Surgical Salutation

A snapshot:
(The scene: VAMC OR#3. Patient already in OR and intubated, being prepped. Outside the OR, an empty scrub sink awaits its bathers. Enter Abby, MSIII. She begins to scrub. Scrub-a-dubbing away, Abby contemplates what she might be pimped on over the next hour.
(Enter Dr. Attending-Physician, also planning to scrub in. Dr. Attending-Physician grabs a packet of scrub solution/sponge, steps next to Scrubbing Abby and ACTION!)
Dr. Attending Physician: (Holds scrub packet in one arm above his head while spreading feet wide on the floor. Proceeds to POP open the scrub brush and yells):
"Scrub like a Rockstar! Yeah!!!!"
In the following scene, Abby finds herself doing the SNL head shake with Dr. Attending-Physician, Dr. Chief-Resident, and Dr. R-4. Hilarious.

I never would've guessed I would encounter such hilarious, fun people on my surgery rotation. I definitely have had afternoons absolutely filled with laughter (and plenty of it at my own expense...). For example, one resident in particular likes to teach me new names for surgical instruments....like the "Neck Monkey." I honestly couldn't tell you what that one is anymore, but I'd know a Neck Monkey if I saw one. I've also been teased plenty for suggesting that Irradiation Injury should be included in the differential diagnosis of rectal bleeding. Another afternoon yielded a conversation regarding cowbells which I'll never forget. I was laughing so hard it brought tears to my eyes.

On the same "Rectal Bleeding" day, it was noted that some of us medical students have been adding too much to the Plan section of our notes (including the entire thought processes of our attendings). It was recommended to us that we stop doing that. But in the same discussion, a plan was made between residents to test our note taking abilities by suggesting some outrageous intervention during rounds. For example, in the case of a patient with explosive diarrhea, a resident might suggest the following during morning rounds, right in front of the scribing med student:
"This explosive diarrhea must stop! Plan will be to use 2-0 vicryl to suture the patient's anus closed."
The resident would subsequently check the medical student note later that day to see if the outrageous plan was actually added to the record.

All in all, surgery is not that bad. I haven't been completely humiliated yet. I spend much of the time in my day laughing with my classmates and colleagues, watching incredible surgeries, and learning how to actually take care of patients. Surgery might completely re-define the condition "chronic fatigue," but if one spends many of her working hours laughing, it can't be THAT bad. Despite the overwhelming amount of work I have to do over the last three weeks, I can't help but look fondly on the past three weeks and hope that my last three will be equally fruitful.