open your heart

i scrubbed in on an open heart surgery! it was AMAAAAAZING!!! it was so interesting and the heart is seriously the most fascinating organ in the body. i got to stand at the head of the patient's bed and watch the entire surgery while the surgeon and the PA explained the procedure to me. i got to see the heart pumping and perfusing blood thru the body. the PA also showed me what happens when we, as nurses, shock the patient. when a patient needs to get shocked with paddles, the heart is pumping without any rhythm. it basically looks like a bag of worms. after it is shocked tho the heart begins to pump again in a synchronized fashion. it's pretty amazing when you see a beating heart so up and personal. i know i know..... i sound like the biggest dork ever but seriously, one of the most fascinating things i have ever seen. <3