Didi Weiss

I quit my job as a Head Nurse to take care of my mom full-time. She was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 87 and I felt very strongly that she should remain at home where she was most comfortable, happy and surrounded by family. I just simply could never consider sending her elsewhere. During this time, I supported her both emotionally and physically to maintain her dignity and quality of life. My activities included:

• Engagement in meaningful conversation and socialization
• Providing daily personal care including bathing, dressing, oral care and personal grooming
• Turning and positioning to maintain skin integrity and comfort
• Handled incoming mail and bills
• Frequent oral suctioning as needed
• Monitoring of respiratory status via pulse-ox
• Feedings via PEG, while monitoring nutritional status
• Medication administration via PEG
• PEG care BID, in addition to new PEG replacement as needed
• Monitoring and ordering of medications and suctioning, PEG and hygiene supplies
• Assessing mom's medical status and communication with, and scheduling of physician contacts

I supervised one pediatric and five adult group homes for approximately 40 persons with developmentally disabilities. My duties included

• Monitoring both nurses and AMAP (Approved Medication Administration Personnel)
• Building rapport with residents, staff, family members and medical personnel to deliver exceptional care.
• Performing patient assessment processes, and treatment implementations as needed
• Identifying areas of inadequacy and adjusting procedures to close gaps and improve policies.
• Strengthening care standards and policies with focus on patient safety and dignity.
• Coordinating and implementing in-service educational programs focusing on safety and adherence to protocols.
• Investigating and independently resolving complaints from residents, family members, staff and physicians by leveraging clinical judgment and management expertise.
• Training new Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP) in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Recertifying current AMAP personnel

• Collaborated with healthcare team members to assess, implement and evaluate nursing care plans.
• Managed medication cart and dispensed pills, oral and IV therapies and intramuscular injections to patients
• Administered basic patient care and treatments by dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas and performing catheterizations.
• Documented nursing assessments, treatments, medications and discharge instructions.
• Communicated effectively with patients and family members to convey important instructions and discuss treatments.
• Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery