Ines Chavez

Provide care to critically ill veterans and families, assist physicians with intubation and multiple variety of procedures. Respond to hospital codes, such as rapid response, cardiac arrest, or stroke codes throughout hospital. Perform peripheral intravenous catheter insertion to patients throughout hospital, including ultrasound guided PIV'S, and lab draws. Float to other hospital units, including medical surgical, telemetry, psychiatry, community living (nursing home), and hospice. Charge nurse duties include ensure adequate staffing of unit, assignment placement, ensure hospital protocols and policies are being met, and provide support to colleagues.

• PRN
• Continuous monitoring of critically ill/ hemodynamic unstable, intubated, neuro, and surgical trauma patients, utilizes judgment supported by nursing theory and evidence practice in nursing care, provides respiratory and ventilator management/monitoring for intubated patients, provides care for critically ill patients with hemodynamic pressure lines (i.e.: arterial lines), pressure monitoring devices (ICP), artificial airway/mechanical ventilation, etc. Provided and overseen care for patients receiving dialysis via SLED & CRRT, Proficient clinical skillset to independently titrate drip medications based on hemodynamic status; including but not limited to Propofol, Fentanyl, Midazolam, Precedex, Nimbex, Ketamine, Vasopressin, Levophed, Dobutamine, Epinephrine, Phenylephrine, and Dopamine. Considers principles of death and dying when caring for the terminally ill medical/surgical patient. Provides emotional, spiritual, religious, and cultural support to patients and their families, utilizes nursing assessments, identifies problems, makes nursing diagnoses, formulates goals, teaching plans, and outcomes to create an individualized plan of care. Identifies individual patient goals and incorporates family into the plan of care. Coordinates and executes nursing leadership alongside the interdisciplinary healthcare team; coordinate and liaises with units throughout the hospital with admissions, discharges, and transferring of patients based on acuity of conditions. Hemodialysis- Provide hemodialysis treatment to AKI & ESRD pts, including emergency dialysis & SLEDD, assess & monitors patients during treatment, administration of blood products along w/ other medications if applicable, assess lab values, collaboration w/ nephrologist regarding dialysis prescription, disinfection & maintenance of dialysis equipment per policy & protocol. On call shifts for emergency dialysis, specialized in use of Quinton’s/ permacath’s, cannulating arteriovenous fistulas and grafts, and education provided to patients and family members regarding care of hemodialysis access.

• Responsible for performing and coordinating nursing care and services in a chronic care facility for ESRD patients, in accordance with healthcare policies and procedures, Complete pre and post treatment assessment for each patient, verify prescription/ machine settings are accurate, oversee entire dialysis treatment for all patients, Anemia manager- review labs, schedule redraws if needed, use protocol for dose adjustment for iron and Epogen, provide post hospitalization assessment of anemia needs, safety leader, quarterly fire drills, update facility disaster plan and emergency contacts quarterly, OSHA audit/ action plans, monthly safety meeting, reschedule missed treatments, follow pt. hospitalizations, complete post hospitalization assessments, review discharge summaries, collaborate with interdisciplinary team for changes to dialysis prescription, complete monthly medication reconciliation, call in prescription medications to pharmacies, participate in care plan meetings with SW, RD, and MD. Participate in weekly IDT meetings, provides input for monthly FHR meeting. Performed admission assessments for pending admits, transfers, transients, and new patients. Educate patients & families in dialysis treatment, management of ESRD, emergency procedures, and policies.

• Nurse externship during nursing school, reported to RN & under direct supervision of RN provided direct nursing care in accordance with established policies, procedures, and protocols, completed assigned nursing orders as directed by preceptor, including assisting patients with activities of daily living, taking vital signs, & nursing tasks.

• Completed internal auditing, specialized in auditing documents, work environment, and work process accordingly to work instructions in all departments. Supervised & trained new employees in the quality department, communicated with customers to ensure all quality requirements were met. Followed protocol to correct nonconformances. Worked in collaboration with engineers, managers, & VP, to improve quality of product, ensure compliance to policies, and proper documentation were in place.