A Sixth-Year Nurse’s Perspective on Trauma Code : Heroes on call
Reflections on a Post-Surgery Dawn
After finishing a late-night surgery and heading home, I had an unexpected moment of realization.
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on my daily experiences, but on this particular day, my attention was drawn to something I had never truly considered before—the surgical field itself.
I had always regarded an appendectomy as a relatively minor procedure. A few small incisions, inserting ports, maneuvering a camera, cutting away the inflamed appendix, cauterizing, and suturing—it was a scene I had witnessed hundreds of times beyond the anesthesia tent.
However, that night, as I discreetly peeked over the surgical drape to watch the laparoscopic monitor, a crucial blood vessel was accidentally severed at that very moment.
Blood instantly gushed out, and without thinking, my hands and mind instinctively prepared to open the IV fluids and measure a dose of ephedrine.
Watching the surgeon struggle to control the bleeding as quickly as possible made me reflect on how lightly I had regarded an appendectomy.
That moment cemented a new belief within me—there is no such thing as a minor or insignificant surgery. Every procedure carries its own weight and risks.
Rethinking Medical Authority
Before leaving military service, one of my personal goals was to overcome my sense of inferiority toward doctors. I’m relieved to say that, to some extent, I believe I’ve achieved that.
- Overcoming It Through Anesthesia Nursing
My experience in anesthesia nursing played a significant role in changing my perspective.
Anesthesia nursing is considered a specialized field, particularly in military settings, where one must undergo a rigorous six-month training program as a commissioned officer before being allowed to practice. The curriculum is dense, combining theoretical education from anesthesiologists with hands-on training. Once assigned to the field, we take turns with doctors in managing the operating room. At the very least, anesthesia nurses must be knowledgeable enough to independently oversee a surgery, possessing not only deep academic understanding but also the agility to respond swiftly in emergencies.
Unlike general ward nurses, who primarily follow doctor’s orders when administering medications, anesthesia nurses often have to administer drugs proactively based on real-time assessments and later confirm them in the medical records. We are also responsible for continuously adjusting anesthesia levels to maintain the patient’s vitals.
Perhaps it was through this experience that I stopped thinking about "being a doctor" as a measure of superiority and instead started to understand the immense responsibility and duty they bear in ensuring patient safety.
- Learning from a Remarkable Military Doctor
Another pivotal moment in reshaping my views on doctors was my time learning from a military anesthesiologist whom I deeply respected.
Whether it was luck or coincidence, the anesthesiologists I encountered were incredibly generous with their knowledge. They patiently explained complex concepts and answered all my questions in detail. Regardless of gender, I saw this willingness to teach as part of their responsibility toward patient care.
- Gaining Perspective Through the Book Golden Hour
Reading Golden Hour by Dr. Lee Guk-jong made me reflect on my own biases about medical authority.
Doctors must lead in critical situations. They are the decision-makers, and if their instructions are disregarded or not executed precisely, the first to suffer the consequences is the patient. Furthermore, the entire medical team structure could collapse.
While excessive authoritarianism can certainly be harmful, a certain level of medical authority is far from being an unnecessary evil—it is, in fact, essential.
Observing a The Trauma Code : Heroes on Call in Action
Recently, I watched the much-discussed drama series called the Trauma code : Heroes on call. As a nurse with six years of experience, I found the portrayal to be neither exaggerated nor downplayed—it was simply reality.
The drama seamlessly wove together various real-life hospital scenarios into a cohesive narrative. It featured elements such as skilled surgeons, the formation of specialized medical units, professional rivalries, military doctors on overseas missions, medical helicopters, and even unspoken power dynamics in the medical field. While the dialogue sometimes felt more scientific than literary, the show effectively captured many aspects of hospital life.
In reality, however, things can be even more extreme. Hospitals are full of unexpected and sometimes absurd incidents. It’s often said that real-life hospital drama surpasses anything seen on TV.
For instance, anesthesia departments frequently handle controlled substances, including psychoactive medications for sedation and narcotics for pain management. Nurses must meticulously track every dose, ensuring that even the tiniest remaining quantity in syringes is returned to the pharmacy. The risk factors in this department can be even higher than in others.
The hospital where I worked was no exception. There were cases of drug theft, medication errors, anesthesia-related complications, corruption, bureaucracy, sexual harassment, toxic workplace culture, and even suicides. The reality was, in many ways, more intense than any drama.
Despite witnessing and experiencing these harsh realities, I want to close this reflection by paying my deepest respects to the dedicated doctors and nurses who tirelessly perform their duties—often without recognition, simply breaking even when they do their jobs well.
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