Chapter 194: A Surgeon’s Busy Day

They were still waiting for Ye Tingting to coordinate a bed with Dr. Ai when a graceful figure dashed in from afar.

She hadn’t even removed her deep-green scrubs.

The person sprinting up wasn’t anyone else but Zhou Can’s former top surgical partner—Qiao Yu.

“Hehe, so you’re back at last! I almost thought Dr. Lin was lying!”

Qiao Yu beamed at him with a dazzling smile.

Seeing her rush over, Zhou Can inwardly chuckled—she was worried she’d be too late and miss him!

“I brought over a patient for observation treatment,” Zhou Can explained.

She glanced at the two relatives behind him and the patient being assisted, nodding in acknowledgment.

Her nod said she understood.

“How have you been recently?”

Meeting her stirred many unspoken thoughts in Zhou Can, yet he didn’t know where to start.

They were just friends of the opposite sex.

Now that Zhou Can had a girlfriend, many things were better left unsaid.

“Your skills as a surgical assistant have improved a lot. Once you finish your residency training, I reckon we’ll work even more seamlessly together, and you’ll become even more proficient,”

Qiao Yu said with palpable anticipation.

They had agreed that after his training, he would team up with her in surgeries.

She had always put that on the top of her list, silently striving to elevate her skills.

“But I’ve realized that to become a competent operating room nurse, simply handing over instruments and consumables isn’t enough. I’ve been studying critical care nursing lately. Mastering it means I can really help you out during emergencies or when critically ill patients need immediate attention,”

She had long placed her commitment to serving Zhou Can at the center of her efforts.

That genuinely touched Zhou Can.

“You really have ambition! Among all the nurses I know, you’re the most driven. I believe you’ll become an exceptionally outstanding nurse—maybe even as skillful as the top specialists among doctors,”

Zhou Can complimented her with a smile.

“Haha! I couldn’t dream of matching specialists, but I’ve noticed that foreign nursing techniques are far more advanced than domestic ones. If I ever get the chance, I might study abroad. Once I return, I’ll be able to offer even greater help,”

Not only is she driven and thoughtful, but she also acts on her ideas.

That quality is incredibly precious.

Many people only have ideas, and when it comes time to act, even minor setbacks can deflate them.

“Hehe, I’m really looking forward to that day! I believe we’ll genuinely bring hope to countless patients,”

Zhou Can admitted he felt a twinge of anticipation.

Somehow, he always felt that if she said she would do it, she surely would.

Currently, the level of domestic nursing remains quite behind.

If she studies abroad, with her diligence, intelligence, and ambition, she’s sure to master truly valuable skills.

“It’s only an idea right now. There’s a long way to go before it can be realized! Not to mention, even training in the Critical Care Department comes with immense challenges,”

Qiao Yu had long mentioned wanting to work as a nurse in the Critical Care Department for a while.

Studying critical care independently just wouldn’t cut it.

Only practical training in the department would foster rapid growth.

“Have you taken your nursing license exam?” Zhou Can asked.

He was currently three months into his residency in the Critical Care Department and had become well acquainted with both the department head and deputy.

They held Zhou Can in high regard.

Once the basic criteria were met, all he needed was to put in a good word for her.

“I’ve already passed the licensing exam, but isn’t there a three-month surgical training followed by three months in internal medicine? The training I had in the Emergency Department for both surgery and medicine barely counts. You need to get into a real surgical or a weightier internal medicine department to learn the real stuff. The General Surgery Department, even the General Surgery of the Cardiothoracic or General Surgery Departments—I can hardly even fathom. Even when I applied to transfer to General Surgery for three months, I had to wait in line,”

“I’ve been registered for over two months, and there’s still no word. It’s so frustrating.”

She was worried that if it dragged on too long, by the time Zhou Can finished his three-year residency, she wouldn’t have completed her critical care training and would miss the chance to work with him. With other nurses replacing her, she feared she might never get another opportunity.

“General Surgery and Cardiothoracic? I’ll ask around. Your combined medical training is meant to prepare you for the Critical Care Department—not for General Surgery,”

she replied.

Nursing in the Critical Care Department mainly involves respiratory, neurological, and circulatory systems.

The advanced care and expertise needed can only be learned in departments like Cardiothoracic Surgery or General Surgery.

Zhou Can, or rather, his innate talent, knew this all too well.

“General Surgery and Cardiothoracic are top-tier departments. You… you’d better not ask further,” she said, not wanting Zhou Can to face too much rejection.

“It’s alright, I’m thick-skinned. If one door closes, I’ll just find another way,”

Zhou Can remarked confidently; he could hold his own in those departments.

Getting a nurse from his own hospital into training shouldn’t be too hard.

