Shadowing a Neurosurgeon

[Ischemia1032]

Hi! I am shadowing a neurosurgeon for 2-3 weeks over winter break and he already told me I should bring my own light blue scrubs/cap, however I have a few general questions. First of all, what kind of shoes should I wear, most of my prior(non-surgical) shadowing I wore dress clothes, but with scrubs, are sneakers acceptable? Especially since I will be on my feet for longer periods of time then normal. Secondly, is there anything I should prepare for for surgical shadowing then normal clinical shadowing? I feel like I should study some neuroanatomy or some basic procedures/conditions so I at least have some idea as to what is going on. Thanks!

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[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Definitely comfortable shoes! Sneakers should be fine. You'll usually be given little booties to cover your shoes.

I don't really think you need to prepare for this. It's shadowing; you won't be expected to know any anatomy and I'm sure you'll have opportunities to learn and ask questions during downtime. The main goal of shadowing is for you to get a sense of what doctors do all day. 🙂

 

[WedgeDawg]

Sneakers are great. Wear shoe covers if they have them because it's highly possible there will be blood on the floor. If you know what procedure is happening, it might be interesting to google it and get a basic feel for it, but it's extremely unlikely you'll be able to master the exact anatomy involved (nor do you need to). Most importantly, have fun and don't touch anything!

 

[Ischemia1032]

Oh yes I know, I mean I know some basic neuroanatomy from my general interest and taking a few neuroscience courses. But thanks!

 

[whatever5]

I shadowed a neurosurgeon for a week and it was without a doubt the most boring week of my life, even though I was a neuro major and had taken neuroanatomy/googled the procedures involved. It was just 14 hour days of being in a cold OR for 3-4 procedures that all felt like they were never going to end. You probably won't scrub in, so you won't be close enough to look at anything so realistically you'll be watching the video monitor if anything. Have fun.

 

[Krupke]

I shadowed a neurosurgeon for a week and it was without a doubt the most boring week of my life, even though I was a neuro major and had taken neuroanatomy/googled the procedures involved. It was just 14 hour days of being in a cold OR for 3-4 procedures that all felt like they were never going to end. You probably won't scrub in, so you won't be close enough to look at anything so realistically you'll be watching the video monitor if anything. Have fun.

I got to stand right next to the surgeon and see the brain of the patient and everything that was happening. It was a community hospital, so there were no other students competing to see. I enjoyed it

 

[Ischemia1032]

Really, that boring? I can't see it being "that" boring. You probably just had a bad doctor to shadow, when I say bad, I mean bad at teaching. Most doctors I have shadowed are fairly enthusiastic and happy to see me, although I have had a couple tell me if I do go into medicine, I have to be realistic as to the direction it is going, and how a lot of our lives are controlled by insurance companies, HMOs, hospitals and we can't treat how we want etc.

 

[Dr. Death]

Really, that boring? I can't see it being "that" boring. You probably just had a bad doctor to shadow, when I say bad, I mean bad at teaching. Most doctors I have shadowed are fairly enthusiastic and happy to see me, although I have had a couple tell me if I do go into medicine, I have to be realistic as to the direction it is going, and how a lot of our lives are controlled by insurance companies, HMOs, hospitals and we can't treat how we want etc.

It is really THAT boring. Also like wedge said don't touch anything. Also don't come close to touching something. I was in the OR and some assistant screamed at me for being "too close" to her table.

 

[Ischemia1032]

Yea, I get that. I am going to stick as close to the wall as possible while still being able to see. I have had friends tell me nurses are particularly malignant towards students/med students,interns, residents, even fellows, basically anyone who isn't the attending, and they are not afraid to yell at an attending, however they only do it with a good reason. I don't think it applies to all nurses, however I have seen it a lot in clinical environments.

 

[Ischemia1032]

Although I am shadowing one, I am more into radiology and more analytical/diagnostic specialties, while I think I would enjoy procedures, I don't want my entire life to be procedure. Part of the reason I am going into medicine is I love puzzles, and solving them for my life's work is a dream.

