I can get shaky hands when I'm nervous, anxious, under pressure, etc. Is this bad news for being an AA? I know there are medications for this, but I'm wondering if this would severely hamper my ability to perform anesthesia under any conditions, ie if the patient becomes unstable and needs immediate intervention by injection, etc.
Thanks
Re: Shaky hands
Posted by HopefulAA on April 28, 2014, 10:11 pm, in reply to "Shaky hands"
One of the most critical aspects to being an effective anesthetist is to be 'cool as a cucumber.' If you show that you are nervous, then the entire operating room knows something is wrong and you will look unreliable even if you know exactly what you are doing. If you REALLY want to be an AA, then do it. Just practice practice practice until you are not nervous anymore.
Re: Shaky hands
Posted by _ on April 23, 2014, 2:30 pm, in reply to "Shaky hands"
Depends how bad, and only you can know. It's definitely a stressful job, though each person handles it differently. You will immediately intervene and give drugs IV all the time everyday, feel rushed by surgeons, give blood, switch bags, etc etc. so if it shakes too much to draw up a drug very quickly and give it, you will have a hard time. That doesn't even consider starting IV's, a-lines, intubatkng where smoothness counts. If u are otherwise calm under stress mentally then it's ok. After a while those things won't make u nervous, and will become routine - but there will always stressfull moments.
Re: Shaky hands
Posted by btbam on May 1, 2014, 9:29 am, in reply to "Re: Shaky hands"
I've seen plenty of people with shaky hands get IVs with no problem. More than likely, once you get past the initial fear of being in the OR your tremor will fade anyway.