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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT 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
Once upon a time in a land far away
How far was far? On Cave Creek, they say!
What was this place in that nook or that cranny?
Well, they work on bones — from young ones to grannies.
No tummies or eyeballs or noses they fix.
They like hammers and drills and drivers and picks.
With so many bones from shoulder to toe,
we like to make sure we're all in the know.
You sign a consent but we'll ask lots of times,
"Which site is correct?" This info is prime.
With all of our rules and things that we do,
you will not proceed without your tattoo.
First you'll be shaved with clippers and tape.
Once you're asleep we'll prep and we'll drape.
We'll have to make sure before he can start,
we have the right patient, we have the right part.
It's called the time out. Before all is dark,
we'll look for the Sharpie's obtrusive black mark!
He'll make his incision and we've done our due.
To all double-check the safety for you.
When you awaken with bandage in place,
it may be Coban or stocking or Ace.
An ode to sharpies, we'll shout it en masse!
For without its dark mark, you shall not pass.
That's the way it is done at TOSCA, my friend.
From safety at start to a comfortable end.
— Portia King, RN
When she's not rhyming, Ms. King (
pk ing @orthopedicsc.com
) is an
operating room nurse at the Orthopedic Surgery Center of Arizona
(TOSCA) in Phoenix, Ariz.
Portia King, RN
