There are nurses, and then there are operating room nurses, those masked crusaders infused with a special blend of smarts, savvy and strength to stand up for patients and to stand up to surgeons. Surgical nurses are a breed apart. I can pick one out of a crowd. In case there were ever a doubt, here are sure signs you’re an OR nurse.
- There are 2 pens and a pair of bandage scissors in the pocket of whatever you’re wearing.
- There’s a box of disposable gloves and masks in your car console, and an airway pocket face mask in the glove compartment.
- You wear gloves to change your baby granddaughter’s diapers. You Purell even before you glove up and after you glove down. Then you have a panic attack while trying to resist doing a 3-minute scrub.