Surgical instruments all have names, some having two or more, and surgeons usually have their preferred instruments for any given procedure. Many instruments are named for the doctors who designed them, or the company that sells them. Any experienced Operating Room nurse knows the instruments well, knows what any particular surgeon needs, and is quick to respond to any request for an instrument. Usually a good scrub nurse is ahead of the surgeon if he or she knows the surgeon’s preferences at any given time during a procedure.
In one Operating Room where I worked I knew the surgeons well, and also knew their preferences for instruments. However, one of the Senior Surgeons was well liked, was quite a teaser, and delighted in the scrub nurse’s reaction to his remarks. He also liked the ‘Bonney Forceps’, and without fail, during a procedure when I was his scrub nurse, he would ask for the ‘Bonneys’ and then in a booming voice would ask "I wonder what makes these ‘Bonneys’ so special to work with?".
After hearing this so often, he finally pushed me into reacting, something I had made a vow to myself not to do! But it had been a long day and I was a bit tired and irritable.
I stared at him over my mask, and said, "The ‘Bonneys’ were named for me!"
"For you! Why is that? ", he asked.
"Why? Well, my name is ‘Bonnie’, and like me those forceps I am hardy, reliable, admirable, and have good strong teeth!", I responded.
He was lost for words, and knowing who the winner was in his game of pestering that day, he continued on with his work using the ‘Bonneys’ and never asked that question ever again.
Smart man!
Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe, RN. Rtd.
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