I was working with a consultant today and we gave a general anaesthetic to an 87 year old woman who was having some skin lesions (BCCs and SCCs for the medics among you) removed and some skin grafting done.
We gave her a very gentle anaesthetic and were able to successfully guide her through the operation without too much drama. Whilst the operation was going on it hit me that I was helping give a general anaesthetic to an 87 years old with a list of medical problems as long as my arm for a non-life saving operation. It struck me that (once I’ve had a few years more training) there will always be work for anaesthetists to do and I’ll always be needed. No matter where I go, no matter what happens to the health service, no matter how much the politicians meddle, there will always be people that require surgery and therefore, there will always be a need for me and my skills as an anaesthetist.
At the weekend, I was consoling an old school friend who had just been made redundant from the London branch of the bank UBS (though, considering the size of his redundancy package, I didn’t feel too sorry for him). In contrast, I’m pretty sure that no matter what happens in the future, I’ll always be able to earn a crust.
The future’s bright.
btw WHAT a stunning performance from Great Britain in the olympics. I wish I’d taken this fortnight as annual leave so I could watch more of our Olympians doing the country proud. Go Team GB!
We gave her a very gentle anaesthetic and were able to successfully guide her through the operation without too much drama. Whilst the operation was going on it hit me that I was helping give a general anaesthetic to an 87 years old with a list of medical problems as long as my arm for a non-life saving operation. It struck me that (once I’ve had a few years more training) there will always be work for anaesthetists to do and I’ll always be needed. No matter where I go, no matter what happens to the health service, no matter how much the politicians meddle, there will always be people that require surgery and therefore, there will always be a need for me and my skills as an anaesthetist.
At the weekend, I was consoling an old school friend who had just been made redundant from the London branch of the bank UBS (though, considering the size of his redundancy package, I didn’t feel too sorry for him). In contrast, I’m pretty sure that no matter what happens in the future, I’ll always be able to earn a crust.
The future’s bright.
btw WHAT a stunning performance from Great Britain in the olympics. I wish I’d taken this fortnight as annual leave so I could watch more of our Olympians doing the country proud. Go Team GB!
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2 comments:
How right you are. Anaesthetists often get forgotten by patients, but you are really the most important people in the operating theatre. After all you put us to sleep, and ensure that we wake up at the right time and that we feel no pain during the operation and immediately afterwards. The surgeon only does a bit of cutting and sewing.
So you don't think electrical anaesthesia will ever make you redundant?
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