Lisa Johnson, Registered Nurse

Today we’re excited to feature Lisa Johnson, a Registered Nurse (RN) who works in the Operating Room (OR) at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH). Lisa first started working at LGH as an RN almost 22 years ago, spending her first three years on the medical and surgical wards. After gaining some experience, Lisa moved into the OR, where she enjoyed the hours, variety of patients, the staff, and the challenge of each shift. “If I had the chance to do it all over again, I’d make the exact same career choice. I have no regrets, and there’s no other job that I’d rather be doing,” Lisa says.

As a perioperative nurse, Lisa facilitates the patient’s care from the time they are ready for surgery until the surgery is complete and the patient is ready to be transferred to the recovery unit. Perioperative nurses perform two main roles. The first being the circulating nurse, who takes care of the patient’s needs outside the sterile area, helping to prepare the OR for the specific surgery, admitting the patient into the OR, working alongside the anesthetist and tending to the needs of the surgical team. The second role being the scrub nurse, who works within the sterile area and is responsible for organizing, assembling and passing the sterile instruments. “The scrub roll is my favorite and is often the most preferred as you get to work directly with the surgeon and have an up-close hands-on approach to the actual surgery where you can actually feel and see what is happening during the surgery,” Lisa says.

“At LGH, I feel completely supported. We work as a team. If one teammate is not coping or is struggling, resources can be put in place to assist them,” Lisa tells us. Since surgery requires many members of the team, you’re never alone and there is always someone to offer advice or direction Lisa says.

When transitioning into the OR, Lisa says “I was pleasantly surprised to be so welcomed by friendly and approachable staff who were willing to share their knowledge.” She says that each day the team is faced with new challenges, whether complex procedures, new equipment, or unique patients, so every shift keeps you on your toes. Although she started in the OR 18 years ago, Lisa says that she still feels that this sentiment still holds true and the staff openly welcomes new learners.

One of Lisa’s most memorable moments in the OR happened when she was a nursing student, where a patient started bleeding excessively from their surgical site which required immediate action from the entire surgical team. Lisa says she was amazed at how everyone remained calm while working together to control the situation. “The nurses seemed to anticipate the surgeon’s and anesthetist’s needs, so very few words needed to be spoken. I was absolutely astonished by the efficiency of the entire surgical team and how seamlessly they worked together,” Lisa says.

Explore the current career opportunities for Registered Nurses at Vancouver Coastal Health.

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