QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department is working with reduced space, which may lead to delays for those with less urgent concerns. Learn more here.
Starting Saturday, December 14, the entrance to the QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department will change to 1840 Bell Road. Learn more.
As a nursing student at Dalhousie University, Leah Gamoulakos enrolled in an elective perioperative course at that would set the trajectory for the rest of her career.
After graduating, she accepted a position in the operating room, and while working full time, went on to advance her skills by completing the Perioperative Nursing Program (PONP) through Nova Scotia Health’s Learning Institute.
“Being able to complete the PONP, while also working was a great way to apply and integrate skills and theories,” she said. “Surgical nursing is such a specialized skill set; the program provides constant learning opportunities with technology, surgical procedures, and equipment advances as healthcare evolves.”
Gamoulakos is based in the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre and focuses on orthopedic surgery.
“Orthopedics offers such a wide range of surgeries so my workday can vary with being assigned to arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery), orthopedic trauma, sports medicine, spine, and more.”
Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care for surgical patients is one of the best aspects of her job.
“Whether it is the amazing nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, anesthesia technicians, patient attendants, or others, everyone is there to provide quality care for our patients,” she said. “Collectively everyone has so much knowledge and expertise in the operating room, and they all play a vital role in the efficiency and care that is provided.”
Perioperative nurses support the full scope of a patient’s surgical journey, from pre-admission to the operating room, and on to recovery. This support and care for patients creates the biggest impact for Gamoulakos.
“There are moments, particularly when a trauma comes in, that patients are at the most crucial moments of their lives,” she said. “Seeing how fast and well the teams come together to provide the most profound care is inspiring and unmatched.”
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Pictured: Leah Gamoulakos