Christopher Huffstutler

• Provided cardiovascular medical services and care to patients with chronic and acute cardiovascular conditions.
• Discussed care plans with patients and explained test results and proper use of medications.
• Reduced hospital readmission rates with thorough treatments, patient education, and follow-up care.
• Collaborated with physicians to develop comprehensive diagnostic assessments and treatment recommendations for acutely ill patients.
• Provided hospital and clinic care to all varieties of cardiovascular patients.
• Provided care to 20 or more cardiovascular clinic patients daily.

Perioperative services: In-patient evaluation team.

• Performed pre-anesthesia evaluations for multiple patients throughout the hospital setting : including complete physical exams, review of x-rays, labs, conducting thorough patient histories in relation to anesthesia. Ordered appropriate testing if needed prior to surgical procedures requiring anesthesia.
• Adhered to all hospital procedures, policies and protocols to support patient safety.
• Formulated lists of current and past medical conditions.
• Recorded patient medical history, applicable test results and vitals into medical records.

• Provided immediate and constructive feedback to students individually and as group.
• Delivered individualized instruction on observation, assessment, decision-making and patient health teaching.
• Evaluated students' competencies through written assignments and examinations.
• Analyzed clinical settings' effectiveness in helping students achieve course and program outcomes.
• Distributed course syllabus and communicated course standards and learning objectives to students.
• Gathered evaluations and discussed student's progress from preceptors for each student.

• Performed complete physical assessments daily on preoperative patients that required hospitalization prior to heart surgery.
• Performed complete physical assessments daily on post-operative patients that underwent various heart and thoracic surgeries. Including Coronary artery bypass, valve repairs/replacements, thoracic aorta surgery, complex adult congenital heart surgeries, etc.
• Reviewed daily chest x-rays, labs, vital signs daily. Formulated individual plans of care for patients based on their medical status.
• Removed medical devices when my assessment deemed appropriate: Chest tubes, central lines, epicardial pacing wires.
• Placed orders for nurses to implement my formulated plans of care.
• Collaborated with surgeons, pharmacists, registered nurses, case managers and social workers on a daily basis.
• Participated in daily patient rounds to discuss plans of care and potential discharge needs, barriers to discharge and and acute issues needing addressed.
• Completed admissions of new patients
• Completed discharge of patients to various destinations: Home, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities.

• Managed the care of critically ill adult, pediatric and neonatal patients that underwent various heart and thoracic surgical procedures in the cardio-thoracic intensive care unit.
• Managed and coordinated care plans of each bedside nurse caring for these patients.
• Responsible for the complete management of care up to 10 patients (a mixture of adult, pediatric and neonates: every 12 hr shift.
• Completed physical assessments on adult, pediatric and neonatal patients each shift and intervened appropriately with acute changes.
• Collaborated with pharmacist, registered nurses and provided PRN updates to surgeons as well as daily official reports to surgeons.
• Implemented BLS, ACLS, and PALS as needed.
• Managed multiple complex medical devices, including but not limited to, ventilators, continuous renal replacement therapy machines, left and right ventricular devices and intra-aortic balloon pumps.
• Facilitated the progress of the critically ill post-cardiothoracic surgical patient for eventual transfer to step down floor when appropriate.

• Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel deliver safe and efficient care.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
• Implemented plans of care for critically ill adult, pediatric and neonate patients immediately post-operative various heart and thoracic surgeries.
• Performed complex management of and adjustments of various critical care devices: Intra-aortic balloon pumps, ventricular assist devices, ventilators, CRRT machines.
• Managed, organized and titrated various IV medication infusions with sometimes as many as 15 IV infusions on one patient.
• Extubated patients when physical assessment and interpretation of arterial blood gases supported progression.
• Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures and nursing best practices.
• Coordinated with physicians to perform bedside procedures such as intravenous injections, vascular line insertions and insertion of intra-aortic balloon pumps.

• Sent to various hospitals in the Birmingham, Alabama to function as a registered nurse in a variety of intensive care units.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Delivered outstanding care to patients with various diagnoses and managed care from treatment initiation through to completion.
• Documented all elements of care and updated patient charts and confidential files to reflect changes in care plans, interventions applied and observations.
• Managed elements of patient care from admission to discharge or transfer to other units.
• Remained calm during high-stress, critical situations, demonstrating sustained focus and problem-solving in real-time.
• Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic and cognitive status of patients.
• Performed routine wound care and dressing changes on schedule.
• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.