long-term employment," says a nurse manager at a Wisconsin hospi-
tal. A surgical services business coordinator from an Ohio hospital
adds, "More responsibilities with less people and less money makes it
stressful. Many good people are leaving hospital settings."
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 4 7
Linda Winkelman, RN, director of the OR and outpatient services at Community Medical Center
in Falls City, Neb., made a job change at an age when many are looking toward retirement.
"I changed jobs late in life, at age 58," says Ms. Winkelman. She says she was working at
another rural hospital, part-time in surgery, when there was an opening for a full-time surgi-
cal position at her current hospital.
"It's a small community, they knew me and called," she says. "Maybe I looked younger
than I was. I wasn't really looking, but I was open to the change."
The hospital's surgical services are bustling. "When I started here 6 years ago, we hosted
340 cases a year. Now we see 800," she says. — David Bernard
WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
'I Wasn't Really Looking,
But I Was Open to the Change'
• LATE SHIFT Linda Winkelman, RN, took on more responsibility in a job switch.
Community
Medical
Center