Lauren Ricks

Delivered psychiatric care to adolescent and adult units. Assessed and managed medication regimens. Provided counseling, therapeutic communication, and support to patients. Collaborated with treatment team to ensure comprehensive care.

• Administered psychiatric care to patients, including mental health assessments, admissions, discharges, inpatient care, and charge nurse responsibilities.
• Administered prescribed medications and monitored patient progress to ensure that treatment plans were successful.
• Developed effective relationships and their families to promote trust and understanding.

Provided in-home care for former Department of Energy and/or Atomic Workers who acquired an illness from their former occupation.

• Provided individualized care according to their illness.
• Oversight of other RNs, LPNs to ensure proper care, charting, and completion of in-home visits.
• Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
• Referred patients to specialized health resources or community agencies to furnish additional assistance.
• Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.

• Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
• Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
• Administered oral, IV and intra-muscular medications and monitored patient reactions.
• Conducted specified laboratory tests to help detect conditions and determine diagnosis.
• Interpreted and evaluated diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition.
• Implemented accurate and timely documentation in electronic client medical records.

• Completed unit rounds with a multidisciplinary team to formulate management plans.
• Reviewed patient health history and daily data to inform care plan decisions.
• Completed admissions, ongoing NICU, newborn, and postpartum care.
• Recorded patient condition, vital signs, recovery progress and medication side effects.
• Educated caregivers on post-discharge requirements and continuous care.
• Documented fluid intake and output of patients to identify emerging issues, such as electrolyte imbalances.
• Administered medications and treatments, monitoring patients for reactions and side effects.
• Worked closely with interdisciplinary medical team to continuously evaluate and update patients' treatment plans.
• Collected lab specimens, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and lab results.
• Oriented to and cared for pediatric patients.
• Monitored patients after surgery, answered questions and provided home care strategies.

• Oversaw NICU team and schedule.
• Participated in leading Perinatal and Staff Meetings.
• Conducted interviews, direct involvement with staff hiring process.
• Organized Level 3 NICU build and purchasing new equipment, supplies.
• Assisted in NICU construction oversight and attended related meetings.

• NICU and labor-trained RN with charge nurse responsibilities.
• Worked in a Level 2 NICU and completed various skills: newborn resuscitation, physical assessment of the newborn, medication administration, lab draws, caring for admitted CCN infants, and preparing infants for newborn transports. Assisted NNP's and pediatricians with various procedures: lumbar punctures, needle aspiration, UAC/UVS lines, intubation of the newborn, surfactant administration.
• Labor trained in October 2008. Cared for patients utilizing knowledge in: VBAC, PIH, GDM, non-medicated maternal deliveries. Completed skills such as physical assessment of laboring woman, fetal monitoring, fetal scalp placement, performing sterile vaginal exams, and triaging for active labor. Started and monitored inductions, such as low and high dose pitocin, cytotec, cervidil, and foley balloons. Assisted in caring for patients with precipitous labors, vacuum and forcep deliveries, prolonged rupture of membranes/chorioamnionitiis, internal monitoring, post-partum hemorrhage, and assessing for spontaneous rupture of membranes.
• Utilized holistic and therapeutic care for fetal demises.
• Circulated in cesarean sections.
• Provided care for postpartum patients and well baby infants.

• Worked in a Level 3 NICU and completed the following skills: Physical assessment of the newborn, medication administration such a dopamine, narcotics, and insulin, TPN and lipid administration, lab draws, mixing breast mild to increased calorie content, bottle-feeding preemie infants.
• Assisted on-unit respiratory therapists with intubation, ventillator monitoring, cpap administration and care, nasal cannula application and monitoring.