Cord D. Speck AGAC-NP, RN

• 12 Bed Surgical ICU
• Provides ICU level care to critically ill post-surgical patients including but limited to Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Neuro Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Urology.
• Collaborates daily in multidisciplinary team rounds to discuss, evaluate, plan, and implement patient treatment plans.
• Completes complex daily patient assessments, progress notes, medication reviews, and patient education.
• Orders and interprets diagnostic tests and laboratory studies such as daily chest films, CT Scans, microbiology studies, ABGs, and daily patient blood chemistries.
• Performs placement of all ICU central lines, dialysis lines, arterial lines, Swan catheters, PICC lines, and midlines.
• Serves as an expert in mechanical ventilation, intubation, extubation, and RSI.
• Supports and maintains all ICU specialty cares such as invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive/inotropic support, CRRT, and cardiac support devices (Impella, LVAD, IABP, ECMO).
• Acts as sole provider during nocturnal tour of duty for SICU and Surgical Step-down Unit.
• Designed and implemented 6 hour didactic and hands on learning course for Intra Aortic Balloon Pump usage and safety for hospital-wide education.
• Recipient of The American Legion Citation for Meritorious Service.

• 42 Bed high acuity CVICU
• Trained to manage the acutely ill cardiothoracic surgery/cardiac critical care patient population to include heart transplantations, LVAD implants, aortic dissection repairs, valve surgeries, coronary artery bypass grafting, and AICD implants.
• Competent in the titration of inotropic and vasoactive medications
• Institutionally qualified to manage CRRT circuits, Swan-Ganz catheters, arterial lines, central lines, temporary epicardial pacing, chest tubes, and ventilator circuits.
• Qualified to manage advanced cardiac support devices including the Impella, and IABP systems.
• Experienced in managing HeartMate II and HeartMate III LVAD devices
• ECMO VV/VA trained and certified

Clinical Practicum in Cardiothoracic Surgery

• Managed the preoperative, perioperative, and post-operative care of the cardiothoracic surgery patient
• Trained in operative sterile technique
• Participated in surgical first-assisting and surgical second-assisting in open heart and general thoracic surgery
• Assisted in bedside procedures including ultrasound guided thoracentesis, closed tube thoracostomy, temporary pacing wire removal, and chest tube removal

Clinical Practicum in Inpatient Cardiology Consultation

• Responsible for inpatient general cardiology consultations including cardiac critical care unit patients
• Trained to manage cardiac dysrhythmias including but not limited to atrial fibrillation/flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, bradycardia, heart blocks, and ventricular ectopy
• Reviewed daily cardiac telemetry results, cardiac diagnostic tests review and recommendations, patient management, and consultation services.

Clinical Practicum in Inpatient Nephrology

• Responsible for completing inpatient nephrology consultations and management of acute renal disease, acute-on-chronic renal disease, chronic renal disease, and end-stage renal disease
• Exposed to daily hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and CRRT prescription and dosing
• Trained in diagnostic urine microscopy to evaluate renal disease pathology

Clinical Practicum in Internal Hospital Medicine

• Responsible for assessing and managing the care of a wide variety of medical, surgical and oncology patients admitted to the hospital.
• Evaluated emergency department consultations for hospital admission
• Operational duties included in-depth patient interviews and complete physical examinations