Shadowing- What should I expect?

[jb23]

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Well the title says it pretty clearly, but I suppose I should add a few details.

I am going to be shadowing a neurosurgeon. He has told me I can come anytime and even told me when his bigger surgeries are. This is all the contact I have really had with him. I will of course be setting up the time to meet him in the future, but I don't know what to expect. I have not shadowed a doctor before and I imagine a neurosurgeon will be a great experience, especially since that is the field I would like to be in.

Anyone know what it will be like, from past experiences, etc.?

 

[Vulcan]

Go in for a good surgery and watch. Watch and watch. You won't understand much, but this is normal. Try to find out if he talks during surgeries. If he does, then you can ask him things (not too often though), and if he doesn't...then just watch and ask questions later. Avoid talking too much. It'll take a while to get the hang of how he likes to run the OR. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TOUCH ANYTHING DRAPED IN BLUE. Blue means sterile. Other than that, go have fun! You're witnessing a real human being's body being opened up. Make sure to appreciate the experience.

Enjoy!

 

[jb23]

Go in for a good surgery and watch. Watch and watch. You won't understand much, but this is normal. Try to find out if he talks during surgeries. If he does, then you can ask him things (not too often though), and if he doesn't...then just watch and ask questions later. Avoid talking too much. It'll take a while to get the hang of how he likes to run the OR. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TOUCH ANYTHING DRAPED IN BLUE. Blue means sterile. Other than that, go have fun! You're witnessing a real human being's body being opened up. Make sure to appreciate the experience.

Enjoy!

Thanks! I will try to get the most out of the experience I can. I think it should be very interesting!

 

[FloatOn]

I've shadowed a neurosurgeon before and it's really cool, although if you go on a regular basis, most of the surgeries get repetitive. Hopefully, he'll introduce you to everyone in the OR so they don't wonder why there's a random person in the room. The med students are good to talk to about what's going on. They're always nice and it wasn't too long ago when they were in your shoes.

Like the above poster, do not touch any blue drapes! Keep your hands to yourself and if the surgeon tells you to come closer to take a look, approach the table with caution. Any spinal surgery will be hard to see anything because the incision area (fancier name for this?) is pretty small and there are usually sterile people all around the space. Keep your ears open and pick up some cool medical terms that you can ask more about later. Oh, and in general, get used to the smell of burning flesh and the sound of suctioning. Have fun and good luck!

 

[FloatOn]

One more thing: wear comfortable shoes! You won't regret it.

 

[J ROD]

One more thing: wear comfortable shoes! You won't regret it.

👍

 

[J ROD]

Also, see if you can in on a plastics guy.....their surgeries are really nice!!

 

[NickNaylor]

As others said, you're just going to be doing some watching and more watching. Usually the physician will let you ask questions and might even talk to you about your interests if he's especially personable.

Since it's surgery, be prepared for what you're going to see. I consider myself not too squeamish, but the first time I watched a surgery "live," I felt a little queezy.

 

[J ROD]

As others said, you're just going to be doing some watching and more watching. Usually the physician will let you ask questions and might even talk to you about your interests if he's especially personable.

Since it's surgery, be prepared for what you're going to see. I consider myself not too squeamish, but the first time I watched a surgery "live," I felt a little queezy.

Nothing has bothered me yet.....😀

 

[Tatastrophy]

Nothing has bothered me yet.....😀

Yea me neither. And a weird thing is...the smell that the cautery fills the room with is kind of pleasant now :\

 

[Vulcan]

Yea me neither. And a weird thing is...the smell that the cautery fills the room with is kind of pleasant now :\

I found that I actually didn't mind the cautery unless it was being use don cartilage (i.e. arthroscopy).

No ortho for me! 😀

 

[forreal1]

Like everyone else says wear comfy shoes and don't touch blue. I went and shadowed a cardiologist, and just watching him work was simply stunning. The amount of precision and focus he has while trying to explain to you whats going on is unbelievable. Just watch him or her and see how swiftly and without hesitation they work and it will blow your mind ( or at least thats what it should do).

 

[magicmage88]

I've shadowed a neurosurgeon before and it's really cool, although if you go on a regular basis, most of the surgeries get repetitive. Hopefully, he'll introduce you to everyone in the OR so they don't wonder why there's a random person in the room. The med students are good to talk to about what's going on. They're always nice and it wasn't too long ago when they were in your shoes.

lmao!!! that's hilarious.. hopefully the surgeon i'll be following in the OR after winter break does this too =]

 

[NickNaylor]

Nothing has bothered me yet.....😀

Oh yeah, anything not live didn't get to me either. Seeing it live, though, was a totally different animal for me. That said, I wasn't the guy who fainted or threw up, but I did feel a little light headed.

