Welcome 👋
Welcome to the operating theatre! Everyone here is doing something interesting, so introduce yourself to as many people as possible and ask a lot of questions.
Here are some of people you’re sure to meet…
- The patient is the most important person in the room. Say hello before the case starts and ask permission before attempting procedures.
- Anaesthetic assistants are highly-trained technicians who look after the anaesthetic equipment and assist with getting patients off to sleep.
- Anaesthetists are responsible for keeping the patient safe and comfortable during and after surgery.
- Theatre nurses support the surgeons during the operation. Circulating nurses manage the theatre and collect equipment for the surgeons. Scrub nurses assist the surgeon throughout the operation.
- Surgeons do the slicing and dicing. Even when you’re on an anaesthetic placement, it’s good to introduce yourself.
- Porters help move patients between holding bay, theatre, recovery, and the ward. Always say please and thank you for their oft-overlooked work.
Making Conversation 💬
Bedside tutorials are the bread and butter of anaesthetic education. If the conversation dries up, here are some questions to get the ball rolling again…
- How do we know if the patient is asleep?
- Why do we pre-oxygenate?
- How do we pick the airway device?
- How do muscle relaxants work?
- What is MAC? (Say “mack”)
- How can we increase oxygenation?
- How does the ventilator work?
- How much local anaesthetic can the surgeon use?
- Why does the ultrasound look like that?
- How many anti-emetics should we give?
- How do I prescribe fluids?
Save your questions for the quiet times: before the patient arrives and once the surgery us underway. Asking too many questions while the patient is awake will make them justifiably nervous.
Your Bucket List 🤞
You’ll gain a lot from your placement if you make a wishlist of things you want to see (and do) while you’re there. Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Practice airway manoeuvres and bagging
- Attempt every IV cannula on the list
- Ask if you can use [agent x] during the list today
- Intubate a patient
- Help out with a nerve block
- Insert an arterial line
- Draw up drugs (propofol is tricky)
- Connect the monitoring equipment
- Hand a patient over on the recovery ward
Be Prepared 📝
You will kock your consultant’s socks off by seeing every patient before they come to theatre. Check out the pre-op assessment guide for a quick how-to.
Practical Points ☕️
Here are five tips to help your first day go smoothly.
- Get there about 15 minutes early
- Write your name on the whiteboard
- Be careful which door you use
- When in doubt, ask
- Blue means sterile – don’t touch
- Always take a tea break