You're in the OR now. The learning curve is steep but predictable. Focus on these fundamentals and the rest will follow.
The Daily Workflow
What every OR day looks like
-
1
Preop evaluation
History, airway exam, ASA classification, and anesthetic plan. See: How to Preop
-
2
Machine check
Learn the checkout procedure before your first day. Every morning, every room. Non-negotiable.
-
3
Induction sequence
Preoxygenation → IV induction → mask ventilation → intubation or LMA. It becomes muscle memory faster than you expect.
-
4
Maintenance
Volatile anesthesia vs. TIVA, monitoring trends, fluid management, positioning. Stay ahead of the surgical pace.
-
5
Emergence
Reversal timing, extubation criteria, and a clear handoff to the PACU team.
Core Knowledge
Anespedia resources mapped to early CA-1 needs
- ▶ Stanford CA-1 Tutorial Quiz — Chapter-by-chapter self-assessment following the Stanford curriculum
- ▶ Foundations Series — ABA BASIC mapped. Pulse oximetry, capnography, EKG — the monitors you'll stare at every day.
- ▶ Monitoring Questions — 74 questions on the monitors you use daily
- ▶ Airway Questions — 32 questions on airway management
- ▶ PK/PD Questions — 72 questions on drug behavior
Recommended Reading
- ▶ Morgan & Mikhail or Baby Miller — Pick one. Ask your program which they prefer.
- ▶ After your first ITE, use Faust to target weak keywords
- ▶ Surgery-specific reference: Jaffe's Anesthesiologist's Manual of Surgical Procedures
What Seniors Wish They'd Known
- The first two weeks feel impossible. It gets dramatically better by month two.
- Ask your attending to talk through their decision-making out loud. The "why" matters more than the "what."
- Keep a pocket card with common drug doses until they're automatic.
- Write down one thing you learned after every case. Review weekly.
- Be kind to everyone — including yourself.
Know an incoming CA-1?
Send them this page. Everything is free, no account required.