Caroline Laws BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, CMS
Chapel Hill,NC
Overview
1
1
Certification
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse
UNC Medical Center- Cardiovascular Thoracic ICU
Chapel Hill, NC
07.2024 - Current
- Manage critically ill cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgical patients such as valve replacements/repairs, heart & bilateral lung transplants, aortic dissection repairs/perforations, lobectomy, esophageal repairs/perforations, coronary artery bypass grafts, etc.
- Assess and monitor hemodynamics in patients with arterial lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, chest tubes, temporary pacing wires, and continuous telemetry while administering and titrating vasoactive, inotropes, sedatives, and other high-alert medications to maintain hemodynamic stability and sedation.
- Collaborate with RT to operate mechanical ventilation and extubate per protocol using the Fast Track method.
- Provide care for patients with advanced therapies, including, nitric oxide, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP), Impellas, LVADs, RVADs, and ECMO to maintain respiratory and cardiac stability.
- Rapidly assess and intervene on acutely decompensating patients in rapid response and code blue situations and assist in emergent intubations and invasive device placements.
- Contribute to daily interdisciplinary rounds with a multidisciplinary team to provider holistic, patient centered care.
- Support my unit as charge nurse, resource nurse, and preceptor to new graduate and experienced nurses.
- Active member of unit-based committees: Co-Chair, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Committee, Secretary, Skin Committee, Member, Education & Safety Committee, Critical Care Nursing Shared Governance (CTCCU), Created education on admitting an OR case, LVAD dressing changes, mock codes and mass transfusion protocol, Hospital wide code blue resuscitation committee member
Medical Assistant/Receptionist
Appalachian Regional Medical Associates
Boone, NC
05.2021 - 08.2022
Lifeguard
Linville Land Harbor
Linville, NC
05.2018 - 08.2020
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC05.2024
Skills
Patient Assessments
Hemodynamic Monitoring
Swan-Ganz Catheter Management
EKG Interpretation and Analysis
Drip Titrations
Mechanical Ventilation
CRRT Management
Vascular Assist Devices (LVAD/RVAD)
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps
Impella 55
Lumbar Drains
External Pacing Wires
End of Life Care
Certification
- Registered Nurse (RN)- Licensed in NC, License #368728
- Basic Life Support (BLS)- American Heart Association
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)- American Heart Association
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)- American Heart Association
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Cardiac Surgery Certificate (CSC)- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Cardiac Medicine Certificate (CMC)- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stroke Scale- American Heart Association
Timeline
Registered Nurse
UNC Medical Center- Cardiovascular Thoracic ICU
07.2024 - Current
Medical Assistant/Receptionist
Appalachian Regional Medical Associates
05.2021 - 08.2022
Lifeguard
Linville Land Harbor
05.2018 - 08.2020
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill