finally able to snag on call this weekend.

Hopefully this helps! 🙂

Week 16 & 17 as a CST

I’ve been so busy! I’ve been on my own for the most part. I’m so close to being off orientation. October 20th is my 4-month milestone. CRAZY!

Here is what I’ve been up to:

Week 14 as a CST

Total Knee – this was my first. My preceptor set it up & let me take things apart & put them back together. I watched her pass it. She was so amazing. I don’t know how I’ll get the hang of these!

9/17/22:
on call> Suction D&C

WEEK 14
9/18/22:
on call> ORIF L. Distal Lateral Femur (6:22am-11:30am) covid +

Week 13 as a CST

This week was a long week, but I think was still a really good week & I learned a lot! I’m communicating more with the doctors, I’m able to realize when a case isn’t pulled correctly, and communicate to SPD & have it fixed… I’m just working on knowing how many instrument sets we have & when we have a long line-up when I need to call & have them one trayed, etc. I’m working on that! I feel like I’ve come really far, though, since I started! I’m so proud of myself & everyone keeps complimenting me (my boss even emailed me that she has heard nothing but positive comments about me from others) & it feels so great!