Another fun first. Some would say it’s a little late for this first, as I am 2 months shy of finishing residency.
I was doing an ER shift last Friday the 13th. I had heard the ambulance tuner go off, and minutes later the paramedics came rushing in with a woman in her 50’s. I heard them saying she’d been found on her couch, unresponsive. The ER doc looked at her and then said loudly, “this would be a good one for a resident to intubate”
It was the moment of truth. I could easily stay where I was and pretend I didn’t hear his statement. Surely someone else would love to practice putting a small tube down a dying woman’s airway? The thing was I had done precisely this for the last 3 years; let others practice this last scary skill of medicine. I knew it was my time. I took a deep breath and put on my confidant actor self.
“Dr. Wood, I’d like the practice” I said as I s tepped into the chaotic room with the code in process.
He handed me the laryngoscope and tube and said “Go for it” , then asked, “how many of these have you done?”
I think the 8 nurses busy putting in IV’s, drawing blood and bagging the patient all stopped at once to hear my response. “Uh, none, this is my first.” I definitely heard some chuckles.
“When you’re ready doctor” the nurse to my left said. I said okay and they took off the mask that had been pushing air into her. I moved her tongue, but the blade and light in and lifted her chin towards the ceiling. I then hoped the tiny black hole I saw deep down her throat was her wind pipe/trachea. I grabbed the tube and I heard someone say “It’s a good sign, she has the one eyed wink” To see better my left eye was scrunched together tightly. With a little fumbling with the tube, I finally slid it in and prayed I hadn’t picked the wrong hole leading to the stomach. A few moments later all the confirmatory signs showed I was in. “Great job” I heard with a small applause.
I was doing an ER shift last Friday the 13th. I had heard the ambulance tuner go off, and minutes later the paramedics came rushing in with a woman in her 50’s. I heard them saying she’d been found on her couch, unresponsive. The ER doc looked at her and then said loudly, “this would be a good one for a resident to intubate”
It was the moment of truth. I could easily stay where I was and pretend I didn’t hear his statement. Surely someone else would love to practice putting a small tube down a dying woman’s airway? The thing was I had done precisely this for the last 3 years; let others practice this last scary skill of medicine. I knew it was my time. I took a deep breath and put on my confidant actor self.
“Dr. Wood, I’d like the practice” I said as I s tepped into the chaotic room with the code in process.
He handed me the laryngoscope and tube and said “Go for it” , then asked, “how many of these have you done?”
I think the 8 nurses busy putting in IV’s, drawing blood and bagging the patient all stopped at once to hear my response. “Uh, none, this is my first.” I definitely heard some chuckles.
“When you’re ready doctor” the nurse to my left said. I said okay and they took off the mask that had been pushing air into her. I moved her tongue, but the blade and light in and lifted her chin towards the ceiling. I then hoped the tiny black hole I saw deep down her throat was her wind pipe/trachea. I grabbed the tube and I heard someone say “It’s a good sign, she has the one eyed wink” To see better my left eye was scrunched together tightly. With a little fumbling with the tube, I finally slid it in and prayed I hadn’t picked the wrong hole leading to the stomach. A few moments later all the confirmatory signs showed I was in. “Great job” I heard with a small applause.
It wasn’t until I was out of the room I started shaking. Now I'm a doctor, right. Intubating is some understood right of passage of residency. And now I can’t think of any other milestones left to cross!
