Collaborative and hands-on—those are common themes in letters nominating Lorna Eberle, RN, BSN, CNOR, as the 2010 OR Manager of the Year. As director of perioperative services at Providence St Peter Hospital (PSPH) in Olympia, Washington, Eberle manages, in addition to the 11-room OR, 8 other departments with a total…

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There's a tax on income, on gasoline, and on a new car you buy. They're even talking about a tax on soft drinks. But there's a hidden tax you may not be aware of—the tax on trust—that can undermine your effectiveness as a manager. Max Brown When trust is high…

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Each year at the Managing Today's OR Suite conference, a perioperative manager or director is named OR Manager of the Year. This year's conference will be September 29 to October 1 in Orlando, Florida. The OR Manager of the Year will receive an expense-paid trip to the meeting, including airfare,…

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The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City has one of the highest volumes of total joint replacements in the world. It also has one of the lowest surgical site infection (SSI) rates. The hospital, which performs about 8,000 joint replacements a year, was recently commended by the…

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Creating a culture where patient safety is valued as the top priority by all and fostering an atmosphere of open dialogue. Those are twin passions of Elena Canacari, RN, CNOR, this year's OR Manager of the Year. Elena Canacari, RN, CNOR For 6 years, Canacari has been director of perioperative…

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Barbara is not afraid to take educated risks to make a difference. Barbara will challenge the status quo and is open to change. She is a true team player, always able to look at the big picture." Barbara McKinnon, RN, BSN, CNOR That is an excerpt from one letter sent…

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OR managers who document their use of the "Five W's of Employee Counseling" will never lose a wrongful-termination suit, a veteran manager says. Heather Carelock, RN, MPA, CNOR, who has had 35 years of experience in managing ORs and surgical services, says she's learned the importance of a documentable, consistent…

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"She walks the talk and always carries a bag of chocolate." This is how one staff member describes Barbara Johnson, RN, BSN, MHA, this year's OR Manager of the Year. The letters portray a director who leads with compassion, humor, and a passion for service. Barbara Johnson, RN, BSN, MHA…

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One seasoned OR director found herself at a career crossroads a few years ago. "I'd had many roles over the years: staff nurse, manager, director, vice president," she says. "You get to a point where you've done everything and ask yourself, 'What do I do now?'" She knew a chief…

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