Should I shadow while they are in SICU or the trauma floor?

[AsianPersuasion]

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hey everyone, I'm in the process of shadowing a trauma surgeon soon. I was asked by the surgical coordinator if I wanted to shadow while the surgeon is on SICU or Trauma floor. Now, I'm going to be shadowing during the day.
I don't care which dept they place me in, I just want to see the bread and butter of what Trauma really is, so I picked the date for when the surgeon is on for the day trauma floor. But the thing is I'm not sure if this is the right choice. would I see any action during the day?( not that I enjoy watching people getting hurt or anything) but I want to experience what its really like.

So do you think i should do SICU instead? or do trauma for now, and if they allow me to shadow again pick SICU next time?

 

[Angulimala]

hey everyone, I'm in the process of shadowing a trauma surgeon soon. I was asked by the surgical coordinator if I wanted to shadow while the surgeon is on SICU or Trauma floor. Now, I'm going to be shadowing during the day.
I don't care which dept they place me in, I just want to see the bread and butter of what Trauma really is, so I picked the date for when the surgeon is on for the day trauma floor. But the thing is I'm not sure if this is the right choice. would I see any action during the day?( not that I enjoy watching people getting hurt or anything) but I want to experience what its really like.

So do you think i should do SICU instead? or do trauma for now, and if they allow me to shadow again pick SICU next time?

I work for a trauma surgeon and shadow him frequently.

I'm guessing the "Trauma floor" is a stepdown unit, so I'd recommend you spend some time in the SICU, where you'll see all the really injured people and most of the interesting procedures happen. Depending on how busy your center is and how many surgeons work at one time, you might get to go down to the trauma bay and watch if something good comes in.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

thank you 🙂

maybe im getting it all confused, but I though the Trauma floor is when if theres a trauma coming in, a surgeon gets called and have to attend that trauma.
so its SICU instead that if theres a trauma they go down to attend it?

 

[Angulimala]

thank you 🙂

maybe im getting it all confused, but I though the Trauma floor is when if theres a trauma coming in, a surgeon gets called and have to attend that trauma.
so its SICU instead that if theres a trauma they go down to attend it?

At our institution, the place where people come in is usually referred to as the Resuscitation room/trauma bay. The SICU is where patients typically end up after that, and the stepdown unit/trauma floor is where people go who are on their way to being discharged.

 

[ACSurgeon]

thank you 🙂

maybe im getting it all confused, but I though the Trauma floor is when if theres a trauma coming in, a surgeon gets called and have to attend that trauma.
so its SICU instead that if theres a trauma they go down to attend it?

You'll have to ask the trauma surgeon the details as they pertain to his/her hospital.

Generally, it doesn't matter where the trauma surgeon is, if there is a trauma, he/she will drop everything and run to the trauma bay to handle it. If it needs surgery, they will take the patient to the OR. Keep in mind, that depending on the hospital, OPERATIVE trauma can be as low as 10% of trauma's seen at the hospital. The rest end up needing a bone fixed or just observation (not very fun, especially for a pre-med).

It shouldn't matter if you shadow in the day or night. Accidents happen at all times of the day, and if you'll be shadowing at a knife and gun club, then those come in throughout the day as well.

If you want to see surgery, ask to be set up with a surgeon who has scheduled cases. The trauma surgeon you shadow might have scheduled elective gen surgery cases.

 

[apumic]

You'll have to ask the trauma surgeon the details as they pertain to his/her hospital.

Generally, it doesn't matter where the trauma surgeon is, if there is a trauma, he/she will drop everything and run to the trauma bay to handle it. If it needs surgery, they will take the patient to the OR. Keep in mind, that depending on the hospital, OPERATIVE trauma can be as low as 10% of trauma's seen at the hospital. The rest end up needing a bone fixed or just observation (not very fun, especially for a pre-med).

It shouldn't matter if you shadow in the day or night. Accidents happen at all times of the day, and if you'll be shadowing at a knife and gun club, then those come in throughout the day as well.

If you want to see surgery, ask to be set up with a surgeon who has scheduled cases. The trauma surgeon you shadow might have scheduled elective gen surgery cases.

