How to Befriend the OR Staff

The secret to success in the operating room as a student is to become friendly with the operating room staff, just like the secret to finding a compatible PA program for you is by using MYPABOX. The people in the operating room to be aware of includes but is not limited to the surgeon, anesthesiologist, scrub techs and circulating nurses and of course, anyone else that comes into the room. Building a friendly and professional relationship with them will help foster trust in this exclusive environment. Additionally, they will be more inclined to help you find the best spot to stand to have a view and answer any questions that pop up. Let’s dive into some of the best ways to build these relationships.

First and foremost, be kind! This is underrated and goes a long way. People are always more willing to help those around them that treat them with kindness. Simple things such as introducing yourself, asking if there is anything you can do to help, and remembering people’s names will make a positive impression. Bonus points for smiling at people despite the fact that you have your mask on! 

In terms of the scrub tech, help them help you. This means if you are scrubbing, make sure to grab your own gown and gloves and hand them off in a sterile fashion. If you are unsure of your glove size, ask someone if they can estimate based on your hand and then you can change it for the next case if the gloves feel too big or too small. If you are not scrubbed in during the procedure, try and be helpful for the scrub tech by grabbing supplies that they ask for if the circulating nurse is busy. Doing these small acts will leave a positive impression in addition to helping move the procedure along at an expected pace! 

When in the operating room you have to be aware of the fact that there are certain times that are good to ask questions and times that are not. Specifically, if you are talking to the surgeon, you have to be aware of whether or not they are in a complex part of the case that requires their full attention. If you are unsure, ask one of the nurses or simply wait until you feel confident that asking a question would not interrupt the flow of the procedure. The same is true for asking the anesthesiologist questions. 

Another thing you must do to make a good impression is listening to the rules of the OR and doing what people ask of you. The primary rules to follow are to not touch anything blue because it is sterile, stay outside of the line of traffic, introduce yourself to everyone in the operating room, if you are scrubbed in be sure to keep your hands within the sterile field, if someone tells you you broke sterility just follow their instructions on either rescrubbing or changing gloves and use the proper door to enter and exit. Each hospital and operating room have their own cultures and rulesets, but these are good general rules of thumbs to follow. 

If you follow all of these tips above, you will be set up to have a great surgical rotation! Goodluck and if you have any questions when you start your surgical rotation, feel free to reach out!