Once in a while we get a call for an emergency case. Yesterday was such a day. I volunteered in the ER before while going through college, but what a difference when your job actually carries the responsibility in the process of resolving a life/death situation.
18 Years Old. Car accident. Broken Neck. Potential outcome quadriplegia. Its about 9pm and the surgery starts. My partner and I are running the neurophys part of this. It is different with scheduled surgeries, you see the patient, you talk to them, usually they are older, sweet people with lots of degenerative disc disease related pain.You ask them questions, then they share photos of their grand kids with you. Here the story is different. Its a boy, 18, he is small, unconscious, bloody on the operating table. I am hovering over him trying to put needles in as fast as I can, simultaneously wiping off the dirt and stale streams of red liquid. Anesthesia and nurses are working on IV's and everything else. There were six of them in the car. One died before making it to the hospital. Stress level is high, everyone is focused and absolutely in sink with the task at hand and the rest of the group. We are separate but one, going through the motions with a collective conscience. You can call this meditation at work, most will probably disagree but. This IS a state of heightened awareness, clarity and focus.
Definition
We finished around 00:20.
18 Years Old. Car accident. Broken Neck. Potential outcome quadriplegia. Its about 9pm and the surgery starts. My partner and I are running the neurophys part of this. It is different with scheduled surgeries, you see the patient, you talk to them, usually they are older, sweet people with lots of degenerative disc disease related pain.You ask them questions, then they share photos of their grand kids with you. Here the story is different. Its a boy, 18, he is small, unconscious, bloody on the operating table. I am hovering over him trying to put needles in as fast as I can, simultaneously wiping off the dirt and stale streams of red liquid. Anesthesia and nurses are working on IV's and everything else. There were six of them in the car. One died before making it to the hospital. Stress level is high, everyone is focused and absolutely in sink with the task at hand and the rest of the group. We are separate but one, going through the motions with a collective conscience. You can call this meditation at work, most will probably disagree but. This IS a state of heightened awareness, clarity and focus.
Definition
Meditation
is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object,
visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to
increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth.
Source: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/meditation
We finished around 00:20.
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