Robitaille Named OR Nursing Director

Pauline Robitaille, MSN, RN, CNOR, was appointed nursing director for BWH Operating Rooms. She joins Pearl Cunningham, MBA, RN, CNOR, nurse director, in leading the hospital’s 44 operating rooms.

“Pauline has the depth and breadth of perioperative nursing experience that will be essential as we continue to strive for making perioperative service a world class leader,” said Joan M. Vitello, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAAN, executive director of Perioperative Nursing and Clinical Services.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to be at BWH, where I can contribute to ensuring excellence in Perioperative Nursing practice with the best staff in the safest and healthiest environment,” Robitaille added.

Robitaille most recently worked at the Miriam Hospital as director of Surgical Services, which included the OR, PACU, outpatient surgery, sterile processing, perfusion services and pre-admission testing. Prior to that, she was the director of perioperative services at Parker Adventist Hospital and the chief nursing officer and vice president of professional services at the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), both in Denver, Colo.

She received the Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Nursing Management Award from the National Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, as well an Excellence in Nursing Management award from the Massachusetts Nurses Association and an Excellence in Perioperative Nursing award from the Massachusetts chapter of the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Robitaille is currently serving as a member of the National Patient Safety Foundation Board of Governors.

She received her MSN from Salem State College, her BSN from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, and her diploma from Eastern Maine Medical Center.