At the very least, he was more than willing to risk his reputation for Qiao Yu.

“Xiao Zhou!”

A slightly aged voice called out.

Only a handful in the Emergency Department dare call Zhou Can ‘Xiao Zhou.’

Even esteemed doctors like Dr. Fu address him politely as ‘Dr. Zhou.’

“Teacher!”

Zhou Can looked up to see it was Dr. Xu.

After more than a year apart, Dr. Xu looked even older than before.

He single-handedly managed the affairs of the Emergency Department’s operating room—a pressure no one could imagine.

Whether man or woman, stress ages you all too quickly.

“I’m off to eat now. Keep in touch on WeChat! Bye-bye!”

Qiao Yu wisely left the space to let the mentor and student converse.

“Did this arrive for treatment?”

Dr. Xu glanced toward the patient not far behind Zhou Can.

“A patient from the Gastrointestinal Surgery Outpatient came in with esophageal and gastric fundus varices from drinking, which ruptured and bled. The condition isn’t too severe. Dr. Jia advised hospitalization, but since there were no beds in Gastrointestinal Surgery, they transferred the patient to the Emergency Department to see if we could keep them in observation for one night. We’ll start treatment first and figure out the rest later.”

Zhou Can explained the entire situation in detail.

“That’s easy. Just hand over the patient’s information to me! When you’re rotating through the Surgical Department for your residency training, make sure to study hard, never get complacent, and always seek advice from senior doctors, understand?”

Dr. Xu chided him like a parent talking to their child.

His words warmly resonated with Zhou Can.

“Ye Tingting took the patient’s records; she’s off to see Dr. Ai,”

Zhou Can noted as Ye Tingting returned.

She wore a smile.

“All sorted. Dr. Ai had me arrange the patient in the observation unit and said she’d come over soon to administer treatment. Now, ask the relatives to go to the counter and get an emergency number under Dr. Ai from the Emergency Department. Without that, we can’t admit the patient or prescribe medication.”

This was precisely why Zhou Can’s reputation ensured the patient was swiftly accepted by the Emergency Department.

Otherwise, standard procedures would have dragged things along.

“Everything’s set. You should get back to Gastrointestinal Surgery; they overlap a lot with General Surgery. Follow Dr. Jia’s guidance—it’s an excellent opportunity. In fact, mastering General Surgery might even cut down your residency training to just one month,”

Dr. Xu urged Zhou Can to hurry off.

Having been there himself, he knew every minute of the residency was precious.

After training, if one wanted to move to another department, it would be a real challenge.

Opportunities for additional training would then be scarce.

And with Zhou Can’s talent, he was destined to lead a surgical team—essentially becoming a key figure.

Once the team was formally established, leaving wasn’t an option.

One had to be responsible for every member of the team.

If the key figure left, the rest wouldn’t be able to perform the critical parts of high-difficulty surgeries. That could be catastrophic.

So, it was best to absorb as much knowledge as possible during the residency.

“Teacher, I’m off now! Goodbye!”

Zhou Can waved farewell to both Dr. Xu and Ye Tingting.

Outside the Emergency Department, he felt a deep nostalgia—there was nothing like the warmth of being back in one’s home department.

He only hoped the upcoming comprehensive medical exam would go smoothly.

Only then could he secure his practicing license and his future.

…

Back in Gastrointestinal Surgery, Dr. Jia had already finished his consultation.

Zhou Can was told to grab a bite and rest for a while before joining Dr. Jia in the operating room at one in the afternoon.

By the time Zhou Can finished lunch, it was nearly 1 PM.

There was no time for a break; after a quick restroom stop, he dashed to the operating room.

Gastrointestinal Surgery and General Surgery shared several operating rooms.

Zhou Can arrived just in time—the surgery hadn’t started yet. He simply opened the door and walked in.

If the surgery had already begun, he’d have had to ring the bell for a nurse or doctor to let him in.

Usually, a red light on the door would indicate ‘In Surgery, Do Not Disturb’ or something similar.

Once inside, he found Senior Sister Qiu Hong had already arrived.

There were also a few unfamiliar doctors and nurses.

These doctors were undoubtedly part of the team.

Dr. Jia hadn’t seen them during his consultation, indicating they were either newly qualified or merely standard trainees.

Qiu Hong, who worked closely with Dr. Jia daily, was among the standout trainees.

“This is our new resident from Dr. Jia’s team, Zhou Can. He’s rotating in Gastrointestinal Surgery for three months of residency training,” Qiu Hong announced with a warm smile as she noticed Zhou Can.

“Hello, everyone!”

Zhou Can refrained from calling anyone arbitrarily, mindful of their unknown positions and titles.

It would be absurd to call every person ‘Teacher’ like an intern might.

