Lauren duCharme
Sioux Falls,SD
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
Sanford Health
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
07.2024 - Current
- Delivering comprehensive care to critically ill patients across three different ICUs; a 12-bed surgical/trauma ICU, 12-bed neuro ICU, and a 28-bed medical/cardiac ICU.
- Formal preceptor who mentors new nurses and students on ICU protocols and critical care practices.
- Performance Improvement Elect & Chair. This includes auditing current policies and procedures in addition to completing two evidence-based practice projects each year to improve our patient outcomes.
- Serving as a SAFE coach. This is an informal leadership position to coach colleagues in policies and best practices.
Nurse Intern
Essentia Health
Fargo, ND
05.2023 - 08.2023
- Learned foundational nursing skills in the Cardiac Intermediate Care Unit. Such as assessments, IV starts, medication administration, and critical thinking.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota05-2024
Skills
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
- External Ventricular Device
- Impella device
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
- Post-Op CABG
- Medication, administration, and titration of high priority medications
Accomplishments
- AACN National & Siouxland Chapter member
- Advanced Neuro Trained
- CRRT Trained
- Open Heart Trained
Certification
Registered Nurse (RN): SD, R058955, Exp 2027-06-11
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), Exp. 2029-01-29 Score: 104/125
- Basic Life Support (BLS), Exp. 2027-01
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Exp. 2026-11
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), Exp. 2028-12
- National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Exp 2026-07
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Sanford Health
07.2024 - Current
Nurse Intern
Essentia Health
05.2023 - 08.2023
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of North Dakota
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
Orchestrated and implemented an evidence-based practice change at Sanford Health USD Medical Center.
- Medication Administration Record (MAR) action titled “HandOff.” This action requires dual verification of high-risk medication infusions during shift changes and unit transfers, ensuring alignment between documented orders and actual infusion rates.
- Created to mitigate the risk of medication errors during transitions of care, particularly involving high-risk intravenous infusions which pose significant threats to patient safety.
University of Iowa 33rd National Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Conference poster presenter
- Abstract titled “Enhancing Safety in High-Risk Medication Infusions Through Dual Verification at Shift and Unit Transitions”
- Sanford USD Medical Center Nurse Residency EBP project
CRNA Shadow Experience
Lamb Plastic Surgery Center, Fargo, ND
- 16 hrs - 3/31/25 & 4/1/25
Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD
- 8 hrs - 8/13/25
Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD
- 16 hrs - 12/1/25 & 12/18/28
Total: 40 Hours
Awards and Recognitions
- Florence Nightingale Nurse Award Nominee, March 2026 - Recognizes nurses for outstanding involvement in the practice of the art and science of nursing - as evidenced by strength of character, commitment and competence that has been recognized by their peers as an outstanding asset to the community, nursing profession and the Sanford Health organization
- Daisy Nomination, April 2025 – Recognized by a patient’s daughter, for showing compassion, respect and strong communication skills during her mothers end of life care.
- Lillian Elsinga Outstanding Student Leader Award, April 2021 - This award recognizes UND students who have exhibited exceptional leadership skills through their campus involvement, volunteer service efforts, on-campus employment, or other life experiences