QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department is working with reduced space, which may lead to delays for those with less urgent concerns. Learn more here.
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Perioperative Nurses Week is November 10 to 16! This week we celebrate the nurses who support patients in all aspects of their surgical journey, from consultations to the operating room, and on their road to recovery.
It didn’t take long for Megan Boudreau to know that she wanted to be in perioperative (surgical) nursing. In her second year of nursing school, she had her first opportunity to be in an operating room during her clinical placement and knew it was where she wanted to spend her career.
“I loved watching the way each member of the team worked side by side, focusing on their role in providing the best surgical outcomes for each patient,” said Boudreau.
Upon graduation, Boudreau worked for two years in cardiac (heart) surgery before enrolling in Nova Scotia Health’s Perioperative Nursing Program (PONP).
The program is offered full time and part time to registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to advance their clinical and leadership skills and meet the dynamic and complex needs of surgery patients.
“There are so many specialties in surgery, so the program allows perioperative nurses to find an area that interests them,” says Boudreau. “The Perioperative Nursing Program teams does a wonderful job of equipping its students to succeed in any path they choose to take.”
Today, Boudreau works in the ophthalmology (eye surgery) operating room at the Victoria General Hospital site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, an area that keeps her engaged and challenged due to the complexity of this type of care.
“Ophthalmological surgery is unique because there are times a patient can see instant results from their surgeries,” said Boudreau. “It’s rewarding to know I have contributed to the improvement of a sense than many may take for granted.”
Whether she is supporting more routine surgeries such as cataract surgeries or complex retina surgeries such as vitrectomy for detachment repairs, Boudreau finds that being part of a multidisciplinary team and working together to support their patients is great aspect of perioperative nursing.
“Each of us contribute our expertise to achieve the best possible patient outcomes,” she said. “As perioperative nurses, even though our interactions with each patient can be quite short, it is fulfilling to know that we are making an impact, and it is rewarding to be an advocate for our patients in their most vulnerable moments.”
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