Before joining BC Transplant as a surgical recovery specialist (SRS) a year and a half ago, Tina McVeigh was a cardiac OR nurse at BC Children’s Hospital. After 13 years in that role, she thought it was time for a change and a more stable schedule, especially with two children under the age of 10. As an SRS, Tina can continue to work in the OR, which she loves, and have better work-life balance.
“Being in the OR is my happy place. The surgical side of healthcare comes with a sense of instant gratification,” says Tina. “There is a problem to solve or a task at hand, and the entire team works together to address it. The team at BC Transplant is wonderful. We have a passionate and dedicated team who is ready to step in at any point to support one another. I also enjoy connecting with healthcare professionals across the province, there is always a kind smile and helpful hand in every OR.”
As part of BC Transplant’s organ donation and hospital development team, a surgical recovery specialist is involved in every organ donor case.
First, the ICU refers potential donors to BC Transplant. Then the organ donation specialist will check if the patient has a registered decision on organ donation, have a conversation with the family and if the family consents to organ donation, move forward with testing. Many tests are conducted to determine if the patient’s organs are suitable for donation and if the organs are a match to waiting recipients.
One the case gets to this point, Tina and the other surgical recovery specialists come in. They are responsible for many different tasks for each case – double-checking all paperwork, constantly communicating with the recovery and transplant surgeons, booking ORs in different hospitals, coordinating retrieval surgery times with transplant surgery times, packing equipment, supporting the recovery team in the OR during the retrieval, organizing the delivery of the organs to the transplant hospitals, which sometimes includes delivering the organ(s) themselves, and finally updating the donor family. Surgical recovery specialists travel around B.C. and work with many different healthcare professionals at hospitals across the province.
For Tina, one of the most crucial and emotional parts of her role is meeting with the donor family before taking their loved one into the OR. Tina strongly believes that everyone has a story and finds it meaningful to learn more about the donor and their family. Her own personal life experiences have allowed her to connect with donor families and other healthcare professionals on a different level.
“At BC Transplant, I appreciate the opportunity to be a small part of someone’s story. A donor family agrees to organ donation during a very difficult time. Watching families overcome that pain and follow through with their decision to donate is beyond selfless and very grounding,” Tina shares. “Retrievals allow for many moments to connect with people. The emotions are difficult and deep but sometimes you can be there for families and offer comfort because you understand what they are going through. Many times, this provides immense comfort to the family as well; I am grateful for the exposure to such a raw but normal side of life.”
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April is Organ Donation Awareness Month! Take a moment to register your decision for organ donation at
registeryourdecision.ca and make sure to share your wishes with your family.
