The Best Thing Ever!

First times are always the memorable and special ones. No one could ever beat how breathtaking it is to assist the surgeon on tearing and suturing the tissue. I could still remember when we landed to the dressing room to get dressed with our scrub suit, I could sensed our knees trembling. We tried to talk and tease everyone to ease the tension but still our anxiety was in the highest level. We first had our orientation in the Central upply !oom regarding the routines and all the cra"y sterile stuffs in the operating room. I could sensed my groupmates anxious and impassive face as our CI was orienting us to the confusing look alike instruments. #eanwhile $fter some moment, a woman on the stretcher was finally rushed to the oprating room. %ur expression that time was like &who would do the first case'( $nd from there, #s. )ihag and #r. !amiro volunteered. *hey immediately went to the sink to scrub and afterwards proceeded to the sterile area or operating room to get dreesed. *he rest of the group stayed in the viewing area to watch the entire routine and procedure. *hough we+re not inside, we sensed their anxiety as they were starting to put gloves on. Finally, when they+re done with their attire and assembling of instruments, the surgeon finally arrived and the show go on. From the viewing area, We have to admit that #r. !amiro had a little trouble inside because of passing the instruments but inspite of that ,ra. -scondo still managed to make the atmosphere light at ease. Few minutes passed, and they+re done with their first case. We all gushed to them asking how did it went. Were they able to cope and make it right in passing the instruments. We were all busted thinking it is our next turn. $fter two, three, five or seven minutes, we don+t know whatever, another patient was transferred to the operating room table. $nd what do we expect to do next( We+ve got no choice but to face the sink and scrubbed, lol. %h my .od/ *his is it. We+re gonna die. I don+t know if it+s 0ust my brain whirled around inside my head that time or my partner too. o we decided to do the best thing anyone would do during stress1 relax and stay focus. $fter those excruciating minutes of anxiety, we finally went inside the operating room. *he anxiety heightened. In my head I was screaming, &*his is it/ *his is what it takes to be a nurse. *here2s no stopping from here except if you faint.' 3ust thank .od we were guided by the staff and #a+am )abia but then we also tried to show initiative. We continued to perform our best and before we knew it, the operation ended. 4eavy breaths were released knowing that our first try was a success. #y partner and I were thankful for the support we had and for the good memory we can keep of the operating room. *he scenario still continue but not our anxiety, gradually it decreases as we learned to cope up in the situations. We had a ma0or and minor cases in which we all took. *he two weeks of duty in %! was truly fruitful, we 0ust not have %) cases but also surgery cases. $s for the staff %! nurses, they were so considerate enough. *hey were able to teach and support us during our anxiety phases in the operating room. *here were times, when they signaled us what next instrument to be pass. *hey also gave us some tips on many things like loading a needle and how to cut the suture based on the preferred length.

*hey were so good and fun to work with. *he 5ue"on #edical Center6%perating !oom ,epartment is full of opportunities for student nurses like us. It almost gave us the best shot especially on the intraoperative phase. *he environment was clean and conducive to the patient+s well being. *he resources were also enough to facilitate the needs of the patient. In conclusion, We were all lucky to experience this kind of feelings, learnings, cra"iness and most of all skills and attitude. It was truly priceless, though we admit that we had some few mistakes but still it all worth it and we take it as a postive one. *o all persons, who+ve been part of our duty, thank you so much especially to our CI #a+am )abia. We do really appreciate and thanks the things you+ve impart to us, you were not like a CI but a dearly mother to us. 17