Emily McGraw

RN on 4 south- Cardio-pulmonary Stepdown Unit

• Charge nurse role as well as training new staff to the unit and training experienced nurses to the charge nurse role
• 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.
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
• Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined next course of action.
• Managed care from admission to discharge.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
• Evaluated healthcare needs, goals for treatment, and available resources of each patient and connected to optimal providers and care.
• Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
• Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions met treatment goals and identifying insurance coverage limitations.
• Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
• Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
• Collected blood, tissue, and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing.
• Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
• Maintained quality care and comfort for patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and other conditions.
• Provided exceptional care to high-acute patients needing complex care such as ventilator management, extensive wound care and rehabilitation.
• Preparing patients for cardiac catheterization and managing care of TR band and pressure dressings after stent placement
• Caring for patients after pacemaker placement
• Caring for high-acuity chronic trach/vent patients

• Accessing Port-A-Caths and maintaining central line care for PACs & PICCs
• Experience with pulling PICC lines if necessary
• Inserting foley catheters, NG tubes, and caring for PEG Tubes as well as various drainage systems (JP drains & wound vacs), and chest tubes.
• Assisting MDs in bedside bone marrow biopsies
• Frequent blood transfusions, IVIG, as well as maintaining insulin gtts
• Caring for patients specifically diagnosed with leukemia and/or lymphoma and admitted for their scheduled round of chemotherapy, as well as monitoring for signs & symptoms of any adverse reactions
• Experience with high dose PCA pumps and continuous Narcan drips

• Trained in ER, as well as other units/specialties in the hospital
• Caring for patients s/p PCI with TR bands & monitoring groin sites
• Caring for central lines, and inserting foley catheters, Inserting NG tubes, and caring for PEG Tubes as well as various drainage systems (JP drains & wound vacs), and chest tubes.
• Patients on bipap, as well as patients with mature trachs
• Working routinely with and titrating cardiac gtts
• Caring for critically ill COVID patients on high flow oxygen
• Charge nurse role on JSC3 & JSC

• Monitored patients' respiratory status and ventilator operation and made adjustments to promote stabilization.
• Caring for critically & acutely ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit
• Managing care for patients requiring ventilator support
• Managing care for patients on high flow oyxgen
• Titrating IV medications commonly used for sedation and blood pressure support (Propofol, Fentanyl, Versed, Levophed, Vasopressin, etc)
• Managing care of COVID patients on a ventilator and following guided treatment plan
• Post-op care of general surgery patients on ventilator support
• Caring for patients with brand new tracheostomies requiring careful monitoring within the first 24 hours
• Inserting NGs, OGs, Foley catheters, assisting MD’s with intubation
• Assisting MD’s with bedside chest tube placements
• Caring for patients in DKA on insulin drip
• Experience in assisting MD with ultrasound guided central line placement
• Caring for patients with arterial lines
• Assisting MDs with bedside bronchs
• Caring for post cardiac arrest patients and using therapeutic hypothermic protocol

• Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
• Performed real-time chart audits for patients ensuring accuracy and completeness of information while capitalizing on opportunities for process improvement.
• Developed departmental goals and objectives to improve satisfactory rating with patients.
• Created work schedules for multiple shifts to confirm complete floor coverage.
• Communicated with members of medical staff and department heads during weekly update meetings.
• Managed budgetary finances of facility to monitor accuracy of patient fees and billing.
• Established and continuously optimized unit schedules and individual work assignments.
• Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, physicians, and patients by leveraging clinical judgment and unit management expertise.
• Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
• Promoted professional development opportunities to encourage nurses to pursue continuous training.
• Managed staff scheduling and time off to adequately staff nursing floors and allow nurses earned time off.