Learn, prepare and step confidently into the operating theatre
Stepping into the OT for the first time can be a daunting experience, a completely new environment with unfamiliar faces and what can be a tense situation.
So, what are the best ways to prepare for theatre? Below we have taken some key points from research papers, as well as sharing some of the ways we prepared ourselves, and any other techniques we would recommend.
The quiz will involve questions from this page!
From the previous page you should have learned theatre basics, including the surrounding rooms, surgical staff and surgical equipment.
Another important thing to be prepared for before going into surgery, is understanding operating theatre etiquette.
This can be simple, such as wearing the correct scrubs and having the identity badge clear (2).
Note that often surgical scrubs can be different colours to the usual scrubs at the hospital.
Furthermore, it is essential to introduce yourself to the different members of the team before the surgery begins.
Make conversation with the team members, be friendly and interested, ask about their role and ask questions about the surgery.
These types of conversations will build knowledge, fill in context and is always an effective way to settle any nerves.
Etiquette within the OR also involves asking where you should stand, what important things you should not go near or touch.
Act interested in the surgery, ask questions when you can and pay attention to the atmosphere or the surgical team so you can pick the right time to ask these questions.
Lastly, always thank each member of the team for their time and let them know if you are leaving the OR.
Ensure you sleep well and make it to the handover of the day, this way you know what’s coming up.
In surgery you stand a lot, so be prepared to stand for hours!
You must wear a shoe net and a hair net. If you’re going to be in close proximity with the surgeon and patient, it is essential that you wear a face mask.
You are a walking lump of bacteria! You must be fully protected to ensure the safety of the patient and the team. When first entering the OT, it is important that you remove any extra clothing such as jewelry and watches, and that you tie your hair back (if it is long).
Be aware that in some operations, the surgeons will use X-ray machine throughout, meaning everyone in the theatre must wear a lead apron and skirt.
One of the most important things that medical students can do before entering the OT is know the patient and the procedure (3).
From our experiences of surgery, knowing:
will significantly increase your understanding of what the surgeon is doing, why they are doing it, and could also give opportunities to ask questions and show off some knowledge.
When entering the OT, you must make sure that you go in through the correct way.
Don’t go into the anasthetic room when the patient and the team is in there, as this could be overwhelming for the patient seeing more staff and students coming in.
Once the surgery has begun, there can be instances where you must not enter or leave through the main theatre doors, as the surgery could briefly be viewable to the public or other staff doors, ask members of staff which doors are best to enter or leave through.
When introducing yourself try to identify each member of the surgical team.
Almost all surgical teams will have a lead surgeon, surgical registrar, an anesthesiologist, a circulating nurse also known as an operating room nurse, a nurse anesthetist, a surgical tech, and a scrub nurse (4).
Research the distinct roles each of these have, ask about what they expect of the surgery, any complications etc.
Developing some sort of relationship between these highly skilled professionals will likely increase your knowledge of the surgical procedure and make you feel more like a part of the team.