Mary (Katie) McKinney

Balance clinical education responsibilities with hands-on OR circulating to maintain clinical expertise and support practical, clinically relevant staff education

Lead onboarding and orientation of perioperative nurses to ensure readiness for independent practice

Develop and deliver education sessions and in-services with leadership and vendors

Serve as a clinical resource across specialties to support staff and best practices

• Led the development of a standardized surgical count sheet format selected for system-wide implementation across Ochsner Health, coordinating stakeholder collaboration, revisions, and hospital-specific customization
• Collaborated with clinical leaders to implement process improvements in prevention of surgical pressure injury prevention, enhancing patient outcomes and care standards
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive surgical preparation handbook for inpatient nursing units, standardizing preoperative patient preparation to reduce surgical site infections; provided staff education through unit-based presentations

Provided intraoperative patient care across multiple specialties, including orthopedic trauma, neurosurgery/spine, general trauma, Da Vinci robotics, and general surgery

Ensured sterile technique and compliance with surgical safety standards to promote patient safety

Advocated for patient safety throughout intra-operative processes, enhancing overall surgical outcomes

Precepted new and travel nurses, fostering their integration and development in clinical settings

Provided post-operative care on 24-bed unit, caring for patients that have undergone abdominal surgeries such as Whipples, bariatric procedures, and colon resections

Monitored patient recovery, administered medications, and performed wound care to promote healing and prevent complications

Coordinated with providers to facilitate safe recovery and optimize patient outcomes