Elaine Patten

• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Documented all elements of care and updated patient charts and confidential files to reflect changes in care plans, interventions applied, and observations.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop impactful treatment plans.
• Delivered outstanding care to patients with various diagnoses and managed care from treatment initiation through to completion.
• Provided emotional support and guidance to patients and family members to help cope with emotional challenges of illness.

• Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance, and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
• Collaborated with physicians, pharmacists and therapists to deliver quality, evidence-based care.
• Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures, and nursing best practices.
• Responded to emergency situations to provide rapid and accurate care.
• Utilized ventilators, monitors and infusion pumps following manufactures' guidelines.

• Led successful team comprised of RNs, LPNs, and ancillary staff.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined next course of action.
• Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
• Participated in nursing simulation activities, evidence-based practice project implementation and competency development to further nursing education.
• Orchestrated quality-driven, cost-effective care in high-volume trauma setting.
• Provided exceptional care to high-acute patients needing complex care such as ventilator management, extensive wound care and rehabilitation.

• Delivered age-appropriate medical care for adult, adolescent, and geriatric ICU patients.
• Monitored patients' respiratory status and ventilator operation and made adjustments to promote stabilization.
• Collaborated with physicians, pharmacists and therapists to deliver quality, evidence-based care.
• Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.

I spent 6 months at the University of New Mexico Hospital in the MICU. My next assignment was at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD. Following this I spent 6 months at the Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill, NC. My next assignment lasted for a total of 2 years at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. This assignment was in the Trauma/Surgery/Burn ICU. Afterwards I spent 6 months in the SICU and Trauma ICU at the University of San Diego. The Neuro ICU at the University of San Francisco was my next assignment. Finally I spent 2 years as a travel nurse in the Trauma/Surgery/Burn ICU at the University of New Mexico Hospital. During this 6 year span I gained very valuable knowledge and skills in a vast array of adult critical care settings. I also performed the role of Relief Charge at the University of Maryland when asked to do so. As a Travel RN I also floated to step-down medical and surgery units, post-op recovery room and to the Emergency Dept.

• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Recovery of patients post coronary catheterization. This included removal of arterial and/or venous sheaths and monitoring patient thereafter.
• Treatment of acute coronary events in collaboration with physicians.

• Utilized ventilators, monitors and infusion pumps following manufactures' guidelines.
• Responded to emergency situations to provide rapid and accurate care.
• Delivered age-appropriate medical care for adult, adolescent, and geriatric ICU patients.
• Maintained respectful treatment environment that honored patients' and families' cultural and religious traditions and preferences.

• Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined next course of action.
• Recovery of AAA repair patients including knowledge of PA catheters and titration of numerous drips.
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
• Performed the duties of Relief Charge Nurse.

I accepted a causal pool position when I first graduated from nursing school in June, 1994. Full-time employment was difficult to find at that time. I worked in a dermatology clinic, ambulatory clinics, med-surg floor and Obs whenever shifts were available.