Grace Diefenderfer

ICU/ED

Provided care for ventilated and sedated patients. Shadowed a respiratory therapist on various days to obtain ABGs, perform respiratory assessments, and ensure that equipment was functioning and had appropriate settings.

Experienced the chain of actions that occur for unresponsive patients that are admitted to the ED. Watched nurses draw blood for different cultures, and participated in numerous stroke codes. Gathered PMH, established baseline vitals, and performed focused assessments.

Assisted local community college with eliminating learning gaps that the public may have about various health related topics. Applied social and communication skills to reinforce specialized teaching.

Medical/Surgical Unit

Medications were administered orally, intravenously, and subcutaneously utilizing a Pyxis, WOW, and Epic software. Head-to-toe assessments were performs when obtaining vitals. Had the privilege of shadowing a wound care nurse on various days. Assisted with oxygen therapy.

Adult and Adolescent Psychiatric Units

Administering anti-psychotic medications. Engaging with clients during group therapy sessions and conveying compassion through therapeutic communication.

Medical/Surgical Unit

Providing direct care to patients under the guidance of experienced nurses. Provided wound care and assessed for signs and symptoms of infection of pressure wounds and surgical incision sites. Administered medications orally and intravenously, utilizing the WOW and Pyxis. Took vitals and reported deviations from baseline. Administered sliding scale insulin and checked blood sugars. Administered various subcutaneous and intramuscular medications.

Pediatric Unit (Ages 8-18)

Administering medications through PEG tube. Administering TPN and assessing site for signs of infection and providing stoma care. Performing in-line suctioning, oral suctioning, and oral care. Maintaining seizure precautions. All patients were in wheelchairs, mostly non-verbal, and even experienced autonomic storming. Some of our patients were born with disabilities while others suffered a TBI after birth and early childhood. Chest physiotherapy was also performed with the intention of mobilizing secretions. Performed nebulizer treatments.

Labor and Delivery/Postpartum Unit

Providing direct care under the guidance of experienced nurses. Analyzing vital signs of both mother and baby, monitoring the variability of baby's heartbeat, assessing mother's pain, and monitoring the effects of the Epidural for mother. Assisting with positional changes to provide pain relief/distraction as pictured in their hospital handbook. Performing a sterile foley catheter procedure.

Administering Vitamin K injections, and Erythromycin eye treatment for newborns. Participated in conducting an APGAR score, and assessing the postpartum mother's fundus. For mothers with C-section incisions, and vaginal stitches, I assessed for signs and symptoms of infection. I also provided discharged teaching for various patients.

Medical/Surgical Unit

Provided direct patient care under the guidance under the guidance of experienced nurse. Administered medications orally and intravenously, utilized IV pumps, and calculated desired drip rates. Performed head-to-toe assessments, charted in Epic, gave hand-off report in SBAR format. Assessed vital signs, and reported deviations. Analyzed chart notes to familiarize myself with pharmacology, disease processes, and orders.