Monday, February 21, 2011

Paganism on the floors

Anesthesiology is a challenging field.  Not only did we have to be keenly aware of any beeping buzzer in the OR, but we also had to be the overlord of the drug box.  It might contain 10 vials of sufentanil, 10 vials of fentanyl and maybe another one.  It contained our Versed that we use to sedate our patients as well too. This is a big deal.   You actually have to have another person witness any substances that you may wish to discard in person. A second person must always sign your drug box to let you return it to the pharmacy at the end of the day.  Legal consummate process.  Anesthesiology residents and physicians have the highest rate of substance abuse.  I even know of at least one maybe two who were back in the program after a rehabilitation process.  At least you can come back to work for that problem!!! (mess up in surgery and its the end!!!!)
I was at Sylvester and their procedure is different. You enter codes in a "Pixis" system and thats how you get your drugs.  I had done this once and sadly, I dropped the vial of fentanyl on the floor where it broke into pieces.  This did not go over well with my attendings.  I was then subjected to suspicion for the remainder of the rotation.  That didnt kill me.  I was diligent.
I did have one situation that I will never forget. I was alone in the operating room and opened my newly sealed drug box. In it I found only 9 of the 10 vials of fentanyl.  I immediately told my attending. It was about 9 in the AM.  I must say that I was absolutely florid to learn at the end of the rotation that he listed that I had waited until 4 pm to report the said concern. This is not true. I did not find this particular attending to be orthodox in his conversations.  He might tell you stories of other residents that worked under him when he was a cheif and that confused him with a lower level resident. According to this attending he made their lives hell for the rest of their careers.  I do not care for paganism in any way.  This was paganism.  I never had a good expience with this physican. In fact, he took over the program in July prior to my leave of absence. 
I will say this, he was absolutely astute when he took my blood to be sent to a drug lab when I took my drug test.  Thanks.

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