Katelyn Mertz, MBA, MSN, RN, CNOR

Nurse Manager- Main and Children's Operating Rooms
Penn State Health- Hershey Medical Center
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Katelyn Mertz, MBA, MSN, RN, CNOR, is the Nurse Manager of both Main and Children's Operating Rooms at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, a Magnet-designated, Level 1 pediatric and adult trauma center. She provides strategic and operational oversight for 35 operating rooms and 4 procedure rooms across two sites, leading nearly 280 multidisciplinary team members in one of the region’s most complex surgical environments. With over a decade of high-acuity operating room experience, Katelyn is recognized for her ability to lead in high-stakes settings, drive operational excellence, and strengthen team performance through psychologically safe leadership. Her work centers on empowering staff to speak up, advancing high-reliability practices, and translating strategy into measurable outcomes. She has a strong passion for advancing nursing practice through innovative education and leadership, with a primary focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, professional development, and evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes and foster a culture of safety.

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Presentation(s):

• 1044 - Safety Coach Simulation Training: Empowering Nurses to Speak Up in the Operating Room

  Sunday, April 12, 2026
  1:00 PM - 1:45 PM CST