Professionally trained Registered Nurse with experience ensuring high standards of culturally competent care for a wide variety of patients with diverse needs. Highly skilled with 20 years in the medical field. Established in many areas. Professionallay manages a heavy daily patient volume, proficient in all documentation, computer savvy, and records maintenance to ensure accuracy and patient confidentiality. Highly organized with advanced communication, time management, and priority management skills.
As a Long Term Acute Care Nurse we are bridging the transition from intensive care to home. LTAC patients normally transfer from an intensive care unit and are receiving ventilator assistance. Some patients have large open wounds or other acute problems. The patient may be on inotropic agents and require careful monitoring. Most patients in these units, age 18 and up, have an average stay of 25 days or longer. LTAC nurses have to be able to provide care for patients in the management of multiple, long-term, complex medical conditions, multiple system failures and the patient’s anxiety. This is the final stop when trying to wean patients off a respirator and most patients in these units have been in the hospital for many months by the time they reach this phase. It is a long, hard road for them and some are nearing wit’s end by the time they reach this point in their recovery.
I spend considerable time with family members in addition to caring for patients. Family members may be frustrated by their loved one’s perceived lack of progress. Some may also have travelled long distances to visit their loved one and can be unfamiliar with Long Term Acute Care.
I have great critical thinking skills and independence is essential in this setting. The physician on call in not in the unit and therefore I must work more autonomously than typical in a critical care setting. I manage stress appropriately, make decisions under pressure and manage the anger/fear/hostility and violence of others appropriately. I was Charge Nurse at this LTAC ICU with patients. Responded to multiple rapid responses, including cardiac arrhythmias requiring drips and respiratory distress requiring ventilator setting to be adjusted or sedating drips or pain drips to be adjusted accordingly. I was responsible for drawing all of my lab specimens. The supervision of 2-3 nurses on my shift. I was also responsible for the telemetry monitor. We all were, but with me being Charge it was my responsibility. I was in charge of all code blues when scheduled, which included me, maybe 1 or 2 nurses, and a respiratory therapist.
Responsibilities of the Long Term Acute Care Registered Nurse may include:
Demonstrate Safe and Effective Use of Equipment such as:
Provided care to acutely and critically ill patients, in a highly technical and ongoing monitoring environment. These patients are facing life-threatening problems with varying needs, which require extensive medication protocols and therapies. Set up and monitor medical equipment and devices such as cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms, oxygen delivery devices, transducers, and pressure lines. Monitor patients' fluid intake and output to detect emerging problems such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Monitor patients for changes in status and indications of conditions such as sepsis or shock and institute appropriate interventions. Assess patients' pain levels and sedation requirements. Assist physicians with procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and elective cardioversion.