While this may be true, there do seem to be some discernible patterns. For instance, as a general rule, the EDs I have worked in generally seemed to get a bumps in patient flow around 5-7pm (people off work/rush hour/early evening activities) and then again about ±1 hr from the time bars and clubs closed. We also generally saw fewer people come in on very cold/wintery days and nice, sunny days (i.e., more came in on days when the weather was mediocre but not bad enough for people to stay inside).

Nevertheless, you do get traumas, code blues, etc. all day and night.

 

[ACSurgeon]

While this may be true, there do seem to be some discernible patterns. For instance, as a general rule, the EDs I have worked in generally seemed to get a bumps in patient flow around 5-7pm (people off work/rush hour/early evening activities) and then again about ±1 hr from the time bars and clubs closed. We also generally saw fewer people come in on very cold/wintery days and nice, sunny days (i.e., more came in on days when the weather was mediocre but not bad enough for people to stay inside).

Nevertheless, you do get traumas, code blues, etc. all day and night.

It depends on the hospital, patient population, etc. If it's a trauma heavy hospital, it will get good stuff at any time. Certain traumas do occur more at night/winter, etc.

Also, trauma and emergency medicine are two very, very, very different patient populations, case-types, etc.

 

[Doctor246853]

thank you 🙂

maybe im getting it all confused, but I though the Trauma floor is when if theres a trauma coming in, a surgeon gets called and have to attend that trauma.
so its SICU instead that if theres a trauma they go down to attend it?

LOL it is misleading isnt it? I thought the same thing before I started at Parkland but the trama floor is just where they go to heal and the nurses are taking care of them. The surgeons come in and do their rounds nothing too speacial if your expecting chaos and blood. The SICU would be better. BUT THE TRAUMA BAY (note the all caps) is where the action is. That is the $hit you see on Grays Anatomy just before the show starts. If you want to see the action straight from the ambulance then follow him to the trama bay if you can. If not then do the SICU. Dont get me wrong both of them you will enjoy just not to the extent of the bay. I get butterflies everytime I put on the trauma boots and Im just an orderly.🙄

 

[AsianPersuasion]

yes, that was the impression I had that who ever was on that shift and theres a trauma, they take it. So thats why I picked a date when the surgeon was on Trauma floor.
I was only given 2 choices Trauma floor or SICU

but I wasn't sure if I was able to see those trauma coming in if I shadow the surgeon while hes on SICU floor.
Yes Im definitely going to ask them if they take trauma calls while on SICU etc.

Than again I should just be greatful and go with it since they offered me the opportunity and stop being picky haha 😀

 

[Doctor246853]

While this may be true, there do seem to be some discernible patterns. For instance, as a general rule, the EDs I have worked in generally seemed to get a bumps in patient flow around 5-7pm (people off work/rush hour/early evening activities) and then again about ±1 hr from the time bars and clubs closed. We also generally saw fewer people come in on very cold/wintery days and nice, sunny days (i.e., more came in on days when the weather was mediocre but not bad enough for people to stay inside).

Nevertheless, you do get traumas, code blues, etc. all day and night.

LOL man your post is right on point. Beautiful days/ Afterwork hours/Bartime= Goodtimes in the ED/OR/Trauma bay

 

[AsianPersuasion]

LOL it is misleading isnt it? I thought the same thing before I started at Parkland but the trama floor is just where they go to heal and the nurses are taking care of them. The surgeons come in and do their rounds nothing too speacial if your expecting chaos and blood. The SICU would be better. BUT THE TRAUMA BAY (note the all caps) is where the action is. That is the $hit you see on Grays Anatomy just before the show starts. If you want to see the action straight from the ambulance then follow him to the trama bay if you can. If not then do the SICU. Dont get me wrong both of them you will enjoy just not to the extent of the bay. I get butterflies everytime I put on the trauma boots and Im just an orderly.🙄

They didn't offer me that option of Trauma bay 🙁 Thats what I was really hoping to see. Thank you Ill ask the coorndinator again.

