“ the most challenging part is finding the balance between the needs of your staff and the demands of the service that needs to be provided .”
themselves and previous leaders opened doors for me to grow . I started as an educator in the post-anesthesia care unit then onto quality for all peri-op . The OR quality role was heavily involved in the policy and procedure end of the OR when I was asked to help manage . At that time , we were in the beginning phases of the pandemic and the majority of the leadership work that was needed surrounded the quality and safety of our patients and staff . I loved how the team came together and stepped up at every turn to meet the challenges . Those really hard days helped me to see how strong and resilient this team is and what this organization is capable of . It pushed me out of my comfort zone and I liked the challenge .
What are both the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job ? The most challenging part is finding the balance between the needs of your staff and the demands of the service that needs to be provided . The most rewarding part is being able to pay back what was afforded to me by providing and supporting the growth of frontline staff and my leadership team . I love seeing the way that has allowed us to rebuild as a team . The pandemic was rough on all health care organizations and the reward is seeing us rise out of that with a stronger foundation than when we started .
NURSE EXECUTIVE
SARAH SMITH , MSN , RN
Director of Operating Rooms , Rhode Island Hospital / Hasbro Children ’ s Hospital
What led you to your role ? I have been in the peri-operative setting for fifteen years now . This is not a path I planned at all , but opportunities presented
Proudest moment of your career so far ? I can honestly say I have been very fortunate to be part of several really proud moments at RIH , from my early days as an ICU nurse to some of the remarkable cases the OR team has carried out . I would have to say the proudest I have ever been was checking in during a trauma . The nurse in the room had joined our team as a new grad and I remember several occasions during orientation where she struggled moving to independent practice and needed more support . There she was , running that room like a boss , and it made me so happy to see the confidence and strength that I always knew was there .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023 65