Specialty Spotlight: An Inside Look at Surgical Nursing (Podcast)

For perioperative nurses, every day centers on precision, teamwork and patient advocacy. Working across the phases of surgery — before, during and immediately after a procedure — these caregivers help orchestrate the complex environment of surgical care while keeping patient safety at the forefront.

"Many nurses are drawn to perioperative practice because it offers the opportunity to be part of life-changing procedures and play a vital role in helping patients navigate surgery with confidence and trust," explains Shanon Schady, MSN, RN, CNOR, lead perioperative educator at Cleveland Clinic.

In this episode of Nurse Essentials, Schady provides an overview of the fast-paced, demanding specialty of perioperative nursing and explains how attention to detail, quick thinking and a deep understanding of surgical processes can save lives.

Click the podcast player above to listen to the episode now, or read on for a short, edited excerpt. Check out more Nurse Essentials episodes at my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/nurse-essentials or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podcast excerpt

Podcast host Carol Pehotsky, DNP, RN, NEA-BC: How does Cleveland Clinic's perioperative nursing program balance simulation and classroom instruction to prepare caregivers to work in a real, functioning operating room?

Schady: Great question. I love our nurse residency program – not just because I'm the lead perioperative educator, but because we have such an amazing curriculum. We use a wide range of learning modalities, including simulation, didactic sessions and micro-learning modules. We make sure every nurse develops real-world skills and has an opportunity learn what it's like to actually take care of a real patient…to put your hands on the surgical instruments…to set up a table and pull medications…to check the labels and expiration dates.

But the preceptors at the bedside are the most important piece of our residents’ orientation. We pair every resident with a dedicated, more-experienced instructor who’s invested in their preceptees’ success…ensuring they’re going to make it.

Pehotsky: What do you find most rewarding about your career?

Schady: One thing I love about working at Cleveland Clinic is the number of high-acuity patients we see. I've managed many patients who have been turned away from other institutions. But they come here, undergo a successful surgery and get to go home to their family. It’s just so rewarding to see that. I’m especially proud of the “firsts” we get to do, too…face transplants and all the other amazing surgeries...they happen here first.