Lena Townsend

• Assess patients and develop personalized care plans
• Educate patients/caregivers on disease processes, medication management, wound care, ostomy management, catheter management, IV/PICC line management, etc
• Monitor, collect, and document patient’s condition, vital signs, and progress electronically in HomeCare HomeBase on work-provided tablet
• Coordinate with healthcare teams (including Branch Director, Clinical Managers, Schedulers, and other disciplines), as well as patient’s physicians
• Advocate for patient needs and provide support
• Ensure compliance with HIPPA regulations and maintain documentation, including OASIS
• Provide skilled nursing services, including: wound care, negative wound pressure therapy management, ostomy site care & management, indwelling urinary catheter management & changes, PEG tube management, PleurX chest tube system management & draining, IV/PICC line site care & management, collection of labwork including venipuncture, etc

• Assess patients and develop personalized care plans
• Educate patients/caregivers on disease processes, medication management, wound care, ostomy management, catheter management, IV/PICC line management, etc
• Monitor, collect, and document patient’s condition, vital signs, and progress electronically in HomeCare HomeBase on work-provided tablet
• Coordinate with healthcare teams (including Branch Director, Clinical Managers, Schedulers, and other disciplines), as well as patient’s physicians
• Advocate for patient needs and provide support
• Ensure compliance with HIPPA regulations and maintain documentation, including OASIS
• Provide skilled nursing services, including: wound care, negative wound pressure therapy management, ostomy site care & management, indwelling urinary catheter management & changes, PEG tube management, PleurX chest tube system management & draining, IV/PICC line site care & management, collection of labwork including venipuncture, etc

- Assess patients, monitor vital signs, and evaluate cardiac symptoms.

- Educate patients on heart conditions, medications, and lifestyle changes.

- Assist with diagnostic tests (EKGs, etc) and monitor results.

- Administer medications, perform phlebotomy, and prep patients for procedures in the in-office procedure lab.

- Assist in cardiac procedures (peripheral arteriograms and venograms, cardioversions, vein procedures, etc).

- Document patient care, schedule appointments & surgical procedures, handle phone triage, review patients’ lab results and necessary documents, etc.

- RN Charge Nurse/Bedside Nurse on a very busy Cardiac ICU, with ongoing high census of critically ill patients.

- Served as a Nursing Preceptor, training new employees on the unit, as well as a preceptor for nursing students during clinical rotations

- Monitor vital signs, heart rhythms, and respond quickly to emergencies.

- Administer critical medications and adjust treatments per protocol or as the patient’s condition indicates.

- Provide post-surgical care for cardiac procedures, including CABG, Fem-Pop Bypass, Cardiac Catheterizations & Arteriograms, Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps, removal of arterial & venous sheaths post-arteriogram, Chest Tubes, Ventilators, Cardioversions, etc.

- Manage advanced life support devices (e.g., ventilators, Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps, Impella, chest tubes, etc).

- Collaborate with the healthcare team and update families on patient’s status and condition

- Educate patients and families on recovery, heart condition management, medication management, lifestyle changes, etc.

- Respond to emergencies, including cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and lethal arrhythmias (VTach, VFib, PEA, Asystole)

- Document care in Meditech and electronic medication administration record (eMAR)

- Ensure compliance with HIPPA regulations and hospital protocols

- Provide end-of-life education & support, as well as post-mortem care.