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BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Paula Watkins, RN, CNOR
As Seen on TV
Aren't you glad you don't work in a television hospital?
T
elevision hospital dramas cross the line between what's real and
what's "Really?? Are you kidding me?" A few violations:
• The unisex dressing room. Oh, hell no. Can you even imagine sharing
a locker room with the guys? Or us in their room? I've heard horror
stories from men themselves about what they do in there, and there is
no way I want to be anywhere near that.
• Romantic interludes. I love how there's always a ready and empty
make-out room for the dreamy surgeon and his top-notch co-workers.
In real life, if there's an empty room, it's probably full of equipment
and junk that should've been carted out before the last world war.
Also, who in their right mind would have an intimate moment with a
co-worker? That's like kissing your brother, or someone who's always
on your case to pick up the slack. Either way, it's not gonna work out.
• Safety first. Pre-op checklist. Let's see: The patient is awake; in the
prone position; prepped, localized and draped; with an open incision;
and they're alone in the OR. Sounds like a great time to go out in the
hallway and lecture a student. I'm waiting for the first patient to ask
us if this sort of thing actually happens.
• Sensitive situations. Would any medical facility you've ever been
affiliated with send a surgical resident out to the waiting room to tell
a patient's family that the prognosis was not good and the case was
going downhill faster than an Olympic skier? I guess if they had to
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J A N U A R Y 2013
