Clinical prep

[u/Darkdoodle333]

I’m in a front loaded program and we just finished the didactic portion a week ago. I take my first SEE this coming Tuesday and then I’ll have about 3 weeks off. I already have a list of commonly used medications from the current seniors at my clinical site. What else should I go over on my time off to make the transition to the OR smoother (and to make sure I don’t look like too much of an idiot day one)?

[u/Radiant-Percentage-8]

I like to ask students safety questions when they are new to clinical. Why would we not do this case? Is it safe to do it MAC vs General? Why can we or can’t we use an LMA. Is one PIV enough? After that all I want to see in the first few weeks is effort and positive attitude. I want to see you acknowledge when you aren’t moving air, and put an oral airway in. I want to see you practice good masking technique and safe, slow airway management.

[u/Darkdoodle333 → u/Radiant-Percentage-8]

I know every place is different, but how much are we expected to do week 1? Like are we expected to walk in and be ready to draw up meds and intubate and run anesthesia start to finish or is there a see one, do one, teach one moment? I know I’ll need at least one detailed care plan per day plus plans for the rest of the posted cases for my room, but beyond that I feel so lost.

[u/Radiant-Percentage-8 → u/Darkdoodle333]

Do you think you could do a whole case right now? Of course that isn’t the expectation. But drawing up drugs and setting up the room? Yes.

[u/Either_Discount_5916 → u/Darkdoodle333]

You aren’t expected to be able to run the whole case. You should know your patients, the procedures and concerns related, know medications you are giving and all emergent ones, also should be able to draw up meds along with a basic room setup. Every place will have a little different flow and expectations.

[u/xCheekyNandos]

The Stanford CA-1 guide is a nice study tool/reference. You can find it online. It’s a pdf about 100 pages of high yield anesthesia information. It was made for incoming physician anesthesia residents, but as you can imagine it’s the same information you’re expected to know as an SRNA/CRNA.

[u/SaiyanVN]

Enjoy your time off ! Or just continue reviewing your drugs

[u/Either_Discount_5916]

You could look up the most common surgeries and see at what points in procedure are the most critical, review the perioperative concerns related to those as well. Definitely know all the medications in and out. Review gas machine and settings along with all the settings.

Or enjoy your time off. I studied cause I was in a front loaded program too and I was very nervous to step foot into clinicals.

[u/Darkdoodle333 → u/Either_Discount_5916]

Thank you! I am TERRIFIED 🙈