I am a perioperative nurse for 22 years a University Hospital with 18 OR suites. I am at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) in Montreal.
How did you start working with lasers? How did you become the LSO?
In 2001, due to work demands I received my first laser safety course in Montreal. Then in 2007, needing more training and expertise I went to a MLSO course in Boston taught by Kay Ball. Following this course, I took the Board of Laser Safety exam and became certified.
I am currently maintaining my certification, which involves teaching outside of my organization and constantly reviewing literature on the subject.
How has becoming certified helped/benefited you in your career?
Being a CMLSO has given me the opportunity to learn from others and exchange information on laser safety issues pertinent to the Operating Room. It has made me more efficient in communicating and incorporating laser safety into OR procedures in our Operating Room.
The basics of laser safety are constant with all lasers: Read available material, understand the literature and apply laser safety recommendations. Add to it Operating Room standards and then you can start [the procedure]. Some days that is a challenge, but I still enjoy the challenge.