 

[Doctor246853]

yes, that was the impression I had that who ever was on that shift and theres a trauma, they take it. So thats why I picked a date when the surgeon was on Trauma floor.
I was only given 2 choices Trauma floor or SICU

but I wasn't sure if I was able to see those trauma coming in if I shadow the surgeon while hes on SICU floor.
Yes Im definitely going to ask them if they take trauma calls while on SICU etc.

Than again I should just be greatful and go with it since they offered me the opportunity and stop being picky haha 😀

Naw... I understand. Yes be happy for the opportunity but hell if you wanna see action then you wanna see action! Good luck.

 

[ESzczesniak]

Most institutions that have in house trauma teams split their patients between ICU patients and more stable patients in general surgical floor beds (i.e. outside the ICU). Often these two locations are covered by two different teams, but that is not always the case, particularly in less buys centers.

Members from teams on one or both of these locations will have a pre-agreement who will respond to incoming trauma in the trauma bay (aka resuscitation bay or "rec room"). At our hospital, it's the SICU team that responds. The trauma bay itself is not "staffed" at all times. Even in busy trauma centers, it will spend 12-16 hours a day empty. As such, the in house trauma personnel have other patient care duties (ICU or floor), which they will drop and head to the bay for a trauma activation (incoming trauma patient).

In general:
SICU: critical care medicine heavy in procedures and very sick patients. A lot of medicine going on. Here the attending (or likely residents if there are any at the hospital) may actually do some procedures.

Floor: more social work and discharge planning issues. Here, the attending is likely only present to round on the patients. This is often a very cursory stop by a patient's room and then moving on.

I'm an orthopaedic intern at a busy level I in Chicago. From my experience of patient volumes, there is randomness, but on a global picture is very predictable. June, July and August are the busiest months. Friday and Saturday later afternoons, evening and early morning are the busiest times of the week. Morning rush hour will bring another bump. Poor weather will keep people in and reduce the trauma. During a busier month (January and February are pretty slow in Chicago given the prevailing weather), our trauma bay will be largely empty from 9-5, have 1 or 2 patients during rush hour commutes and then when the late night gun and knife club meetings start fill up with 4-6 patients at at time.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

Naw... I understand. Yes be happy for the opportunity but hell if you wanna see action then you wanna see action! Good luck.

Thank You 🙂 and Thanks to everyone els who posted 🙂

I've been reading the what to do and what NOT to do while shadowing esp Trauma.

If theres anything els any of you feel I should keep in mind, Please feel free to chime in, greatly appreciated 😀

 

[AsianPersuasion]

Most institutions that have in house trauma teams split their patients between ICU patients and more stable patients in general surgical floor beds (i.e. outside the ICU). Often these two locations are covered by two different teams, but that is not always the case, particularly in less buys centers.

Members from caring for patients on one or both of these teams will have a pre-agreement who will respond to incoming trauma in the trauma bay (aka resuscitation bay or "rec room"). The trauma bay itself is not "staffed" at all times. Even in busy trauma centers, it will spend 12-16 hours a day empty. As such, the in house trauma personnel have other patient care duties (ICU or floor), which they will drop and head to the bay for a trauma activation (incoming trauma patient).

In general:
SICU: critical care medicine heavy in procedures and very sick patients. A lot of medicine going on. Here the attending (or likely residents if there are any at the hospital) may actually do some procedures.

Floor: more social work and discharge planning issues. Here, the attending is likely only present to round on the patients. This is often a very cursory stop by a patient's room and then moving on.

Thanks the SICU sounds alot more exciting than the trauma floor. 🙂 I feel so much better knowing the differences. I feel so ignorant before haha

The hospital I'm going to be shadowing at is the only Level I center in southern NE

 

[ESzczesniak]

Thanks the SICU sounds alot more exciting than the trauma floor. 🙂 I feel so much better knowing the differences. I feel so ignorant before haha

The hospital I'm going to be shadowing at is the only Level I center in southern NE

I would agree with the SICU being more exciting. If the SICU team isn't the group that responds to trauma's, ask them for permission to go yourself to the trauma bay if one comes in (they are typically announced overhead on the hospital PA system). This way you get the best of both worlds and as a shadowing student teams would be typically very encouraging of this.