 

[jb23]

Well thanks for all the good info! I'm really looking forward to it! I've got things setup and I'll be in the OR in less than a week, with some comfy shoes!
They don't have you "scrub in" do they? I figured they probably will just make me wear some sort of gown, is that accurate?

Thanks again everyone and feel free to keep sharing!

 

[Vulcan]

Well thanks for all the good info! I'm really looking forward to it! I've got things setup and I'll be in the OR in less than a week, with some comfy shoes!
They don't have you "scrub in" do they? I figured they probably will just make me wear some sort of gown, is that accurate?

Thanks again everyone and feel free to keep sharing!

I never had to actually scrub in. I just wore scrubs and a mask and scrub cap.

 

[medicalmatins]

I never had to actually scrub in. I just wore scrubs and a mask and scrub cap.

Same. And then I pulled a smart one and got too close to the blue-draped table (too close=within three feet!) and the technician got mad. I didn't "un-sterilize" anything, but still. Awkward.

I wish I'd known before I went in that there is no such thing as too far away. Let them tell you "come closer."

 

[Tatastrophy]

I never had to actually scrub in. I just wore scrubs and a mask and scrub cap.

oh yea those scrub caps are HAWT! lol
OP:you might have to wear shoe covers...those are pretty sexy too lol

I wish I'd known before I went in that there is no such thing as too far away. Let them tell you "come closer."

Haha I watch a lot of ENT surgeries which are done with a microscope...and even though I know that a pair of eyepieces is gonna be all mine, I wait until I am invited to come and sit down.

 

[FloatOn]

Well thanks for all the good info! I'm really looking forward to it! I've got things setup and I'll be in the OR in less than a week, with some comfy shoes!
They don't have you "scrub in" do they? I figured they probably will just make me wear some sort of gown, is that accurate?

Thanks again everyone and feel free to keep sharing!

I've read some stories on SDN about pre-meds scrubbing in (washing hands and arms up to elbows, long gown, sterile gloves, keeping your hands above your waist, etc) but I've never even been close to that situation. Frankly, I don't think a pre-med should be that close to a patient during a surgical procedure. So just scrubs, mask, and cap are probably the extent of what you'll be wearing. Good for remembering the comfy shoes part!

oh yea those scrub caps are HAWT! lol
OP:you might have to wear shoe covers...those are pretty sexy too lol

My hair doesn't fit in the caps that men usually wear. 🙁 I have to wear the shower cap-looking ones. I feel like I'm about to take a shower or something.

 

[Tatastrophy]

My hair doesn't fit in the caps that men usually wear. 🙁 I have to wear the shower cap-looking ones. I feel like I'm about to take a shower or something.

I am a girl with long hair....welcome to my shower cap domain 😛

 

[NeuroKidd]

Aside from what other posters have said in regards to the amount of watching you will be doing, there are a few other things I'd like to point out.

I've spent a lot of time shadowing surgeons and had the opportunity to scrub in on surgeries through a special program at Baylor over this past Summer; keep in mind that surgeons (like all other doctors and medical personnel) are PEOPLE. The formality of everything and your surroundings will probably make for an intimidating experience, but the physician you'll be spending time with is a regular person who you'll probably come to find is similar to other adult people you've met and been around. I bother to point this out because you should feel free to loosen up while you're there. Sure, everything in blue is sterile and you're going to be bitched at several times for getting too close to "blue things" but you're there there to learn and figure out what exactly you're getting yourself into.

This leads me into my next point: ASK QUESTIONS! Sure, you shouldn't interrupt anyone else that's speaking, but chances are that the surgeon will forget that you are there and be completely drawn into the case. However, in my experience most faculty are more than willing to answer any questions you may have; after all, they invited you to come in and observe them.

And as a side note, come into the hospital ready to change - you'll have to put on hospital-issued scrubs in order to go into the OR. Also, don't go past the red line in the OR area (usually a big red line on the floor) unless you are wearing a scrub cap. And don't go into the OR itself unless you're wearing a mask. Double and triple check that you're capped and masked before going into the room - you can save yourself some embarrassment (if you walk in without a mask or hat at least one person will loudly call you out on it and the entire room will turn and look at you; trust me).

Best of luck and feel free to PM me if you have anymore questions!

