How to Prepare for Your First Day of Your Surgery Rotation

I think there’s a general anticipation about this rotation: both anxiousness and a sense of excitement. No matter what you’re feeling, we can all agree that it’s a whole new world of medicine and there’s a lot to learn. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to share some tips with you about what would have made my life easier in this rotation, and some things my great classmates shared with me to help prepare. 

What to bring to your first day:

(When in doubt, wear business casual on your first day. OR scrubs will be provided for you. )

▪️Compression socks (helps your legs not ache at the end of the day and keeps the blood pumping to help you not pass out if you’re prone to that)

▪️Shoes for the OR (I wear comfy tennis shoes, you’ll be on your feet all day)

▪️White coat (for rounds)

▪️Stethoscope (also for rounds, you’ll be the star student if your surgeon doesn’t have theirs and needs one)

▪️Small Notebook (to keep track of your patients or to write notes about things to look up)

▪️Pens (and lots of them, I think someone asks me for one every few hours)

▪️My fav reference books (Surgery Recall and Pocket Pimped)

▪️Lots of protein-filled snacks (nuts, protein bar, etc and eat when you can!)

▪️Water (it’s very important to stay hydrated)

▪️Coffee (there might be some long days ahead)

▪️Hair ties (you’ll always want your hair up so it’s easier to put the scrub caps on)

▪️No rings, earrings, necklaces. Just leave those at home so you don’t lose them.

In the OR you’ll have on the scrubs provided, a scrub cap/bonnet, surgical mask (and maybe a N95 under it for some cases these days), some sort of eye protection. And then when you scrub in, you’ll have on a sterile gown and 2 pairs of gloves. 

As always, let me know if you have any other suggestions or questions!

✤Courtney