Everyone, Everyday. Relentlessly: Meet Shauna Dooley, RN, CNOR

As we update our brand name to UMass Memorial Health and launch a new brand campaign, it’s time to tell the world who we are, what we do and what we stand for as a health care system. Our relentless caregivers are the inspiration for the update of our new brand name and campaign. Find out more about these caregivers and how it takes everyone, every day working together relentlessly to care for our patients and each other. This week, we interviewed Shauna Dooley, RN, CNOR, who shared with us stories from the field and what she loves most about the job. 

“Operating room nurses have an interesting relationship with our patients,” said Shauna Dooley, BSN, RN, CNOR, service line nurse manager in the operating room at UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus. “We’re the last face they see before they go to sleep. They totally trust us to protect them while they are asleep. I treat every patient on the OR table as if they were a loved one of mine, or it were me, and I think about how I would want to be treated and cared for.”

Recently, Shauna experienced a procedure that allowed her the patient’s eye view of the operating room. “I was terrified,” Shauna explained. “But the second the OR nurse took my hand and held it, that anxiety dissipated. Because I knew someone was there to protect me.”

Shauna always loves a challenge, so when she went to college, she selected nursing as a major because it seemed difficult and rewarding. Before long, Shauna realized that she found it easy to connect with others and she recognized that she had an urge to care for others. Shauna’s caring is evident in her philosophy of care. “I strive to treat all my patients with dignity and as if they were a loved one, regardless of their background, history, or why they come to the OR," she said. "I try to have an unbiased approach to caring for everyone.”

Shauna is also a valued supervisor in the OR. Marissa Kaminski, RN, CST, is an OR staff nurse who works closely with Shauna. “Shauna has improved countless processes in her services and greatly helped many people on an individual level. There really isn’t an issue I can't bring to her without her finding a positive solution for patients,” Marissa said. “The effort Shauna gives to her patients is impeccable. Even if they never get the chance to meet her, she's constantly caring. She’s the kind of nurse and person you can rely on to encourage you to grow into a better caregiver, as she performs as an excellent role model.”

To Shauna, being relentless means, “never giving up, no matter what obstacles you face. You learn to adapt and overcome those obstacles in order to achieve your goal.” When asked to reflect upon examples of relentlessness that she’s seen amongst her fellow caregivers, Shauna explained, “Relentless is not a strong enough word to describe what I witnessed during the pandemic. We had proning teams working around the clock – caregivers turning COVID-19 patients on their bellies to help them breathe easier. It would take eight of us and we would be called at random times to turn patients. I watched the way people adapted to the situation, especially the ICU nurses. They stand out. They deserve a Nobel prize for the way they cared for their patients constantly.”

Shauna believes that the pandemic brought caregivers together because it broke down some of the barriers between teams. “I think it brought to light the strengths of all the people we work side by side with every day. It was eye-opening to see other nurses and physicians caring for these incredibly sick patients. It opened our eyes in the operating room to what goes on outside the OR doors.”

The adaptability that caregivers displayed during the pandemic is something that Shauna hopes endures at UMass Memorial Health post-pandemic. “I think that we are becoming a more positive, continuous learning environment that is ever-changing and adaptable,” she said.

In her free time, Shauna loves hiking and spending time with her family, including her dogs. She also loves to get tattoos. “I’ve been getting at least one a year for over a dozen years. I like how people can express themselves through body art. I laugh to think what we’ll all look like in nursing homes one day. I find that my tattoos always spark a conversation, which can be a nice distraction for nervous patients.”