i worked in a hospital for a short time-central supply and dated a supervisory nurse working respiratory ICU. I concur that nurses helped many a doctor from making mistakes, a few very smart new doctors would even quietly ask nurses for advice. many times doctors didn’t know which surgical instrument tray to order for an operation..so the large trays with more instruments were regularly ordered just to be sure.. I heard many stories (from my GF and other nurses ) and observed a few similar amazing stories which scared the heck out of me.how many chest tubes can you get in a dead patient, just for practice? hey joe come over here and watch this.
Most of the Trauma Surgeons were extremely good. I have been directly next to Doctors who were able to insert chest tubes in the wink of an eye. A few years ago, I had 3 chest tubes myself. When they removed them it was strange. It seemed to take forever though I have seen them inserted. To me it is a mystery.
I once had a Pneumothorax and the Docs told me to go home as it will clear up. I just about freaked, though they were proven right.
Anyhow, it is all to me of tremendous interest and I cannot help but be fascinated by all of this stuff.
I do not think that all of my CoWorkers realized just how deeply I was into this stuff. I usually thought that I was in over my head, but I never killed anybody due to incompetence. I just maintained my composure and did my job.
Maybe I will write a book, if I live so long.