Starting out in surgery, there’s one skill you need to learn as fast as possible – and that’s how to sew.
When new PAs come on, surgeons don’t mind working with them in general, but they do have one problem. They can’t close. Where I am, it’s expected that PAs close all wounds. Typically, the surgeon leaves the room after they’re done operating while you close the incisions and put the dressings on. In plastics, the surgeons may stick around to help you close, but there’s a good 45 minutes to an hour of suturing for you both.
When I first started, I spent hours and hours practicing tying knots and suturing. I went out and bought a spool of fishing line and anytime I watch TV I was tying knots. The other thing that worked great for me (but might not for you depending on where you are in life) were diaper bags. They are these little garbage bags you put the dirty diapers in. Man, I was going through five or ten of those a day, just as part of my routine. I became proficient at tying because of all the practice I had with dirty diapers
I practiced suturing on oranges, bananas, and pig’s feet. Pig’s feet were the best, but also the grossest.
Well I’ve got good news for you: you don’t have to do the same. If you remember, last week I mentioned my buddy Andrew at Medgeeks.co produces a suturing kit. This thing is really cool and was created to help you get proficient at sewing without the awful smell.
And here’s the best part: he’s running a giveaway of his own; the team at Medgeeks.co is giving away 10 of these sweet suturing kits. All you have to do is follow the link below and register for a chance to win.
https://www.medgeek.co/sk-giveaway33216687
The team at Medgeeks.co has a ton of great stuff, so it’s worth checking them out either way.
Brian Wallace