So I did not know where to post this so it may seem a bit out of place. Well, my high school has a senior project every student must complete that focuses on our research and focus regarding our lifelong career goals. I am asking about one aspect of this project, the shadowing and interview. My project focuses around a career as an orthopedic surgeon as I said before. To this point I have made a list of questions to ask the doctor once I am done with my day shadowing him. I am confused and unprepared as how I should act in the operating room, as I will be observing several cases, and how I should act towards the doctor, he is young but a very prominent figure in all of medicine. Any responses are much appreciated, as I will be shadowing the surgeon tomorrow, July 1st.
Refer to him as Dr. Don’t touch anything in the OR unless you are told to do so. The safest thing to do is to fold your hands together across your lower chest, that way you won’t unexpectedly or accidentally touch something – for obvious reasons everyone in the OR is quite rigid about sterility of instruments and surfaces and you don’t want to give them more work to do or delay a case by having to replace a bunch of equipment. Expect to be bossed around by the nurses and respond cheerfully towards them. Don’t point so much and instead use descriptive words and directions if asking a question, as in “is that white thing that runs from the top left towards the bottom right of the screen the ACL?” Consider reviewing some basic bone and muscle anatomy of shoulder, elbow, hip and knee.