Brenda Orlowski

Work History

St. Luke's Medical Center

10.2004 - 01.2015

Receiving emergent ICU hyperbaric patients from ER, flight for life, or surgery, suffering from CO poisoning, amputation, the bends, necrotizing fasciitis, air embolism
Ages ranged from pediatric to elderly
If intubated, I would have a respiratory therapist in the chamber with me
If not, just myself and patient, with a physician on the outside
On the wound care side I was responsible for clinic
Inpatient wound care
These cares included VAC's, wraps, assisting with cauterization or suturing, nursing wound care orders, and many other details
Receiving bypass or transplant patients directly from surgery
Stabilizing hemodynamics, extubating, ambulating and teaching patient about post surgical recovery
The unit incorporated a rapid recovery program on the unit in which patients are discharged home directly from the unit, so there was discharge planning, teaching, and team strategy meetings involved

Northwestern Memorial

06.2004 - 09.2004

Caring for patients with advanced liver disease
Nurse to patient ratio was 1 nurse to 5-7 patients
Also with my RN, it was necessary to perform certain functions that the LPNs on the floor were not licensed for
This meant that I had to be extremely well organized
Coordinating with multiple physicians, interns and specialty teams

Southwest Florida Regional

02.2003 - 06.2004

Caring for patients with joint replacements, fractures, and occasional trauma patients
The nurse to patient ratio was 1 : 6
With my RN, I was one of the charge nurses
This meant that my duties were caring for my patients, coordinating nursing staff, and scheduling the next shift
Post-op and discharge planning as well as teaching were continuous

Northwestern Memorial Hh

03.2000 - 09.2002

Caring for patients, coordinating their care with multidisciplinary teams, coordinating with physicians and their offices, use of appropriate labs and supply equipment companies according to insurance specifications
I worked with many different types of patients in this position
Post CABG, post joint replacement, wound care and disease processes such as CHF and diabetes
Documentation and teaching was a very important aspect of this position, as were quick and sharp assessment skills

Southwest Physicians Group

06.1997 - 10.2000

Direct patient care when RN skills were needed
Staffing office, supply ordering and telephone communication with patients
Teaching patients about medical conditions and preventative care as well as appropriate interventions was a large portion of this position
I was also in charge of the case management of inpatient care
Our two major insurance carriers were BCBS HMO and UHC HMO
It was imperative to track patient care and communicate with physicians concerning appropriate DRG's and LOS
Each year BCBS came through to score us on documentation and assess our case management
While I was in charge we always received scores in the high 90s with one 100%
I also did some of the billing for the office
This included workman's comp cases, private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare