Working Together to Produce Top Outcomes

Janna Suellentrop sums up working in Children’s of Alabama’s surgical department as a nurse by simply stating: “It’s definitely a unique opportunity.”

Though surgical services isn’t something many students focus on while in nursing school, it was always an area of nursing that Janna wanted to try out. This interest was what led her to join the Children’s Operating Room (OR) team nine years ago. Since then, she’s grown into an Ear/Nose/Throat team leader within the surgical department, supporting the team and coordinating their supplies.

“Our day-to-day depends on if we’re acting as a circulating nurse or scrub nurse for the day,” Janna said. Regardless of what role our surgical nurses are performing, there’s one factor that remains consistent each day – the teamwork displayed in the OR.

Teamwork Within the Surgical Nursing Team

Teamwork begins on day one for new nurses in the OR. “We have a long orientation in our department, typically six months for new hires, where they have the chance to rotate through the different surgical specialties,” Janna said. “It’s very specialized work and everyone helps new hires learn the ropes.”

Even when orientation comes to an end, teamwork remains an integral part of our nursing team in the surgical department. “Because we work so closely with one another, everyone is comfortable speaking their minds and having their voices heard,” Janna said. Team leaders like Janna help to encourage the camaraderie among nurses through meetings and one-on-one support. “We have two team leaders for each service and one of our main roles is being the go-to person for our colleagues on the team. Whether it’s something great that happened that day or a frustration they’ve been experiencing, they have a place to voice that.”

Teamwork Between Nurses and Others on the Surgical Team

Looking outside the nursing team, Janna recognizes the teamwork of the surgical department extends to different roles. “We have the opportunity to work with surgeons, residents, techs, anesthesiologists and others. We’re kind of in a little bubble in the surgical department, so nurses like myself have the opportunity to develop great relationships with everyone,” she said.

Due to the nature of nursing in the surgical department, Janna said there are times when you might be pulled from your primary surgical specialty and placed in one that you aren’t as familiar with. “If you are moved from your primary, you never feel lost. There’s always someone, no matter the role, that you can reach out to. Everyone helps each other in order to help the patients.”

The Outcome of Teamwork

Janna emphasizes the end goal throughout Children’s is to help the patient. “If we make the patient our priority, it’s easier for everyone to work together,” she said. “Building those relationships with our colleagues encourages a natural camaraderie and effort to help us care for the patient.”

Providing care to a pediatric population makes the end goal that much more satisfying. “As far as pediatrics goes, there’s no place I’d rather be. We’re able to laugh and play with the kids when they go to sleep and when they wake up. And in the interim, working in an operating room with so many different people for that one child makes it a really unique nursing experience,” Janna said.

“You see the best and the toughest things in the OR, but at the end of the day you’re always laughing with coworkers and working together for the patients.”

If you are ready to take on a unique nursing role in the Children’s surgical department, we would love to have you apply today.