Frankie Saunders

• Explained health care issues and ramifications to patients and families to promote informed medical care choices.
• Delivered age-appropriate medical care for adult, adolescent and geriatric ICU patients.
• Coordinated patients' post-discharge treatment plans with physicians and other nurses to promote continuity of medical care.
• Recorded patients' medical status and treatment details in electronic charts to accurately document medical care.
• Developed and implemented patient care plans based on physicians' instructions and generally accepted nursing practices.
• Conducted patient assessments, recorded vitals and analyzed records and charts to define care requirements.
• Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
• Guided and educated patients and caregivers on diagnoses, disease management, preventive measures, medication use and self-care to foster consistency in care administration.
• Coordinated with healthcare staff from various disciplines to devise, carry out and manage personalized care plans to benefit patient health and recovery.
• Managed care and withdrawal symptoms for patients with substance use disorders through evidence based practice medications and alternative therapies.
• Monitored substance abuse and alcohol withdrawal patients through various scales such as:

> Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS)

> Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA)

> Severity Assessment Scale (SAS)

• Oversaw work of nursing student technicians and externs to educate on proper procedures and how to prioritize care tasks.
• Supported student educational and vocational planning to help each optimize learning strategies and reap long-term career benefits.
• Contributed educational and clinical expertise to help optimize training courses and boost student learning.
• Strived to continuously update course strategies and content based on current trends and technological advancements in healthcare.
• Assessed student knowledge levels and abilities with detailed assessments.
• Precepted new nurses, providing guidance on unit functions and individual roles, hospital policies and procedures and nursing best practices.
• Identified and assigned appropriate activities to enhance student learning.

Charge nurse for a 30 bed Medical Surgical Unit

• Managed caseload of 30 patients simultaneously by providing bedside care, treatments, IV therapy and wound care.
• Facilitated therapeutic communication and conflict resolution by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
• Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
• Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.

• Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
• Managed care from admission to discharge.
• Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action.
• Provided didactic and clinical instructions to orient new nurses and potential student nurses to achieve training outcomes.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to highest standards of care.
• Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
• Performed intravenous therapy procedures and monitored chest tubes.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
• Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
• Provided health education to patients and families regarding discharge instructions and plans of care.
• Managed quality care for patients with heart failure, end-stage renal disease and coronary artery disease.
• Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence.
• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
• Monitored patient vital signs to perform thorough condition assessments.
• Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use and disease management.
• Maintained quality care and comfort for patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and other conditions.
• Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.

• Identified academic strengths and obstacles and developed instructional techniques to accommodate different learning styles.
• Advised students in academic matters to improve successful course completion.
• Worked cooperatively with other members of faculty and staff to contribute to overall institutional effectiveness.
• Developed and kindled professional relationships with students to better communicate and enhance instruction.
• Designed and distributed feedback forms to continually improve teaching skills and develop stronger connection with students.
• Displayed professional demeanor and served as role model for students.
• Appraised student understanding by applying course content and gauging comprehension.
• Scored student care plans and graded student performance fairly.
• Collaborated with department head to create dynamic, ongoing curriculum development and instruction improvement program.

• Maintained detailed records of patient conditions, reactions and progress in alignment with physician orders.
• Liaised with patients following cardiothoracic surgical procedures, providing support and education on post-surgical care.
• Administered nursing care to cardiac patients undergoing diagnostic, therapeutic or emergency services.
• Assisted in diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as unstable angina, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, and cardiac dysrhythmia.
• Utilized stethoscopes, thermometers and sphygmomanometers to meet patient needs and prescribed medical therapies.
• Assessed patients, collecting data and prioritizing cases in accordance with standards, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Administered medication, pain management and analysis of patient responses to interventions to improve individual performance.
• Prioritized and revised patient care activities based on acuity of symptoms and patient preferences.
• Conducted initial assessments, documented findings in patient records and notified physicians of abnormal findings.
• Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
• Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
• Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
• Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
• Adhered to strict safety measures by carefully determining proper dosages before administering medications.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.

• Oversaw medication passes and all direct patient care.
• Maintained medication room in full compliance with government and facility requirements.
• Responded to patient requests with appropriate clinical and personal assistance.
• Assessed patients' temperature, pulse and blood pressure and recorded in electronic medical records.
• Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
• Reviewed patient history to verify conditions and current medications.
• Helped long-term care residents with bathing, dressing, feeding and other daily living activities.
• Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
• Clearly and thoroughly explained diagnoses, treatment options and procedures to patients and loved ones, checking in to verify understanding.

• Oversaw medication passes and all direct patient care.
• Maintained medication room in full compliance with government and facility requirements.
• Responded to patient requests with appropriate clinical and personal assistance.
• Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
• Reviewed patient history to verify conditions and current medications.
• Helped long-term care residents with bathing, dressing, feeding and other daily living activities.
• Circulated assigned floor to measure and record patients' fluid and food levels, implementing measures to promote healthy intake and output as necessary.
• Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
• Clearly and thoroughly explained diagnoses, treatment options and procedures to patients and loved ones, checking in to verify understanding.