Secrets of a Surgical Nurse--(Unabridged)
1.)
Clean out your belly button before you have
surgery.
2.)
Shy about your body? Don’t be. We see it ALL, all day long. We don’t care.
3.)
Yes, we wonder about your tattoos
4.)
We treat your babies like they are our own.
5.)
Yes, your baby/child cries when they get into
surgery. But that helps the anesthesia
work faster and we hold them as they go to sleep.
6.)
Don’t lie to your nurse or anesthesia about drug
or alcohol use. We can usually tell
anyway.
7.)
I am not being evasive, I honestly don’t know
how long the surgery might take…it always depends on the patient.
8.)
I have a lot to do in a very short period of
time, usually with a surgeon standing over my shoulder waiting for me to get it
done.
9.)
I care about your physical health during surgery
and how surgery will affect your physical, emotional, and family health after
surgery. I always keep these in mind when
you are in my care.
10.) I know it is often a scary experience. I want you to feel as warm and comfortable as
possible.
11.) I hope I don’t seem like a bitch because I’m
in a hurry. I probably have 5 orthopedic
cases on the surgery board ‘To Follow’ and only an hour left of my scheduled
shift.
12.) I am literally a waitress. I take and make food orders over the phone
for people who are scrubbed in.
13.) I can see, smell, or feel almost anything
during surgery and then walk out, wash my hands, walk down the hall and eat
lunch.
14.) I am not sitting in the lounge because I am
lazy. I was probably up most of the
night on call--working.
15.) I really love my job.
