When a Medical Student Dropped Her Glasses in Surgery — and Learned a Lifelong Lesson

Picture this: A medical student stands on stacked step stools, peering over a crowded operating room, trying to catch a glimpse of a complex spine surgery. Scrubbed in, sterile, and silent, the student’s only task is to observe and learn. Hands clasped tightly to avoid contamination, the student leans forward and in one heart-stopping instant, the glasses slip off and land on the patient.

Time freezes. The room gasps. The student wants to disappear.

This is the story of Dr. Erin Nance, an orthopedic surgeon, recalling her most embarrassing moment in medical training while sharing it through a post and how it became a lifelong lesson in gratitude.

The Scene: Inside a Busy Operating Room

Inside the OR: Where Every Move Matters

The operating room is a precisely choreographed environment where surgeons, residents, scrub technicians, and nurses each play critical roles. As a medical student, Erin was scrubbed in but functionally an observer — often positioned in the back corner, straining to catch glimpses of the surgical field between shoulders.

The Procedure: Anterior Spine Surgery

It was an anterior approach to the spine: a complex procedure requiring a general surgeon to make a large incision through the front, moving organs aside to access the spine. Later, a spine surgeon would address the vertebral disc.

A Rare Moment of Kindness

When the Surgeon Noticed Dr. Erin

Amid the high-pressure environment, the general surgeon did something unexpected. Noticing Erin struggling to see, he asked a nurse to build a platform of step stools, a simple yet thoughtful gesture that gave the student a front-row view of the operation.

Perched a foot and a half above the team, the student could finally see the surgical field clearly. The exposed spine was a marvel. With hands crossed to maintain sterility, the student leaned forward, fully absorbed in the intricate details. For the first time, the experience felt inclusive, a moment of gratitude amid the intensity of the OR.

When the Glasses Fell

As the student leaned forward, the glasses slipped. In slow motion, they fell, landing not in the open wound, thankfully, but on a sterile portion of the patient’s torso. The room seemed to hold its breath.

The nurse gasped audibly. Hundreds of eyes turned toward the student, then to the glasses, then back again. Panic surged. She thought that the surgery’s ruined and expulsion is inevitable.

What Happened Next Shocked the Room

The Surgeon’s Calm Response

While panic threatened to overwhelm, the surgeon remained composed. With calm professionalism, he directed the scrub tech to remove the glasses from the surgical field. Dr. Erin was instructed to step back, retrieve them, and an Ioban a sterile adhesive drape was applied over the affected area. The surgery continued seamlessly, a testament to crisis management.

A Fear Realized

Dr. Erin stood on the verge of tears, expecting to be banished from the OR. The embarrassment was crushing. But instead of reprimanding, the surgeon responded with understanding, defying expectations of punishment.

A Surprise in the OR

After stepping out to re-gown in fresh sterile gear, the student prepared to fade into the background, relieved just to remain in the OR. But to everyone’s surprise, the surgeon motioned for the student to stand beside him.

For the rest of the case, the student stood at his side, witnessing every detail.

Why This Moment Still Resonates

This wasn’t just an embarrassing story, it became a defining lesson in mentorship. The surgeon’s empathy turned shame into growth.

Medical training magnifies every mistake. The fear of judgment can be paralyzing. But a mentor’s understanding can transform fear into resilience.

References

1. Dimar, J.R., & Carreon, L.Y. (2022). Anterior spine surgery for the treatment of complex spine pathology: A state-of-the-art review. Spine Deform, 10, 973–989. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-022-00514-8

2. Stress factors among medical students: A survey-based analysis of academic and personal challenges. Healthcare Bulletin. https://healthcare-bulletin.co.uk/article/stress-factors-among-medical-students-a-survey-based-analysis-of-academic-and-personal-challenge-3167/

(Rh/VK/MSM)