 

[AsianPersuasion]

I would agree with the SICU being more exciting. If the SICU team isn't the group that responds to trauma's, ask them for permission to go yourself to the trauma bay if one comes in (they are typically announced overhead on the hospital PA system). This way you get the best of both worlds and as a shadowing student teams would be typically very encouraging of this.

That would be awesome 🙂 Ill keep that in mind thanks. I just don't want to come off pushy...and demand too many things. Both the coordinator and surgeon were sooo nice to go through paperwork and get things running for me.

But I really wanna utilize this chance as much as I can. This is my opportunity to see if this is right for me.

 

[Doctor246853]

That would be awesome 🙂 Ill keep that in mind thanks. I just don't want to come off pushy...and demand too many things. Both the coordinator and surgeon were sooo nice to go through paperwork and get things running for me.

But I really wanna utilize this chance as much as I can. This is my opportunity to see if this is right for me.

Yeah good luck. But be sure to wear a mask if you go to the bay, so you wont be the only guy with a big ass smile on his face as a trauma victim comes in. I hid my smile behind a mask so I wouldnt look like a freak( Hey dont judge me I was just excited to be close to the action)🙄

 

[AsianPersuasion]

Yeah good luck. But be sure to wear a mask if you go to the bay, so you wont be the only guy with a big ass smile on his face as a trauma victim comes in. I hid my smile behind a mask so I wouldnt look like a freak( Hey dont judge me I was just excited to be close to the action)🙄

haha Id probably do the same xD but thanks ill remember that. Hate to sound cliche but my Trauma addicton and interest developed 8 years ago when I was 10 years old. I was watching discovery health ( favorite channel!!!!) the show Trauma: Life in the ER and I saw the trauma patient coming in and it was a male who got shot. I saw how the surgeon took control and the chaos that took place all excite me 😀 than again I was that kid who runs toward fire haha 😳

I have interests in other fields too but surgery have always intrigued me 😀 I know I can't fix everything or everybody but I would like too 😳

 

[AsianPersuasion]

AHH I'm shadowing tomorrow 😀 I'm excited and nervous at the same time!!!

 

[CrystalProphecy]

Oh good luck! This thread spiked my interest because I'll be shadowing a trauma team overnight this Saturday-Sunday. I shadowed the same surgeon from UCSF last year and it was really an amazing experience...during my few hours there, a girl had come in who tried to commit suicide by sitting in the middle of the road...other cases in the ICU had patients who had self-inflicted stab wounds, were in vegetative states, etc. And this was all in the afternoon.

Some tips from what I remember doing/not doing well last year:
1) Be sure you know how to wear scrubs. Last year, it was my first time putting on stuff like scrubs and the surgical mask (I put it on backwards and upside down) and I forgot the booties. Total fail when the attending looked at me and laughed.
2) If you're a girl, remember to bring a hair tie. The hair that kept on falling on my face from putting it into the hair thing was incredibly detracting from observing the surgeries.
3) Be sure to ask questions when you can. Sure, the surgeons were busy, but chances are there are probably students/interns on the rotation too. They're probably easygoing and willing to fill you in on what's going on.
4) Write down everything you remember when you get home. I find it easy to forget the details that amazed me so much during my shadowing time there, but forget 2 weeks later.

Overall, good luck and have fun! I love shadowing 🙂

EDIT: I just realized your post was from a day ago. You probably already finished it, but oh well. Hope you had fun

 

[AsianPersuasion]

Oh good luck! This thread spiked my interest because I'll be shadowing a trauma team overnight this Saturday-Sunday. I shadowed the same surgeon from UCSF last year and it was really an amazing experience...during my few hours there, a girl had come in who tried to commit suicide by sitting in the middle of the road...other cases in the ICU had patients who had self-inflicted stab wounds, were in vegetative states, etc. And this was all in the afternoon.

