Karen Dirks

• Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
• Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
• Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
• Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
• Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
• Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
• Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
• Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
• Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex cases.
• Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
• Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
• Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
• Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
• Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
• Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
• Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
• Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions.
• Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
• Utilized critical thinking skills to identify potential issues or complications in a timely manner, taking appropriate action to mitigate risks.
• Monitored patients' respiratory status and ventilator operation and made adjustments to promote stabilization.
• Provided compassionate end-of-life care for terminally ill patients, offering comfort and support to both patients and families during difficult times.

Working at St Mary's was my first job as a Registered Nurse. During the first two years of my employment there I floated throughout the hospital working in Oncology, med surg., ICU, pediatrics and orthopedics. It was an excellent experience and taught me many lessons. For the last 1.5 years at St Mary's I worked on their telemetry floor and became familiar with working with Cardiac patients.

• Promoted a safe environment for patients by adhering to infection control protocols, fall prevention strategies, and other safety measures.
• Managed caseload of 5-7 patients simultaneously by providing bedside care, treatments, IV therapy, and wound care.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses.
• Assessed patient conditions accurately by conducting comprehensive physical assessments, interpreting diagnostic tests, and utilizing critical thinking skills.