Deborah Longhenry

• Admit nurse: reviewed orders and patients' home medication list, collected vital signs and needed data, completed IV insertion.
• Utilized time management skills to prioritize tasks effectively, allowing for efficient completion of daily responsibilities.
• Maintained accurate documentation of all relevant clinical data, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
• Implemented infection control measures, ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients and staff.
• Scrub nurse: (Cross-trained with on the job training for the surgical tech role, learning the instrumentation and techniques required to perform the role) prepped the OR, maintained knowledge of assigned surgeries and instrumentation, gathered needed instruments and supplies based on each assigned case/case card, performed a sterile scrub prior to entering the OR, assisted the surgeon during the case by handing each needed instrument over to the surgeon and collecting the previous one while working within/maintaining the sterile field, performed decontamination of the OR and the instruments following the surgery.
• Acquired knowledge in CSR: learned the proper packaging/wrapping, assembling and sterilization of all surgical instruments/instrument sets, as well as those from the clinic, ER and OB, learned the use and care of the different washer disinfectors/sterilizers and other machines used.
• Worked alongside the Materials department to inventory, order and put away the surgical supplies.
• PACU nurse: monitored patient's post surgical vital signs and surgical sites, reviewed the discharge orders and instructions with the patient, discontinued the IV and accompanied the patient out to their ride.

As the nurse for a family run company that included 3 residential group homes with physical and mental health disabilities, as well as consumers that remained in their own home or parent's home:

• Reviewed consumer charts, including diagnoses, medications, treatments and day programming;
• Prepared the monthly medication records, ordered medication refills from the pharmacy, and picked up the medications or arranged delivery
• Performed daily, weekly and/or monthly health checks as needed/ordered by a primary physician; administered medications and treatments
• Trained direct care staff on med administration
• Scheduled all needed dental, optical, medical and mental health appointments and accompanied the consumers to them, providing all updates to their family, case workers, and day services.
• Worked along side the program manager, direct care staff, case workers, day services providers and guardians in developing goals and maintaining a healthcare regime.
• During the last 2 years, after the sale of the business over to another family, I was also the program director for the 3 houses, having a greater role in the social work aspect of the consumers' care
• Worked with the development of goals
• Had a greater hand in dealing with staffing; interviewing, hiring, and training staff; doing the scheduling and conducting needed disciplinary action, including termination if it got to that point.

• As one of a team of nurses, working 12hr shifts, providing 24hr, 1 to 1, nursing care for a young man living in a group home:
• Responsibilities consisted of performing assistance with ADLs, dressing, showers, companionship
• straight catheterization q4h
• med administration, PEG tube feedings and cares, including changing it q90 days
• Ventilator management, trach cares with neb treatments, vest/percussion treatments and suctioning
• accompanying client to medical appointments and school/work
• checking the weekly/monthly supply inventory, ordering and delivery check-in.

I held several titles within my employment held at the Clarkfield Care Center. I started out as a CNA while in high school, continuing through graduation. I enjoyed working with the elderly. I took a break, venturing away from healthcare for a few years, returning with the decision to further my education. I continued working throughout college where I worked towards my LPN. I was able to pass medications after passing my med administration class. After graduation from Ridgewater College Practical Nursing program and passing my boards , I transitioned to the charge nurse roll. I decided to try a different type of nursing, apart from long term care/geriatric end of life, worked a summer job and then started with Universal Pediatric Services. Yet again, I returned to the Care Center after a call from the DON asking me to consider coming back to work there. I really enjoyed working with the elderly, despite eventually losing them, so I worked there for another couple years.