Surgery is one of the most intense and high-stakes aspects of veterinary medicine. Every incision, every stitch, every decision we make carries weight—because the life on our table is a life that trusts us completely.
So this question often comes up among vets:
“Do you still get nervous during surgery?”
The honest answer?
Yes.
I still do.
Not the crippling kind of nervousness.
Not the fear that questions your capability.
But the healthy kind—the kind that keeps you focused, grounded, and deeply aware that what you’re doing matters. Saktong kaba lang.
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Is Nervousness a Weakness?
Some say nerves mean you’re not confident enough. Others argue that if you’re no longer nervous, you’ve lost your compassion or passion.
But here’s the truth:
Being nervous isn’t a flaw.
It’s a signal that you care.
It means you haven’t become numb to the responsibility we carry as veterinarians. That you still respect the power you hold when you step into the operating room.
Surgery might feel routine—but it never truly is. Because behind each procedure is a patient who depends on us and a family who’s trusting us with everything they love.
What If You’re Not Nervous Anymore?
A colleague once told me:
“If you’re no longer nervous, maybe you’ve lost your compassion… or your passion.”
That stayed with me.
Because as you gain experience, it’s easy to slip into autopilot. But if you no longer feel anything before a surgery—if it doesn’t stir your soul, even a little—that’s when you need to pause and reflect.
Not because you lack skill…
But because you may have forgotten why you do this in the first place.
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Confidence and Compassion Can Coexist
Should we always be anxious?
No. That’s not sustainable.
But should we always feel something?
Absolutely.
Feel the responsibility.
Feel the urgency.
Feel the drive to do right by every patient.
And yes—feel a little nervous. That flicker means you still give a damn.
That balance between confidence and compassion?
That’s where the best surgeons live.
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Final Words
To the young vet holding the scalpel for the first time…
To the seasoned surgeon who still takes a breath before each procedure…
To every practitioner wondering, “Is it normal to still feel this way?”—
Yes.
It is.
And may you never lose that feeling.
Because it means you’re still in this with heart, with soul, and with purpose.
That nervousness?
It’s not a weakness.
It’s a reminder:
You’re still fighting for every life like it’s your first.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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