Your first week
Learn where things live, how your team communicates and what you can do under supervision. Arrive early, be curious, and say what you see.
A day on the rotation
- Night before
Read your case in the EHR. Text your resident — no patient details: “What should I set up for your 7:30? A-line? Video laryngoscope?”
- 7:00 AM (Mon–Thu)
Find your resident. Set up the room together. OR starts 7:30 AM.
- Friday
Grand Rounds 7:00 AM → meet your resident by 9:00 AM → OR 9:30 AM.
- During cases
Induction, maintenance, emergence, PACU handoff. Ask questions in the quiet moments — never during induction or emergence.
- Leaving
After your last case and no earlier than 3:00 PM unless released by Dr. Cantu or Dr. Sukiasyan. Lecture days: leave 2:15 (Zoom, 3:30) or 2:45 (in person, 3:00, A5B103).
First morning
Visiting students: attend your HR appointment (per Student Affairs). With badge and access cards, report to Anesthesia Offices A5C122 (5th floor, D&T) and contact Dr. Ellen Park.
Attire: clean County OR scrubs, face mask, wallet only. Swap used scrubs for clean ones before you leave.
How to be a great sub-I
Introduce yourself
To the resident, attending, circulating nurse and scrub tech. Learn names. Tie gowns — it’s an easy way to help without being asked.
Read back every drug
“Give 2 of versed” → “Giving 2 milligrams of midazolam IV now.” Drug, dose with units, route — then wait for “yes.”
Vocalize
Say what you see and what you’re doing (“I see the epiglottis, not the cords”). Uncertainty is information, not weakness.
Prepare every case
Have a 60-second presentation and a proposed plan ready. Pre-op guide →
Know your role
Observe before jumping in. Stay out of the sterile field. Never interrupt induction or emergence.
Learn from everyone
Nurses, techs, CRNAs, PAs — anyone willing to teach. Ask for one strength and one thing to work on each day.
Learning objectives
- Locate and prepare the equipment your team selects, and describe the purpose of each item.
- Present a pre-op evaluation concisely: known facts, missing information, proposed plan, questions.
- Explain oxygenation, ventilation and neuromuscular recovery as separate checks.
- Recognize normal and abnormal monitor findings and report them clearly.
- Vocalize uncertainty and hand over promptly when your supervisor directs.
Supervised scope
| You may | With direct supervision | Not without explicit instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Set up the room; build kits; prime fluids | Draw up and label requested drugs | Give any drug (requires order + read-back) |
| Place monitors; attach the pulse oximeter | Mask ventilation; IV placement; laryngoscopy | Change ventilator or pump settings |
| Pre-op chart review (in the EHR) | Patient interview and airway exam | Consent, orders, documentation of plans |
Scope differs across OR, pain and ICU teams — confirm it whenever you join a new team.