Registered Nurse with many years experience in clinical settings providing nursing care to diverse populations.
Skills
Patient/family focused.
CPR certification.
Professional bedside manner.
Thorough physical assessments.
Patient positioning competency.
Feeding assistance aptness.
Patient and family advocacy.
In-depth knowledge of intravenous therapy.
Problem resolution capability.
Critical Care Nursing
Hospice and palliative care experience.
Proper intravenous catheter insertion and removal.
Venipuncture / blood draw expert.
Tracheotomy care.
Safe NG tube insertion and removal.
Chest pain management
Ventilated Patient support.
Spirometer reading accuracy.
Trained in pre- and post-surgical care
Foley catheter insertion/removal.
Work History
Private Duty - Home Care Nurse, 01/2012
to 11/2014 Independent Contract Work – Acton,
MA
Effective counseling in health maintenance and disease management.
Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented effectiveness.
Assisted patients with daily functions.
Provided assistance for all daily living tasks to enhance quality of life for elderly patient with dementia.
Assisted resident receiving hospice care with bathing, dressing, feeding, lifting and transferring, and with pain management
Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management and treatment of pain and discomfort for patient with shattered hip both pre- and post- total hip replacement.
Substitute School Nurse, 08/2012
to 06/2013 Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools – Acton,
MA
Orientation as substitute school nurse at primary and secondary school levels.
Administered first aide to primary school children.
Documentation via EMR of care given.
Telephone notification to parents of care provided to children.
Assisted with height, weight and auditory screenings to children.
CT Scan - Radiology Nurse, 01/2003
to 01/2011 Emerson Hospital Medical Center Radiology Imaging Services – Westford,
MA
Prepare the out-patient population for CT-scan imaging studies through assessment, intravenous access and patient teaching
Assessed need for, ordered, obtained and interpreted appropriate lab tests.
Monitor patients for IV contrast reactions.
Intervene and treat patients experiencing contrast reactions.
Prepare patients for emergency transport when necessary.
Instructed patients and family members on proper discharge care.
Document for quality assurance and control management.
Performed monthly inventory of supplies and pharmaceutical stock and maintained office and medical supply counts.
Create checklists and spread sheets for unit based activities.
Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO - Joint Commission Survey - accreditation through unit and staff preparation and participation.
Coordinate in-service presentation of intravenous contrast agents.
Create word documents of policies and procedures for Radiology Nursing.
Administer PPD test and interpret results.
Administer Annual Flu Shots to hospital personnel.
Ensured HIPAA compliance.
Documented patient information obtained from interviews.
Ensured efficacy of treatments through monitoring of treatment regimens.
Followed infection control procedures.
Intensive Care Unit - Critical Care Unit Registered Nurse, 01/1987
to 01/2005 Emerson Hospital – Concord,
MA
Provide primary nursing care to critically ill patients and their families, with diagnoses of Myocardial Infarction, Coronary Insufficiency and Ischemia, Respiratory Failure, Pneumonia, Status-Asthmaticus, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Cerebral Vascular Accident - Stroke, Trans-Ischemic Attack, Cerebral Aneurysm, Spinal Cord Injury, Post-operative Craniotomy, Assorted Cancers, Cardiogenic Shock, Septic Shock, Anaphylactic Shock, and Diabetic Shock, Pancreatitis, Auto-Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Alcohol Detoxification, Guillain–Barré Syndrome, Seizures, Acute and Chronic Renal Failure, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Cardiac Arrhythmias, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair and others, in the critical care unit.
Administer conscious sedation to patients requiring bedside procedures, such as - Elective Cardioversion, Temporary Pacemaker Insertion, Trans-Esophogeal Echocardiogram, and emergent endoscopy.
Monitor and recover patients receiving conscious sedation.
Provide Post-Anesthesia Care to the post-operative patient through discharge, as needed.
Provide nursing care to the patient requiring critical care interventions and / or monitoring for example- Elective Cardioversion, Pacemaker Insertion, Trans-Esophogeal Echocardiogram, Thoracentesis, and Dobutamine Holiday, ventilation support, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, invasive hemodynamic monitoring.
Developed and implemented patient care plans, including assessments, interventions, evaluations and nursing diagnoses.
Mentored and educated staff in the care of the neuroscience patient.
Audit patient charts for quality control assessments and documentation standards.
Precepted nursing students and new graduate nurses to critical care nursing.
Supervised 2-4 nurses on night and evening shift, as needed, for 8-14 bed critical care unit.
Represented unit staff on Documentation Committee.
Designed and implemented critical care flow sheet for documentation.
Assessed need for, obtained and interpreted appropriate lab tests and communicated results.
Liaised between patients and physicians to ensure patient comprehension of treatment plans.
Instructed patients and family members on proper discharge care.
Closely monitored acute conditions and performed electrocardiograms, EKG, as warranted.
Participated in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Advanced Life Support resuscitation, as needed.
Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented progress of individuals participating in clinical trials during the TIMI-II and TIMI-III thrombolysis research trials.
Contributed to successful department JCAHO accreditation.
Participated in hospital-wide study to identify areas for process improvement regarding wound care and medication errors.
Ensured HIPAA compliance.
Coordinated Quality Improvement Activities (QIA's) to identify performance areas for improvement.
Participated in unit-based Quality Assurance Program.
Clinician A Registered Nurse-Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, 07/1983
to 12/1986 Medical College of Virginia Hospitals-Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond,
VA
Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit Apply nursing process to care for critically ill medical and surgical pediatric and adult patients suffering from neurological illnesses and/or injuries
Assist in the development of slide presentation for community outreach teaching program to increase adolescent awareness of the potential life altering effects of risky driving behaviors
Gather research data on head injury patients for improvements in medical and nursing care.
Author nursing unit's orientation chapter for Care of the Spinal Cord Injured Patient
Assessed need for lab tests and obtained, interpreted and reported results.
Closely monitored acute conditions.
Participated in unit-based Quality Assurance Program.
Assisted doctors with invasive bedside procedures
Education
Bachelor of Science: Nursing,
December, 1986 Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia School of Nursing - Richmond,
VA Nursing
Diploma: Nursing,
May, 1983 Framingham Union Hospital School of Nursing - Framingham,
MA Nursing
OTHER
2012-13 Independent contract work - home office duties.
2012-13 Hands2Minds.org - charitable works.
Aug 2013 Franklin Place Condominiums- crew director for external building maintenance.
Aug 2013-15 Franklin Place Condominium Board of Directors, Secretary
