NEWS
In celebration and recognition of Operating Room Nurses' Week, for the third (3rd) year in a row, the perioperative nursing staff of Tri-City Medical Center invited students from seven area high schools to participate in a shadow day program to introduce to what happens in a "R E A L" operating room as opposed to what they see in the movies and on television. Criteria for the selection of the candidates was left to the discretion of high school principals and career counselors and faculty. Every selected participant has demonstrated academic excellence and maintains an average of 4.0. Letters of invitation were sent to the seven (7) high schools within the Tri-City district. All seven responded positively and within one week all had selected their student to attend. Letters were then sent to each selected student (copy to the counselors) outlining the program and inviting them and their parents to attend a pre-event pizza party at the home of AORN member Mandy Moore (also Chairperson of the TCMC Surgical Service Education Committee). Every student arrived early and most brought both parents. The rationale for this pre-event was to meet their pre-selected preceptors, acquaint the students with HIPAA regulations, explain limitations, what to expect, how to dress, assure they ate and the arrival time of 06:00 hours at the hospital the next day. Vendors were approached prior to participate by contributing some of their promotional items for a gift bag that was presented to each student. Pencils, pens, mirrors, calculators, key chains, hats, sun visors, note pads, memo cubes, etc., were put into colorful gift bags for each of the students. Shoe covers, hair covers and mask were also put in to familiarize the students with these items and to take back to school for "Show-and-Tell" with their respective classes and/or career clubs. The morning of the Shadow Day, the students were met in the lobby, taken to breakfast (it appears that most had not eaten) in the hospital cafeteria and then back to the OR to get changed and to meet their preceptors and the rest of the staff at morning report. Each student was introduced to the patients and their families and permission was requested for their presence during their surgery. Not one patient or family declined. Every client and their families expressed their approval of the program. Unfortunately those that did not have a student assigned expressed their disappointment, but it was explained that there were only so many to go around for this event. Students spent the morning observing surgery. Operating Room Nurses, Anesthesiologist, Surgeons, Anesthesia Technologist, Operating Room Technologist and Perioperative Aides and Secretaries took time to inform the students of their role in the patient's perioperative journey. Lunch gave the students the chance to sit with the staff and get more in-depth information on their roles and how they managed their day. After lunch, there was the customary celebratory cake which the students eagerly shared in with the rest of the staff. At 14:00 hours, the students were gathered up and a round table discussion was held so that they could share their experiences and decide among themselves if the program was a "HIT" or a "MISS." Their recommendations were:
Students were taken to the hospital lobby and given a business card from their former preceptors and requested to send us a short written report via e-mail or snail mail describing their experience. Photographs taken during the day were assembled into a CD slide show with music and a copy was sent to each of the students to share at their respective schools and as a record for their personal enjoyment. Attached are photos and a couple of reports from two of those students. |
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Ludovic Vincent La Costa Canyon High School 10.21.04 Report on 11/25/04 This experience was fantastic. The amount of
knowledge around us was tremendous and those resources were open to us. We
got to see many times a team of people working together for the common
good of one patient. However, the best part of this experience lies in the
fact that we were able to ask personalized questions to these surgeons and
nurses and that we were allowed to step in within an arm’s length to
watch the functions of the body. A major plus to this experience is that
the nurses came in to get us so that we could also watch other surgeries.
We were not limited to one operating room while our assigned nurse
finished up, we moved around between other OR rooms that allowed us to see
a broader variety of surgeries and fascinating parts of the body. This
way, I saw a tumor removal from the neck, a wrist surgery on the tendons,
a partial knee reconstruction, and a gull bladder removal. This same day
Amanda introduced me to the cameras the surgeons use in the OR and
demonstrated their functions and capabilities.
Overall, this experience was a wonderful one.
From the way we were notified on the first day to the moment we walked out
of the hospital, we were taken care off at all times. Whether it be about
safety or security or fear of fainting, we were very well supervised. I
say this because we were not baby-sat or let loose. The entire day was
structured and organized, planned to the minute. Everything went smoothly.
My suggestions to make this program better is to extend it a little bit. I
could have stayed many more hours in the OR. I know this is not possible
because of the nurses’ schedules but just half an hour extra would be
tremendous. In addition, if we could switch departments half way through
the day would add to this experience. For example, a few of the students
were in different parts of the hospital during the first part of the day.
I cannot remember which ones but they say a side of the hospital I never
got to see. If this program was slightly longer, than allowing us to
change departments would be awesome. Just for an hour or so, so that we
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Jaime Carroll
Carlsbad Student 2004 Shadow Day I have always desired to have a career in the medical field; I just did not know what part. Recently I started volunteering at the Veterans Hospital in San Diego. The time I spent at this hospital influenced me to consider a profession in Nursing. Shadow Day helped me strengthen this thought. In the Operating Room there is never a dull moment. The surgeons and nurses are constantly in motion. Everyone down in the OR has to multitask as well as think on their feet quickly in case something goes wrong. I love to move and get things done quickly so I felt right at home. I enjoyed every surgery I watched. It was interesting to see how everyone had different jobs but they all functioned as a team. I watched in amazement as the end product came in to picture. Weather it was a removal of a gallbladder or the fixation of the primary artery in the body, the aorta, I was very impressed with the result. I also was impressed with the attitude of the nurses. They all seemed like they benefit from their jobs. Although the nurses on the OR have a great responsibility to protect their patients, there is not as much patient interaction as I would like. Even though I do not think that I will work in the Operating Room, this interaction with the nurses made me decide for sure to major in Nursing. I want to thank Tri-city Medical Center for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful experience. A special thanks to all the nurses especially Darcy for teaching me about the OR and showing me things I never saw before. Also to the surgeons and anesthesiologists, I know it is hard having a bunch of students in the Operating Room. Last but not least to Mel Bridges for leading this whole event, you did a great job.
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