Scrub nurse in the NHS, AMA

[ForBlueKoala]

I’m a scrub nurse in the NHS, regional hospital.

AMA

As a nurse isn’t it quite sad that your patient is not conscious and so you miss out on patient interaction?

I’ll answer this from my point of view as a scrub nurse who dabbles in anaesthetic also.

i love chatting to and reassuring my patient in the anaesthetic room but it’s for a very brief time - 15 mins tops.

I also love scrubbing. Nursing isn’t just about being with awake patients - to look after an unconscious patient is a huge privilege. We are their advocate, we are there for them, we do what’s best for them and care for them. I sometimes chat with the surgeon about the patient, they will tell me their jobs or snippets of their life that they have shared in consultation. To have so many people at one time looking after just one patient is wonderful.

"Clamp that artery off the noo jimmy, nurse Betty has the kettle on, i could be doing with a wee cheese and pickle piece and a packet of wotsits, been here 3hrs the day 🫡".

I like that thought of the patient really being a focus for all those people at one time. What a nice way to frame a scary experience. I’m just too nosey and love the patient interaction I get so I couldn’t ever be in theatre..:
id also be needing the loo and dropping stuff! 🤣

This is lovely.

Thankyou very much to all theatre staff on this thread 💐

Thanks for this thread, fascinating. I've had recent surgery, and am still recovering. It was a "big day out" as they say, and I'll be in recovery for a while. My questions are very specific to the process and I find myself fascinated with the details and in awe of the complexity of what has to happen in theatre during surgeries.1. I know nakedness is part of it and I'm old enough to not particularly care but is draping done fairly quickly or do they do other things first? I had GA plus spinal blocks, and that must have taken some time. Maybe I care more than I thought! 2. I have a ghost memory of sitting up at the end of surgery, but this cant be right as I was so tethered with lines, tubes and so on I couldnt have, could I? This was still in theatre, not recovery, and I am sure I recall a shocked face looking back at me. I must ask my surgeon at review. I do have form for waking up quickly post GA. 3. I was asked if students could attend which I had no issue with, as my.case was a good teaching opportunity, do many patients agree to this? I presume they are asked in all hospitals if thats ok. 4. I was a bit worried re bodily functions but does this happen during surgery?

you get really used to not needing a wee 😂 I always go before a ‘big’ surgery and I’m terrible at not drinking much. I typically scrub for longer procedures (4-6hrs) so I think I just get used to it.

I remember once I assisted for a surgery that typically takes about 1.5hrs. I’d had a coffee previously but didn’t take a toilet break. The case actually ended up taking about 7.5hrs due to some complications. I didn’t need a wee during that time but the minute we finished I was BURSTING! It’s like all your energy is put into what’s happening and not your own bodily functions 😂

as for dropping stuff…yep still do that now and again but that’s why we have spares of everything. We all have ninja reflexes too.

What’s the longest surgery you have scrubbed for? The longest I’ve had was 11 hours, so maybe 10 hours actually in surgery so I presume teams.