Hope Fitzgerald
Londonderry,NH
Summary
Experienced, motivated, and committed Registered Nurse (RN) with 33 years of direct patient care in a hospital setting that has demonstrated an evolving role as an adjunctive educator of existing and new staff members in an intense and busy level one trauma center. Proven competency in all settings while remaining calm under pressure. Patient oriented, energetic, compassionate and curious, with the goal of providing exceptional care, patient satisfaction and best patient outcomes.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Emergency Room/Rotating Charge Registered Nurse
Boston Medical Center One Boston Center Place
Boston , MA
04.2006 - Present
- From 4/2006 - 7/2010 employed at Boston University East Newton Campus emergency room caring for medically complex patients with specialty concentration in cardiology, sepsis, amyloidosis, hemodialysis and gastroenterology patient populations as well as performing charge duties.
- Collaborated with emergency room attending physicians, interns, residents and multiple consult services, providing valuable input that contributed to improved patient outcomes
- From 2010 until present time, when this small ED closed, worked in level one trauma center at Boston Medical Center providing expert care to needs of multiple patient presentations
- Quickly and accurately assess patient care needs
- Became competent member of trauma team prepared for any emergency that presented to our department
- Demonstrated safe and appropriate use of Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triaging of patients, from both walk-in and ambulance
- Precepted several RN's from new graduates to experienced emergency room nurses, developing reputation for thoroughness of teaching complex emergency conditions in calm and easy to understand way.
- Member of preceptor committee that contributed to redesign of competency based orientation documentation.
- Member of Unit Based Council
- Member of Substance Use Disorder Council
- Participated in didactic teaching for new graduate program which instilled love of education for me
- Serve as experienced resource nurse in large emergency department that have onboarded substantial numbers of young nurses in need of mentoring
Staff Registered Nurse, Emergency Room
Catholic Medical Center
Manchester, NH
05.2002 - 04.2006
- First emergency room position in busy city hospital serving multiple populations including pediatric and obstetric emergencies.
- Quickly and accurately assess patient care needs
- Initiated established nurse protocols as indicated
- Collaborated with doctors and staff to optimize best patient outcomes
- Prioritized management of multiple, simultaneous cases.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain my composure and remain professional in high pressure situations.
- Frequently utilized in trauma rooms to provide care for emergent needs of patients.
- Attend all required training and continuing education events
Charge Nurse/Staff RN, Cardiac Stepdown Unit
Brigham And Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
11.1992 - 04.2000
- Responsible for delegating assignments according to skill mix of staff and provide supervision for support staff in accordance with their level of training and patient's acuity.
- Coordinated with hospital admissions and bed facilitators to ensure smooth and efficient flow of patients admissions, transfers and discharges.
- Acted as liaison between staff nurses, supervisors, and hospital administration.
- Managed and implemented care for cardiovascular needs including rapid atrial fibrillation, stable and unstable angina, acute myocardial infarctions, automatic internal cardiac defibrillator placement and fragile cardiomyopathy patients.
Registered Nurse Thoracic Intermediate Care Unit
Brigham And Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
11.1988 - 05.1992
- Admitted sedated patients from PACU s/p thoracotomies and pneumonectomies' in 12 bed Thoracic Intermediate Care Unit.
- Managed chest tubes, central lines, Swan-Ganz catheters and arterial lines
- Closely monitored patients with one or more chest tubs, epidural catheters for pain control, and provided appropriate interventions as needed.
- Assessed need for, ordered, obtained and interpreted appropriate lab tests.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies
- Provided patient/family education and support
- Became certified member of Intravenous Therapy Team
Registered Nurse, Neuro ICU
Allegheny General Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
07.1987 - 08.1988
- Performed frequent comprehensive neurological assessments on 1-2 assigned patients
- Provided direct care of patients suffering various neurological injuries including acute stroke, intracranial hemorrhages, brain tumors and cerebral traumas.
- Utilized my skill set to perform complete physical assessments on patients with neurological emergencies, in conjunction with other medical conditions, to ensure delivery of safe patient care.
- Performed specialized interventions, such as ventilator maintenance and adjustments, administration and monitoring of vasoactive drugs, ensured adequate sedation and analgesia, and management of invasive intracranial pressure devices.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
Staff Registered Nurse, PCCU
Allegheny General Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
10.1984 - 07.1987
- Oriented to 45 bed Progressive Care Cardiac Unit (PCCU) as new graduate Registered Nurse
- Extensive training for cardiac arrhythmias
- Monitored patient condition, including interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
- Provided care pre and post care for large populations of heart catheterization, electrophysiology and Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angiography (PTCA) patients
- Participated in many PCCU department run codes
- Developed proficiency at starting peripheral IV's during acute patient emergencies
- Started role as preceptor after three years experience in PCCU, training new hires in standards of care, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Known for inquisitive nature, patient advocacy skills, strong work ethic, compassion, and being a team player.
Education
Obtained 12 Credits in Family NP Program
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NHMasters in Nursing Education
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT03.2023
Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Salem State University
Salem, MA1995
Nursing Diploma
Saint Francis School of Nursing
Pittsburgh, PA04.1984
High School Diploma -
Pittsburgh Carrick High School
Pittsburgh, PA1982
Skills
- Exceptional critical thinking skills
- Creative Problem Solver
- Strong interpersonal skills in setting with high demand for quick and effective communication for challenging populations as well as demonstrating good rapport with staff members from all disciplines
- Highly developed technical skills to perform treatments and therapies, manage complex machinery, and immediately recognize important changes in patient’s condition
- Excellent clinical skills
- Adaptable to ever changing and challenging emergency room environment
- Positive role model for existing and new staff members
- Good physical stamina
- Strong written and verbal skills
Accomplishments
- Project Leader for US Department of Education Grant to start a Charter School for young children with autism. The non-profit was called Hope for Autism. My son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three and in my pursuit of finding help I became the Founder and Executive Director of Hope for Autism.
- Received first grant in the nation, as a result of my advocacy work, for an in-home support waiver for my son with autism spectrum disorder diagnosis
- Participated in Quality Assurance projects related to chart auditing, compiling data that would contribute to process improvements for nursing through the Electronic Health Record
Retired Army Nurse Captain
Served as a credentialing officer at the 309th Field Hospital in Boston, Massachusets.
Timeline
Emergency Room/Rotating Charge Registered Nurse
Boston Medical Center One Boston Center Place
04.2006 - Present
Staff Registered Nurse, Emergency Room
Catholic Medical Center
05.2002 - 04.2006
Charge Nurse/Staff RN, Cardiac Stepdown Unit
Brigham And Women's Hospital
11.1992 - 04.2000
Registered Nurse Thoracic Intermediate Care Unit
Brigham And Women's Hospital
11.1988 - 05.1992
Registered Nurse, Neuro ICU
Allegheny General Hospital
07.1987 - 08.1988
Staff Registered Nurse, PCCU
Allegheny General Hospital
10.1984 - 07.1987
Obtained 12 Credits in Family NP Program
University of New Hampshire
Masters in Nursing Education
Western Governors University
Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Salem State University
Nursing Diploma
Saint Francis School of Nursing
High School Diploma -
Pittsburgh Carrick High School