AVIS HERSHFIELD MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-C

Passionate and enthusiastic BSN, MSN, FNP-C with 30 + years of experience in direct patient care and demonstrated expertise in building rapport and relationships with patients, families, and multidisciplinary team members. Seasoned at psycho-social evaluation, physical assessment, diagnosis, care-planning, and disease-state management. Self-motivated to work independently, with the aptitude to thrive within a workgroup or cohort. Lifelong learner gifted with emotional fortitude, empathy, and tenacity in the face of a myriad of patient circumstances and environments.

|| PICU || NICU || Pediatric CVICU ||

• || Acute Care Bedside RN responsible for management of critically ill medical and surgical neonates, infants, children and adolescents admitted for, or with diagnoses related to, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, cardiology, pulmonology, hematology, nephrology, urology, endocrinology, oncology, trauma, bone marrow transplant and cardiac transplant || Acute Care Bedside RN responsible for management of premature, and term, medical and surgical complex critically ill newborns admitted for, or diagnoses related to, cardiology, pulmonology, hematology, nephrology, genetic diseases and disorders, gastroenterology, nephrology, sepsis and infectious disease || Acute Care Bedside RN responsible for management of critically ill medical and surgical neonates, infants, children, and adolescents with complex congenital and acquired cardiac disease
• Multidisciplinary team member along with Neonatologists, Pediatric Intensivists, Subspecialty MD's, Pediatric and Neonatal Surgeons, Pediatric Cardiovascular and Thoracic MD's, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Nurse Practitioners, Respiratory Therapists, Pharmacists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, Medical Social Workers, Spiritual Care Providers, Dieticians, and Child Life Therapists
• Family-Centered Care from direct and operating room admission to discharge or transfer
• Established a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients and families
• Intensive nursing care and continuous monitoring of the physical, psychological, physiological, and cognitive status of patients
• Continuous monitoring and management of patient discomfort, stress, and pain
• Maintained accurate and timely documentation and communication with Multidisciplinary Care Team
• Educated patients, families, and caregivers on diagnosis, disease process, and management plan
• Assessed family adaptation levels and coping skills to determine whether intervention was needed
• Critical Care: cardiac monitoring and EKG interpretation, airway and ventilator management, central line management and CVP monitoring, arterial line management and BP monitoring, nasogastric and gastric tube management and feedings, TPN, IV fluids and IV antibiotics, vasopressors and inotropes, blood products, specimen collection and lab interpretation, ECMO, CRRT, wound care, burn care, child abuse, drug overdose, codes and resuscitations, post-mortem care
• Ages served: newborn - early 20's

Home Care | Infusion

• Skilled Intermittent visits at patient's residence: postoperative cardiac care, diabetic management and teaching, wound care management and teaching, medication management and teaching, chronic respiratory care, urethral catheter changes and long-term maintenance, trach care management and teaching, enteral nutrition and feeding tube management and teaching, ostomy management and teaching. Collaborated with medical supply and equipment vendors
• Home Infusion & Specialty Infusion visits at patient's residence: Administration of - IV antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals, blood products, TPN, IVIG, Solumedrol and Methotrexate, Neupogen, IV fluids. Provided IV insertion and maintenance, VAD care. Collaborated with Specialty Pharmacies, Pharmacists, and medical supply and equipment vendors
• Maintained ongoing communication with ordering Physicians
• Acted as a multidisciplinary team member with Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Registered Dietitians, and Medical Social Workers
• Established Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Relationship
• Established Therapeutic Family-Centered Relationships
• Demonstrated comfort and respect with a breadth of cultures and lifestyles
• Initiated, implemented, and supervised patient POC
• Educated patients and caregivers on disease processes, IV medications and IV administration, enteral and parenteral infusions, plans of care, and individualized treatment plans
• Provided ongoing assessment and re-evaluation of patient status
• Obtained and monitored lab results
• Supervised LVN and HHA
• Demonstrated compliance with documentation guidelines
• Monitored patient/caregiver progress towards goals of POC, adjusted POC accordingly
• Age served: newborn - 90's

• Women's First Step House of North County | Vista, California | Mission: Committed to help alcoholic women establish a new beginning in sobriety and recovery in a safe and warm home | 07/2021 to present
• Domestic Violence Project | Iowa City, Iowa | Mission: Child Advocate | Offered children unconditional positive regard, supported and encouraged children learning new communication and problem solving skills, acted as role model, provided age appropriate activities, communicated with staff about issues concerning children, remained alert to signs and symptoms of child abuse | 02/1987 to 08/1987

• Member | American Association of Nurse Practitioners | 2021 to present
• Member | American Psychiatric Nurse Association | 2021 to present
• Member | Clinician Advisory Council | Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest | 2019 to present
• Member | California Association of Nurse Practitioners | 2017 to present
• Vice President | Illinois Student Nurses Association | 08/1983 to 08/1984

• Registered Nurse | California Board of Registered Nursing | License 95041069 | Expires 09/31/2021
• Family Nurse Practitioner | California Board of Registered Nursing | License 95007424 | Expires 09/31/2021
• Family Nurse Practitioner-C | American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board | Certification F08170042 | Expires 07/31/2022
• Basic Cardiac Life Support | American Heart Association | Expires 11/2022
• DEA | United States Department of Justice | Registration MH4582195 | Expires 10/31/2023

• Completed Training: Mind Science | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | 2021
• Completed 15 hour child Advocacy Training Program to provide a variety of services that addressed the emotional and physical well being of children from violent backgrounds | 1987
• Completed 10 hour First Steps (Strategies for Teaching Empowerment, Prevention and Safety) | Pre-School Sexual Abuse Training Program and Curriculum | Included pertinent information about sexual abuse, ideas for working to keep children safe, support for caregivers, and child abuse reporting information | 1987