Shoulders

This morning I was core monkey, excuse me, resource/lunch person. So, I helped set up the hip scope room (tons of equipment, but on well balanced wheels)then checked in the least strenuous room. The scrub had not appeared, so I got stuff ready as much as possible. Thinking "The room you set up may be your own."* And, indeed, that scrub was finally reached, he'd taken a son to the hospital. (Yeah, even so, really should have called in at some point.) The other two rooms were about the same, so I stayed put.

Now, I do scrub, but ortho/arthroscopy is not my strong suit, and I'm well out of practice. Harder and harder to keep up that skill set. As a nurse, I'm kept circulating most days. It's been years since I've done a full day scrubbing arthroscopy with this surgeon. who has a well deserved rep for being demanding and exacting. When he walked in, I freely admitted, "Well, I'm it today, tell me what you want and I will keep everything sterile."

As, indeed, I was. There were no other nurses who scrubbed at all, available. We didn't even have another lunch relief, although none of the rooms were scheduled past 1230, so no biggie.

It's all very specialized, and equipment changes constantly. I'd never used the arm holder before, and had never seen the anchors before. But the surgeon was kind and communicative, both with me and with the intern that appeared after the first case. The rep for the anchors prompted me through a lot of the shoulder instruments. By the second shoulder, I was in pretty good shape. Attentiveness is 90% of the job anyway. The other room finished up, and the scrub from there, an actual scrub tech, took his lunch then gave me lunch for the last 40 minutes of the case, as it turned out.

My circulator told me that the Dr. was "very cute with you" throughout. Indeed, he gave clear instructions and stayed cheerful and positive, which is not unknown, but not to be relied upon. And I stayed engaged and present throughout. I do actually enjoy doing a day scrubbing, feeling competent and capable. Very interesting work, I get to do. Too bad my eyes are less cooperative than is helpful. But I eyedropped myself at every turnover, which helped.


Got some nifty needle threaders out of it. Properly disinfected, of course.


Very satisfying seeing a shredded shoulder from the inside, turned into something solid and smooth, ready to heal up. High tensile suture attached to metal or biocomposite anchors that burrow into good bone, tying down edges like bungee cords over a bundle on a station wagon. All secured, awaiting the body's own recuperative skills. I get to help with very cool stuff.



The last case, for the whole facility, started late, and it was mine all mine. Surgeon coming from the VA, going to the Main Hospital, stopping by for that one surgery. He was a resident here before, and he's stayed the same good guy he was. More knowledgeable, skilled, authoritative, still kind and clear. We do good work there, and I'm blessed to be a part of it. New set of implants for him as well, again, the rep talked me through it.

Constant change, good practice.







*"Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own."