 

[FloatOn]

And as a side note, come into the hospital ready to change - you'll have to put on hospital-issued scrubs in order to go into the OR. Also, don't go past the red line in the OR area (usually a big red line on the floor) unless you are wearing a scrub cap. And don't go into the OR itself unless you're wearing a mask. Double and triple check that you're capped and masked before going into the room - you can save yourself some embarrassment (if you walk in without a mask or hat at least one person will loudly call you out on it and the entire room will turn and look at you; trust me).

Best of luck and feel free to PM me if you have anymore questions!

I did this once and someone flipped a ****. I only took one step over the line to poke my head into a window at the nurse's station.

 

[surftheiop]

Couple tips to maximize your experience

1) Talk with whoever will talk to you, even if the surgeon doesn't talk alot, the nurses have been part of this surgery hundreds of times and could practically do it themselves - so talk with them if you have questions and surgeon doesnt talk too much.

2) If you start to feel like there is any chance you might pass out, just sit down.

3) Complement the surgeon's taste in OR music

 

[Vulcan]

oh yea those scrub caps are HAWT! lol
OP:you might have to wear shoe covers...those are pretty sexy too lol

Haha I watch a lot of ENT surgeries which are done with a microscope...and even though I know that a pair of eyepieces is gonna be all mine, I wait until I am invited to come and sit down.

The OR i was in never had them in my size. I kept ripping them trying to get them on.🙁

 

[FloatOn]

Couple tips to maximize your experience

1) Talk with whoever will talk to you, even if the surgeon doesn't talk alot, the nurses have been part of this surgery hundreds of times and could practically do it themselves - so talk with them if you have questions and surgeon doesnt talk too much.

2) If you start to feel like there is any chance you might pass out, just sit down.

3) Complement the surgeon's taste in OR music

Very true. Good music, or just music in general when you're standing, cold, tired, and hungry is always a plus.

 

[jb23]

He has also invited me to go to some conference in the morning also, not sure what that is even about. Now I am just trying to figure out....what should I wear? I know its not that big of a deal, but should I dress to impress (nice shirt, tie, etc.) or just wear something comfortable since I am going to be changing into scrubs? Sorry for all the questions I think this should be my last.

 

[Reesez]

How does one start shadowing a physician? Do you just email them and ask?

 

[jb23]

How does one start shadowing a physician? Do you just email them and ask?

That is what I did. The first one I asked said sure thing and has been really nice about it. Also if you volunteer at a hospital you could ask a doctor you know there.

 

[surftheiop]

He has also invited me to go to some conference in the morning also, not sure what that is even about. Now I am just trying to figure out....what should I wear? I know its not that big of a deal, but should I dress to impress (nice shirt, tie, etc.) or just wear something comfortable since I am going to be changing into scrubs? Sorry for all the questions I think this should be my last.

Id say at the minimum wear a polo and some what nice pants to the conference

 

[RandomAttending]

Well the title says it pretty clearly, but I suppose I should add a few details.

I am going to be shadowing a neurosurgeon. He has told me I can come anytime and even told me when his bigger surgeries are. This is all the contact I have really had with him. I will of course be setting up the time to meet him in the future, but I don't know what to expect. I have not shadowed a doctor before and I imagine a neurosurgeon will be a great experience, especially since that is the field I would like to be in.

Anyone know what it will be like, from past experiences, etc.?

Alot depends on the person you are shadowing. To start, just observe. If he encourages questions, then ask. If he teaches, be interested. You should be a fly on the wall especially if the physician is extremely busy or stressed. Many shadow students tell me candidly that they are often bored since doctors don't teach too much and there isn't much opportunity to participate.

 

[Practitioner]

Like Neurokkid mentioned, doctors are people too. I think this was one of the hardest things for me to get over. I look up to attendings, even fellows and residents to a lesser extent, with such reverence it was hard to step out of that mentality and be "cool" around doctors.

That being said, in comparison to my anticipation for the first time I went into the OR, the experience was somewhat anticlimactic. The experience is still awesome, and definitely humbling, but really as long as the surgery is going smoothly things are pretty "normal".

So play along to your surroundings and the doctor. Some docs are tough in the OR, others are pretty laid back and joke all the time, and there are ones across the spectrum inbetween. If things feel like they're going well then try to build up the courage to be a little involved, ask questions, etc. If not, try to stay out of the way.

Here are some pictures from my experiences if you're interested:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/salkhatib/4171979575/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/salkhatib/4199616207/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/salkhatib/3785822905/

If you're really interested and a bit naive, I find most doctors are pretty much open to entertaining premed curiosity. At least that's how they are here, they'll let me auscultate, explain echos, surgeries, pathophysiologies, etc, when I ask. The ones that really sense my interest even volunteer explanations.

They're great, just tell them "I'm premed" and they initially open up to you. Your personality should do the rest.