Tales of … Not so tall tales of an OR Manager: Surviving a catastrophic snowstorm, a pandemic, and a cyberattack while leading an operating room

Abstract

As an Operating Room (OR) Manager, I am no stranger to the unexpected, but my first years of management threw me one challenge after another! A catastrophic snowstorm (affectionately or unaffectionately named “Snowmagedden” by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador) was just the beginning, followed by the global COVID-19 pandemic and then a crippling cyberattack. These crises tested my leadership, the perioperative team’s resilience, and my hospital’s capacity to continue providing essential care for our most vulnerable. But through it all, the strength and dedication of “my” Operating Room staff and team was calm during the storm(s).