Some tips from what I remember doing/not doing well last year:
1) Be sure you know how to wear scrubs. Last year, it was my first time putting on stuff like scrubs and the surgical mask (I put it on backwards and upside down) and I forgot the booties. Total fail when the attending looked at me and laughed.
2) If you're a girl, remember to bring a hair tie. The hair that kept on falling on my face from putting it into the hair thing was incredibly detracting from observing the surgeries.
3) Be sure to ask questions when you can. Sure, the surgeons were busy, but chances are there are probably students/interns on the rotation too. They're probably easygoing and willing to fill you in on what's going on.
4) Write down everything you remember when you get home. I find it easy to forget the details that amazed me so much during my shadowing time there, but forget 2 weeks later.

Overall, good luck and have fun! I love shadowing 🙂

EDIT: I just realized your post was from a day ago. You probably already finished it, but oh well. Hope you had fun

OMG I did very similar thing with the booties LMAO



Update!!!


I got there signed some papers and went to meet the surgeon in the meeting room where they discuss the game plan every morning. They went over patient's status and what changes they want to make and who's doing what.
Than I got to round with the surgeon and his PA. He promised me that he'll try his best to show me all aspect of trauma and things that goes on which was really nice of him.They were both amazingly nice people and are very passionate about their job 🙂 saw some of the sickest patients ranging from stabs to major car accidents. They were all trauma patients. The doctor was nice enough to explain everything to me and it was a lot to take in but I followed along and did my best to keep up ( gosh he walks so fast!! Lol) I was lucky enough that day to shadow him on a day where he had 3 operative cases a gallbladder, hernia and I forgot what the other one was I didn't stay long enough for it. So I got the chance to go to the OR with him and got to see a cholecystectomy!!!! Holy mama it was awesome!! Even though the procedure is so typical in general surgery, to me it was awesome because it was my first time. I got to sit and watch it from the screen, saw the incision and everything!!! And than at the end he explained the procedure and what cause it etc and I was basically hype and happy haha.
So than I had to leave because of work >:/ and I was only allowed to stay for 8 hrs but he offered me to shadow him again if I have the time and suggest I do an over night with him if I wanna see trauma bay in action!!! Definitely looking forward to that 😀 Overall I had a great experience, THERE WAS A LOT to take in but I enjoyed it very much. The surgeon was really welcoming, considerate and nice about the whole thing. Part of the day I spent time eating with him whenever we got the chance and eating whatever we can find haha hes always offering me food because he felt I was too skinny and needed more calories so I don't pass out in the OR and he even bought me lunch! I felt bad I wanted to buy HIM lunch but all my belongings was in his office and he insisted cause he felt bad I traveled all this way just to shadow him hahaha so I just went along and agreed to it. And Thank god I didn't pass out during the surgery I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!! The OR wasn't hot at all it was actually cold with air conditioners lol.

So yeah, that was my awesome day! Doesn't sound awesome in writing but it was really fun.

Tips/suggestions and things I noticed:

1) If the doctor seems cool and really chill, don't be afraid to ask them questions. More than likely they are more than happy to answer.
2) They've been in your shoes before, they know how it feels to be in your position. Don't be so intimidated by it all. Just be natural, act like yourself, and get comfortable. Unfortunately it took half the day to feel comfortable around him cause I was soo nervous on how to act what to say that I just forgot to be myself.
3) Don't be afraid to look stupid, they know you don't understand/ know every aspect of medicine ect and its protocol.
(dumb thing I did was I didn't put on the surgical booties correctly
-____- yeah majorrrr failedddddddddd lol)

4) Some of the doctor that was in the room when they were having a meeting was telling really raunchy jokes and trying to have a laugh. Don't be offended by it. You gotta laugh and have fun in this specialty or els you won't survive.

I'll add more when I can think of other things. But yeah overall, just go in and have fun. I'm not saying you should come off rude or nasty or anything but just go along, learn and enjoy what you see. Know your limits, don't force anything if you can't take it. Take opportunities when offered. Don't be a stiff haha

But yeah that was my experience 🙂


OBTW i didnt get to see any trauma coming into the bay because there wasn't any at the time 🙁 he said he would take me to watch if theres one coming in but non came in 🙁 oh well. but he showed me around the bay and explained the steps etc you think about when trauma is coming like penetrating, ABC etc.