Ashleigh Peters

The role at Credo was different than any nursing position I have held, as I was the only nurse for the facility and on call 24/7. I assisted the med aides with reordering medications, and with any day to day questions they may have. Credo was transitioning in a number of ways but one main one was paper charting to computer charting. Much of my time there was spent getting Point Click Care up to date, without guidance. This was difficult at times. As the nurse I also would assist on the floor with the CNAs. Collaboration with families was key in this assisted living environment. As the nurse if family was unable to take the resident to an appointment I would provide transportation. The role as the lead nurse was extensive in this establishment. Working autonomously was a must for this position.

This was my first long term care nursing position. The residents were my main focus. I provided optimal care to the residents while collaborating with the PCP, family, and other colleagues on the next plan of care if there was an emergent situation. I also acted as the CMA at times while completing my Nursing duties, although this isn't ideal all the time, myself and the CNA always worked as a team to keep all the residents safe with their health being first and foremost. This position taught me to expand my abilities to multitask.

In this role, I did pre-operative cares, PACU cares, and post-operative cares. I was hired as a float between these three areas. I loved this fast paced environment, and was able to learn several new nursing skills. The training period was extensive for these positions. Rotating on call shifts were part of the requirement for this job. Unfortunately through COVID, and loss of employees the demand for on call became to much as I lived 40 minutes away. By far one of the best nursing experiences I have had.

During this time , I was able to focus on the needs of my then young children.

I held several positions at Mercy hospital. The first being on a med-surg floor, telemetry. Second, I was the charge nurse for this floor, and then eventually I transferred to the PICC /PIV team. On the med -surg floor some of the job duties included:

• Managed care from admission to discharge.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
• Participated in nursing simulation activities, evidence-based practice project implementation and competency development to further nursing education.

On the PICC line team, I placed long term use lines per protocol and per need of the patient per physician orders. I also went throughout the 600 bed facility assisting with peripheral IV placement.

I worked on a neuro/ortho medical-surgical floor. Cared for 5-7 patients on my team load. Collaborating with physicians on plan of care. I worked full time for Cox Health and then went PRN for a brief period after obtaining full time employment with Mercy. This was a great experience for me fresh out of nursing school. This 600 bed facility offered a lot of growth for me.