Everyone that works in the O.R. has something in common – regardless of position.

We all, in varying degrees, work under a heavy load of responsibility. I mean, every patient that we take into the operating room is putting their lives into our hands and they’re expecting us to give it back at the end of the case. That’s huge! And that’s not a responsibility that any of us takes lightly.

I think that the weight of our responsibility causes us to look for humor whenever we can find it – because most days, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. And being able to find the humor around us, and having a good laugh at the quirks about our job is something that binds all of us together.

So I thought it would be fun to laugh today.

And I thought it would be fun to take a look at the many ways that working in the O.R. spills over into our everyday lives. I polled my coworkers – past and present – and I asked my email subscribers to complete this sentence: You might work in the O.R. if… And I got SO MANY answers! I could relate to every one of them it seemed. And they all made me laugh. 😂

So laugh with me at this list. It’s the first part of a three-part series. I had too many to include in one list. And we all know we don’t have time to read anything that’s really long anyway!

How many of these can you relate to?

 

You Might Work In The O.R. If…

#1 – You pass scissors, silverware, or power tools at home like you do surgical instruments

#2 – Every home improvement project is prepped and draped with leftover blue wrap and 3/4 sheets

#3 – You know disposable basins are great for oil changes, leaky pipes, and hand-washing laundry

#4 – You dust your house with lap sponges

#5 – You keep exam gloves in your car in case you happen upon an accident

#6 –

 

#7 – You have an uncontrollable urge to rescue all expired supplies – especially gloves – from being thrown away

#8 – You drop a paper cup on the floor at home and you throw it away

#9  – You’ve ever said, “Make sure you clean the blood off of the ceiling” – and no one thinks that’s weird

#10 – You’ll gladly pay someone $100 to take your call

#11 – You’ve ever used the suction canister to suck up your own really bad gas

#12 – You’ve ever witnessed the transformation from resident to surgeon and compared it to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

#13 – You’ve spent more holidays sober than not because you’re always on call

#14 – You’ve handled more genitals than a prostitute, but not been paid nearly as well

#15 –

That does it for Part One!

A large part of this list is made up of contributions from so many of you. Thank you for contributing! And, as always, if you have more to add, please add them in the comments – they just might show up in Part Two!

Until next time,

Melanie