I was in surgery a few days ago, and I had to tie this knot while reaching over my surgeon and with my head sideways and the knot at eye level. I know it’s weird, but it happens. It’s like playing Twister with people you’re kinda friendly with…
I’ve been in cases where I spend an hour suturing while standing on one foot. It happens because when you have multiple people working, there’s only so much room at the field.
Here’s the point: sometimes it isn’t what you think it should be. When I was learning to suture, I thought “jeez I can’t wait to get rid of these stupid oranges.” The peel is tough and doesn’t hold a suture. The darn orange keeps rolling away from you. It’s infuriating. Until you’re in the OR sewing while standing on one foot and someone else is working and shaking the table.
Or you have a 90-year-old woman with paper-thin skin, and it won’t hold a stitch; there’s no dermis at all. You can’t get a stitch to hold and you’re tearing the skin and making it worse with every attempt.
Understand that it isn’t perfect. It isn’t now and it won’t be later. Once in a while it’s nice, and it goes smoothly, but that isn’t the norm. “Embrace the suck.” That’s how you get better. Physician Assistant Exam Scholars is a place for people who want to get better. It might not be for you. Join by following that link:
Physician Assistant Exam Scholars
Brian Wallace
