Laura Saunders

(Job duties shared from 2009 to 2015 not included in this job description include Interventional Radiology RN staff and Cardiac Cath RN staff.)

Prepare, set up, and assist the performing physician with stress-testing patients.

Instruct and apply Holter monitors on outpatients. Process and distribute reports when they are returned.

Instruct and perform EEG on patients.

Process all hospital EKGs (matching orders, preparing for the physician to read, and assuring distribution after review).

Conduct end-of-month quality and safety checks of the department and equipment, and assure corrections of any identified issues.

Gather end-of-month testing numbers for the department manager.

Develop and update department policies and procedures.

Adjust schedules, plan, and delegate daily work assignments.

Increase patient satisfaction by providing effective communication, quality service, and addressing concerns promptly.

1978-1981: Worked the night shift as a charge nurse on the medical-surgical floor (up to 40 patients) with one other RN and two nursing assistants, performing medication administration, comfort cares, and dressing changes. Worked both the med/surg floor and the ICU for the last 6 months, performing med/surg duties until a med/surg replacement was found.

1981-1998: I worked the first six years as a night shift charge nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (up to six patients) with one other RN and one nursing assistant, and the next eleven years as the day shift ICU charge nurse. Some of my duties included cardiac IV titrations, cardiac, arterial, and CVP monitoring, and assisting the physician with Swan-Ganz, CVP line, arterial, and chest tube placement. For the final two years, I worked every other weekend in the ICU while working in the Cardiac Rehab department. In 1988, I received CCRN certification that I maintained for 30 years.

1992-2015: Worked the first 15 years in the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab and Wellness department as a staff nurse. Duties included evaluating patients post-MI and coronary disease, progressing pulmonary disease, and their spouses; prescribing disease-specific exercise and teaching plans; instructing and monitoring exercise plans; and reporting results to prescribing physicians. While in Cardiac Rehab, I became a BLS and ACLS instructor. I taught BLS to the community in hospital-sponsored classes and ACLS to hospital and outside medical facilities staff. I also taught hospital-sponsored aerobic classes for 2 years. For the final 8 years, I would additionally swing from Rehab to cardiac stress testing and pulmonary function testing. As the Rehab department was phased out, I continued with Cardiac Diagnostics duties, with the addition of working in Interventional Radiology and the Cardiac Cath Lab. In 2015, I negotiated with my manager to move to Cardiac Diagnostics as my sole department.

Achieved diving certifications from PADI Dive Master to MSDT (Master Scuba Diving Trainer). Taught classes of 8 (ages 16 to 60) with one other instructor. Instruction was performed in the classroom, swimming pool, and finally in open water (Ohio, Indiana, and Florida). I taught 5 different diving specialties and certified more than 100 divers.

Worked on-call night shift with one EMT and one driver to transport critical care patients from Clinton Memorial Hospital to more advanced specialty hospitals (Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati). Monitored and maintained patients with cardiac monitors, ET tubes, IV titration medications, external pacemakers, etc.

I worked in a 50-bed nursing home facility part-time (every other weekend) with two assistants. I provided medication administration and nighttime care for residents. I assessed and transported any residents with concerning changes as necessary.