O’Connor Named 6BD Nurse Manager
When Debbie O’Connor, MS, RN, applied for the nurse manager position on Tower 6BD, she was looking for a career shift that would bring her closer to the bedside and patient and family care.
O’Connor, who most recently served as assistant vice president for Patient Care Services at Caritas Norwood Hospital, began her career as a staff nurse in 1974 at University Hospital, now Boston Medical Center.
“I’m excited to come back to an academic medical center and to be part of a very exciting time for the Hem/Onc/BMT service,” said O’Connor, who began at BWH in October. “Oncology is a very special area because the patients are so vulnerable, and nurses must be very compassionate to work in this environment.”
As nurse manager, O’Connor works with a team of about 60 nurses, patient care assistants and unit coordinators. Tower 6BD is working on quality improvement projects, including hand hygiene and comfort rounds. The Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant service is preparing for physical growth and also for the implementation of the electronic medication administration record sometime next summer.
Throughout her career, O’Connor has held both staff nurse and leadership positions, including director of Medical Nursing, nurse manager/director of the Transitional Care Unit and manager of the Float Pool and Special Projects at Caritas Norwood Hospital. She received her MS in nursing management from University of Massachusetts Medical Center and her BSN from Boston University.