Operating Room

Sharon Mcnamara
RN, MS, CNOR, entered perioperative practice in the early 1960s as a surgical technologist (ST). After twelve years, she turned to nursing school and became a registered nurse, then returned to her love, the OR, as a staff nurse. McNamara then became a clinical instructor for surgical technology at Trocaire College for ten years while simultaneously completing her BSN at Daemen College. In 1988 she assumed the Directorship of the ST and Perioperative Nursing Programs at the college and completed her MS at D'Youville College. McNamara then became a perioperative clinical nurse specialist at Millard Fillmore Health System, then took over as the manager of the 12-room OR in the city hospital. Two years later she became the director of surgical services. She then become director of surgical services at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, N.C. McNamara has been a perioperative nurse for 26 years and a member of AORN for 25 years. An active member of her local chapter in New York, AORN of Western New York, she has served as President, President Elect, on the Board of Directors, and on the Nominating Committee. As current Past President of AORN, she serves as liaison to the Nominating Committee and is a member of the Council on Surgical & Perioperative Safety and President's Commission on Patient Safety. She is an international speaker and author.

Q & A

Recent Q&A

Handing Off Sharps

Question: Is there a fail safe way to hand off sharps? Response: The Operating Room is the second most common environment where sharps injuries occur. The Center for Disease Control provides an excellent resource on line, “Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program”. I believe this is the most important approach to preventing injuries to health care personnel. An interdisciplinary team initiative with a focus on building a ...