Amanda Maynard

• Provides patient care in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit, performing assessments, and working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to deliver the highest level of patient care.
• Specialize in patients who have undergone various cardiac surgeries, including, but not limited to, open heart bypass surgery, heart valve repair or replacement, aortic dissection repair, aneurysm repair, trans-aortic valve replacement, and minimally invasive mitral valve repair.
• Understanding, monitoring, and care of various hemodynamic monitoring devices, including, but not limited to, central line catheter, arterial line, pulmonary artery catheter, central venous pressure, cardiac output, electrocardiogram, and the Acumen device.
• Knowledge and care for epicardial and transvenous pacers.
• Knowledge and care for mediastinal and pleural chest tubes.
• Knowledge and care for the ventilated patient, ventilator use, and end-tidal capnography.
• Knowledge and titration of vasopressor, inotrope, sedation, analgesic, and vasodilatory medications.
• Monitor, care, and troubleshooting of the intra-aortic balloon pump.

• Administer moderate sedation with narcotic and benzodiazepine medications for vascular procedures.
• Ensure thorough monitoring with frequent vital sign checks, capnography, and overall patient status.
• Collaborate with the intraoperative team, including the surgeon, radiology technicians, and nurses, to ensure a smooth flow through surgery.
• Review patients' pre-admission testing, determine the need for further evaluation, and collaborate with the healthcare team to determine the appropriateness for surgery at an outpatient center.
• Educate patients and their families in an empathetic manner about the plan of care, pain, expectations, and warning signs post-surgery, as well as follow-up.
• Supervised materials management and medication management intraoperatively.
• Developed multiple organizational tools used by all members of the outpatient surgery center to improve the flow of surgery and enhance patient safety.

Magnet Designated Hospital, Comprehensive Stroke Center.

• Completes comprehensive and focused physical assessments on both neurological and medical-surgical critically ill patients.
• Specializes in patients who have suffered from ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, seizure disorders, and other neurological conditions.
• Recovery and care for patients who have undergone large vessel occlusion thrombectomy, aneurysmal clipping, craniotomy, neurovascular angiogram, etc.
• Proficient in completing a comprehensive neurological exam and NIHSS.
• Monitoring and care for external ventricular drains, as well as trending of intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressures.
• Assist in the placement of emergent external ventricular drains at the bedside.
• Management and care of patients receiving tPA.
• Knowledge of ventilator use and assistance with both standard and rapid-sequence intubations.
• Assist in the placement of central lines, arterial lines, and other hemodynamic monitoring devices.

• Recover and assess acute patients in the post-operative period, review patient's history, perform appropriate patient/family education, and perform discharge planning
• Assess and act accordingly on a patient's airway status, vital signs and cardiac monitoring
• Communicate appropriate follow up interventions regarding patients care with anesthesia staff, surgeon and emergency personnel when appropriate
• Maintain proficiency in the ability to recover a wide array of patients including orthopedic patients, gynecologic patients, bariatric patients, vascular patients, neuro patients, colorectal patients, urologic patients, and many other general surgery cases that include cholecystectomy, hemi/total thyroidectomy, appendectomy, and hernia repairs

• Gained knowledge and experience as I shadowed a senior nurse in the critical care environment