We’re all pretty familiar with the phrase, “the power of perfection,” or maybe, “the beauty of perfection,” but have you ever thought about the burden of perfection? It’s a strange, and somewhat depressing, thought. But in our world, it exists, and it’s something that’s so engrained in us as healthcare professionals, that I wonder if… Read More The Burden of Perfection – And How to Carry It
Welcome to 2022! It always feels like we come skidding into January, worn out by the workload and busyness of November and December. This year is definitely no different, although I think we’re just worn out. Period. The past couple of years have been the most challenging of our careers, and I’m somewhat skeptical of… Read More Looking to the Future in the Shadow of a Difficult Year
I’ve struggled to write this post – mostly because I know just how hard it is to work in the operating room, and I know how burdensome it can be to have to implement a new policy or checklist every other week. Oftentimes our policies and procedures read like the person who wrote them has… Read More What Happens When No One Is Watching?
Can you believe that 2021 is almost over? The continued stress and strain of the pandemic, increased workloads and case volumes, staffing shortages, vaccine mandates, and political frenzy all seem to have come together to make the year just fly quickly by. Although I know we’ve all felt every grueling hour during the extra longs… Read More CNOR Recertification + 5 Free Resources for Continuing Education and Points
In the operating room, we use the phrase “patient safety” an awful lot – for good reason, too. Everything we do hinges on providing our patients with a safe surgical experience. We confirm their identity, surgical site, and laterality multiple times before rolling back, we position them for their procedures in ways least likely to… Read More Effective Communication: The Foundation of Patient Safety
When I first started in the operating room, I had heard of surgical techs, but I didn’t know what their job actually involved. But, it only took me about 2 seconds to realize that scrub techs were a wealth of knowledge and experience, and if I was going to succeed in the OR, I was… Read More Happy Scrub Tech Week! +Giveaway!
This summer has been a whirlwind of hard work and change. I don’t like change. But I recognize that sometimes change can be a really good thing. I quit my job in June. I had been an Orthopedic Team Leader at my facility for almost 6 years, and it was the only job I’ve had… Read More Sad Goodbyes and Exciting New Beginnings
Raising children is a full time job. As I’m sitting here trying to write something encouraging for Mother’s Day, I’ve fussed at one child for not doing one of his chores like he was supposed to, reminded another (for the 3rd time) that he needs to brush his teeth, and my daughter is getting ready… Read More Being a Mom Isn’t Easy
This post contains affiliate links How do you feel about taking call? Do you love it or hate it? I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t have a strong opinion about it. But for most surgical facilities, taking call is just part of the job. We don’t always love it, but we also… Read More Managing Call Schedules – There’s a Better Way
My very first post when I started this blog was called “10 Things I Learned in the Operating Room.“ It probably wasn’t my most well-written post – I’ve learned so much since I started this blog 3 years ago. But, with the anniversary of The Circulating Life approaching, I thought it would be fun to… Read More 11 More Things I Learned in the OR