Such informal address was acceptable for interns, but not for nearly-certified residents like them; it would diminish one’s standing.

Even many postgraduate students worked alongside their mentors in surgery, making their status equivalent to Zhou Can’s.

Some of them even had more practical experience than he did.

“Hello!”

A few doctors greeted him coolly—some just a simple greeting, others a nod in acknowledgment.

To them, he was just a new resident. No matter how talented he was, his presence barely made an impression.

Not only them, even Qiu Hong initially kept him at arm’s length.

Only after being impressed by his skills did she begin addressing him as ‘Junior Zhou.’

A patient was already on the operating table with the anesthesiologist busy at work.

Zhou Can looked up and couldn’t help but smile broadly.

“Dr. Guan, it’s you!”

He was well acquainted with several anesthesiologists; Dr. Guan and Dr. Feng had always been close to him.

“It’s funny how life brings people together—Dr. Zhou and I are truly destined. You’re just in time for some help!”

Dr. Guan didn’t bother with formalities and waved him over immediately.

The other doctors and three nurses looked at Zhou Can in a mix of surprise and curiosity.

Anesthesiologists were typically reserved, especially someone like Dr. Guan. During surgery, he only exchanged a few necessary words with the Chief Surgeon; the rest of the staff was almost like background scenery.

Although anesthesiologists were seen as subordinate in some ways—most were at the attending level while the surgical department’s attending physicians held more weight—

when grouped together, the attending from a major department always held more sway.

That wasn’t to say anesthesiologists weren’t important.

At Dr. Guan’s level, he was considered a key technical staff member for the hospital.

“What’s the patient’s condition?”

Zhou Can noticed the patient’s eyes were open and the vital monitoring leads were barely attached.

Since the patient hadn’t undergone full anesthesia, every word mattered to avoid misunderstandings or conflicts between doctor and patient.

“Adhesive intestinal obstruction requiring partial bowel resection,”

Dr. Guan replied.

Before surgery, the anesthesiologist had to comprehensively assess the patient’s condition against the surgical plan provided by the chief surgeon.

That’s how well they understood the patient’s state.

“Bowel resection! This is a fourth-level major surgery!”

Hearing it was a major operation, Zhou Can instantly perked up.

He’d grown tired of first-level surgeries in the Emergency Department.

Second-level surgeries were more challenging, yet he still felt they were beneath his capability.

His sights were now set on third- and fourth-level major operations.

Leading the entire surgery was unthinkable for now.

As long as he could secure an important part of the procedure, he’d be satisfied.

“Will it be open surgery or laparoscopy?”

Zhou Can inquired.

If it were a laparoscopic operation, his chances of participating in a key role would be even higher.

“Traditional open surgery! Dr. Jia doesn’t really perform endoscopic procedures,”

Dr. Guan hinted.

It was his subtle way of saying that Dr. Jia’s skills in endoscopic surgery left much to be desired, so he preferred open operations.

Laparoscopic surgery was inherently more challenging than conventional operations,

since it relied on manipulating a robotic arm.

In essence, robotic surgery was designed to overcome such limitations.

During surgery, a doctor’s hand tremors or imprecise movements—whether cutting or suturing—could be effectively bypassed using a robotic arm controlled remotely.

Furthermore, the robot’s camera offered a broader, magnified view of the surgical site, enhancing precision significantly.

That’s why many large hospitals are now introducing robotic systems.

Zhou Can assisted with intubation and setting up the ventilator while keeping a close eye on the patient.

He noted that patients with intestinal obstructions, who often vomit and require gastrointestinal decompression, tend to experience metabolic imbalances pre-surgery.

Preoperative correction is crucial to seizing the right surgical moment.

Patients with chronic intestinal obstruction frequently suffer from malnutrition.

This patient was gaunt, almost as if he had been through the hardships faced by refugees in Africa.

That strongly suggested a chronic intestinal obstruction.

“How are his liver and kidney functions?”

Zhou Can asked.

“Hey, it’s been a while. Your medical knowledge seems to have improved greatly. Don’t worry—in the pre-op phase, we already tested his liver and kidney functions and took measures to ensure he could withstand the surgery,”

Dr. Guan’s eyes lit up at Zhou Can’s inquiry.

With just a casual question about the surgical plan, Zhou Can could deduce that the patient suffered from chronic intestinal obstruction.

Knowing that liver and kidney functions had been taken into account showed just how much his medical expertise had advanced from before.

Dr. Guan was the only one who truly recognized that significant progress.

Chronic intestinal obstruction often comes with electrolyte and acid-base imbalances along with malnutrition. Preoperative monitoring and treatment of liver and kidney functions are essential to prevent further organ damage during surgery.

Only an experienced doctor would think so deeply.