(music)
Hi, I'm Matt. This is my friend, Norah, and we're going
to show you around the surgery area. (Norah) Just like you, we
both had surgery here. (Matt) Come on, let's get started.
You're probably here for a surgery where a doctor called a
"surgeon" may fix a part of your body. It's normal to be a little
nervous, but the people you will meet are all here to help you
and can answer any questions you may have regarding your surgery.
First, you'll check in at the registration desk so the doctors
and nurses know you're here. They'll give you an I.D.
bracelet with your name and birthday on it. You and your
family will go into an exam room where you will change your
clothes, put on hospital pajamas or a hospital gown and slipper
socks. The doctors and nurses will want to make sure you're
healthy before your surgery. The nurse will check your vital
signs. Do you know what your vital signs are? Your vital
signs are things like your heartbeat and temperature. The
nurse will listen to your heartbeat by using a tool called
a stethoscope. That's called a blood pressure cuff. It feels
like a tight hug on your arm or leg. The nurse will use a
thermometer to check to see if you have a high temperature or
fever. The nurse might check your temperature in your ear,
under your tongue, on your forehead or in your armpit. The
nurse will need to know how much oxygen or air you have in your
body. The nurse will put a tiny band-aid with a little red light
on your finger or toe. This is called a pulse oximeter. Don't
worry, the red light never gets hot. The nurse will also need to
know how tall you are and how much you weigh. You and your
family will talk with two kinds of doctors. One doctor is your
surgeon. The other doctor is the anesthesiologist, or the doctor
who gives you your sleep medicine. You can ask your
doctors any questions you might have. This doctor will talk with
you about the medicine you will have to sleep. The sleep for
surgery is different from when you are at home in your bed. The
nurses wear clothes called scrubs, a hat, and a mask. They
wear these outfits to keep it really clean in the room where
you get your sleep medicine so that you won't get any germs.
Germs can sometimes make you sick. Depending on the type of
surgery or procedure, parents and medical staff may or may not
wear a mask and hat. Do you have a blanket or stuffed animal? You
can bring this into the room with you if you want. Some kids
walk to the sleep room and other kids ride in a bed. This is a
room where kids get their sleep medicine. See this big, blue
pillow? The machine behind this gives you the sleep medicine.
See those lights? They might be a little bright, but they won't
touch you. The doctor uses them to see better. You'll see your
nurses and doctors in this room. Most kids breathe their sleep
medicine through a mask. Sometimes the sleep medicine
smells funny, so they might let you pick a scent or flavor
before you start to make it smell better. Other kids get
their sleep medicine through an I.V., which is a short name for
an intravenous catheter. The tiny tube sits in your vein to
give your body a drink. Veins are the blue lines you see when
you look at the back of your hand or arm. The nurses can give
you medicine through your I.V. to help you feel better. When
you sleep with this medicine, it's a little different than
when you sleep at home. When you're asleep for surgery, you
won't feel anything. You'll sleep the whole time the doctor
is fixing your body. When the surgery is done, the sleep
doctor will stop giving you your sleep medicine. Then you'll wake
up in the recovery room. You will also meet a nurse who will
help you feel comfortable. Whoever came with you can see
you when you wake up. When you wake up, you might get a
popsicle, juice, slushies, or other things to drink. Before
your surgery, it's important not to eat or drink anything for a
little while, because the sleep medicine helps your whole body
fall asleep, including your stomach. If you have food or
drink in your stomach, then it may get sick and make your
surgery unsafe. When you're ready to leave the hospital, the
nurse will gently take the tape and I.V. off your hand or arm.
It feels just like taking a band-aid off! If you are
spending the night at the hospital, then you and whoever
brought you will go together to your room here. There is a
playroom with fun things for you to do while you are here. When
the doctor says you're ready, then you'll get to leave the
hospital. (Norah) And then your surgery is over! (Matt) It's a
lot easier than I thought it would be. (music) (Matt) And now
we're going to share 10 of our favorite things about surgery at
Children's Colorado. Child Life Specialists! Slushies! The
playroom! Scented medicine! The ball machine! Lego hospital!
Bring your blanket or stuffed animal! Stress balls and
pinwheels! Popsicles! (Nora) Thanks for joining us!
(Matt) You're going to do great with your surgery. 00:05:30.121,00:00:00.000 (music)