From the OR to leadership: Heather Hohenberger’s nursing journey at IU Health North

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

Heather Hohenberger knew she wanted to be an Operating Room nurse since she was a nursing student. Now, she is the clinical manager for the Operating Room and Endoscopy at IU Health North.

Heather Hohenberger was drawn to surgery immediately. While in school to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), she was caring for a patient who needed surgery. She knew right away.

“Being able to care for a patient while they are their most vulnerable, I felt drawn to that,” she explains. “You are the patient’s advocate when they cannot advocate for themselves.”

She had always been someone who enjoyed fixing things. As she learned more about that aspect of healthcare, she also realized she was interested in the technical side of the Operating Room (OR).

Beginning her nursing career

She began her nursing career in Pre-Operation Surgery Assessment, cross-training to also help in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. After three years in those two departments, she became an OR nurse.

She loved it.

“I feel like I am functioning at my best when I can help problem solve and fix things people are unable to fix for themselves,” she says.

She didn’t expect the job she loved so much to open a pathway to leadership, but it did.

“It started with me doing some special projects,” she says. “I actually started with infection prevention and surgical education. It was that education piece–the onboarding, education, learning what people need that really laid the foundation.”

A new role in leadership

She accepted a role with IU Health, focusing on peri-operative quality across the state. This allowed her to network with leaders in different facilities. Then, she accepted her first formal leadership job in 2017 as the peri-operative director for IU Health’s West Central Region.

But Hohenberger never wanted to stop learning.

“I am a lifelong student. The entire time I was making these changes in my career, I was also in school,” she says.

At this point, she had already completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and in 2020, she would begin her PhD program.

This is what brought her to IU Health North.

Coming to IU Health North

Hohenberger joined the hospital’s team in September of 2020, working as a clinical nurse in the OR. The role was a step back from leadership, but it gave her time to focus on her school work. However, she decided to leave her PhD program because she realized it wasn’t the right fit for her.

Four months into her time at IU Health North, she decided to step back into leadership. She became the clinical manager for the hospital’s OR and Endoscopy.

She has functional oversight of the department, including things like the budget and hiring staff. She also uses her clinical expertise in OR nursing to answer any questions her team has and to help mentor newer team members.

“We manage things and lead people,” she explains. “I care about each person as an individual. I want people to feel supported and know when they come to this department, they’ve made the right choice.”

Sharing career advice

For young nurses or nursing students, Hohenberger’s biggest piece of advice involves self-reflection.

“You are going to be searching to find your fit,” she says, “Ask questions. Seek to understand what the cultures and the expectations of each different area are where you’re interviewing. If you know who you are as a person and you’re on that self-reflection journey, you are going to be able to find your fit.”

For those already in nursing who might be ready for a change, she encourages those people to trust their instincts.

“Remember that life is a journey and you are never stuck. You have options. We are the CEO for our lives,” she says. “If you feel that you’re ready for your next challenge or you want to do something different, explore it. What’s holding back?”

Nursing can open the door for exciting career opportunities down the road. If you are passionate about making a difference in healthcare, visit careers.iuhealth.org to learn more and take the first step towards a rewarding career with IU Health.