 

[Lost in Translation]

Neurosurgery is very little brain, much spine. Maybe you'll get lucky and the doc will be called in to run a trauma?

 

[Meeehai]

Hi! I am shadowing a neurosurgeon for 2-3 weeks over winter break and he already told me I should bring my own light blue scrubs/cap, however I have a few general questions. First of all, what kind of shoes should I wear, most of my prior(non-surgical) shadowing I wore dress clothes, but with scrubs, are sneakers acceptable? Especially since I will be on my feet for longer periods of time then normal. Secondly, is there anything I should prepare for for surgical shadowing then normal clinical shadowing? I feel like I should study some neuroanatomy or some basic procedures/conditions so I at least have some idea as to what is going on. Thanks!

Wear these:

 

[Ischemia1032]

violet/orange hi-tops are always great attire with light blue surgical scrubs!

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

In the OR, make friends with the anesthesiologist, they are your key to being able to get close to the operation. They can also tell you way more about whats going on since the surgeon will be busy doing the surgery. The anesthesiologist just chills and makes sure the patient is stable so has more time to talk.

Also be super nice to the nurses midlevels and everyone else. They will be much friendlier and willing to bend the rules if you don't act like an ass (you'd be surprised how many shadows do).

You don't need to research any procedures/anatomy, but if someone says a term you don't understand write it down on a paper (not your phone!) and look it up later so if it comes up again you can contribute or ask relevant questions.

Good luck!

 

[Ischemia1032]

Really? I always act respectful to everyone, I see no reason to arrogant. There is now way in hell any pre-med could claim to know more then a nurse(arguably we may know more biology and chemistry and physics which will help us later on), however we know virtually nothing about nursing, and we know very little about medicine but nurses hold the keys to the gate. They can make your life much easier or a living hell. oThanks for the advice!

 

[Ischemia1032]

I am just kind of nervous to be in an OR b/c I have a few med student friends who say the OR while fun is really stressful since you don't know where to stand and it is hectic, people are always yelling at you.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I am just kind of nervous to be in an OR b/c I have a few med student friends who say the OR while fun is really stressful since you don't know where to stand and it is hectic, people are always yelling at you.

Just do what people tell you to do and you'll be fine. Also might be a good idea to ask questions before or after the operation, but not during. And as stressful as it might be for you, just remember it's orders of magnitude more stressful for everyone else involved.

 

[rilte4]

Introduce yourself to, and be sweet as pie to the scrub tech.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I am just kind of nervous to be in an OR b/c I have a few med student friends who say the OR while fun is really stressful since you don't know where to stand and it is hectic, people are always yelling at you.

I work in an OR so I'll give you some tidbits:

First rule, NEVER come close to the drape. NEVER come close to the scrub or surgeon while he is gowned. NEVER stand behind anyone who is gowned. The BEST place to stand is by the anesthesiologist, be his best bud. The OR is really not that intimidating if you know who to ask questions to. Find the circulator nurse and ask them where to stand (if not by the anesthesiologist). Be warned that no matter how many surgeries you have watched on YouTube there is a fairly decent chance you will pass out (I've seen new scrub techs pass out... Like WTF it's your job..) if you feel faint or light at all go lean against the wall. Trust me no one will think anything of it if you do. Wear good shoes because the floor is usually way hard and your knees and back will kill by the end of the surgery.

I know that everyone thinks NSG will be the coolest thing ever but it's not. It is literally hours upon hours of staring into a back, most neuro practice is made up of back fusions or discectomies. If you are lucky you'll see a crani, which is the cool stuff.

The number one thing though is to just enjoy it. it is a new experience that you will have never seen before. If you are lucky you're surgeon will be a Boss and talk to you the whole time explaining everything. Some of our surgeons do that and it makes things 1 million times more interesting.