Malika Bourne

My paid* CDAC responsibilities are to do basic housework and bed baths.

My uncompensated* professional work is to manage and care for an adult with advanced Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis w/ tetrapalegia, optic neuritis, neurogenic bowel and bladder.

• Provided infection control and used universal precautions to dispose of waste. Maintain/change catheters, observe for kidney stones / infections and irrigate w/ RX medications.
• Administer new Scub Q MS injection observing side effects. Communicate with Neurologist and Pharmacist.
• Maintain and treat skin integrity of bed bound patient. Positioning in bed Hoyer Lift transfer to wheelchair.
• Vital signs, alert to intake and output.
• Manage and provided direct care for family member with bathing, dressing, undressing and transferring in and out of bed with Hoyer lift, reading/responding mail, insurance forms, food stamp and other funds/ resources in the community.
• Prepare therapeutic diet.
• Communication with all attending physicians and case managers to advocate for patients health and emergent needs.
• Schedule/organize appointments and paratransit transportation. Order/ request medical supplies and repairs.

• Administered prescribed medication and treatment as permitted by state and local regulations in accordance with physician orders.
• Changed out tracheostomies, gastrostomy buttons and catheters regularly to prevent infection or other problems.
• Educated clients and families to support wellness activities, self-care techniques and prevention strategies.
• Demonstrated clinical competence in administering care to support physician orders, nursing care plan and policies.
• Prepared visit notes, updated and summarized client records and conferred with health care disciplines in providing coordinated client care.

Please note: I cared for this client in other settings in Iowa previous to this position as well as other clients requiring skilled nursing in their homes.

• Trained teaching staff in First Aid and CPR, infection control standards, following procedures and safety protocols at 15 centers in 5 Iowa counties.
• Documented preschool students vision, hearing, dental, and immunization records.
• Communicated with Immunization Clinics and WIC to assist parents.
• Documented all elements of confidential files re child psych/ growth/ development to reflect interventions applied and observations.
• Worked with interdisciplinary healthcare team to develop, implement and manage care plans, ensuring inclusion of childs' individual needs and family.
• Implemented age appropriate teaching plans on environmental safety, infection control including hand washing, and tooth brushing.
• Identified needs of parents then implemented informal classes: head lice, managing colds and fevers, how to talk to a doctor and be heard, identifying infections, community resources.
• Arranged with the heads of U of Ia Hospitals and clinics departments Pro Bono work for surgeries.

*Please note that many of the children and parents at Head Start groups had been my OB/NB patients or I had referred then to Head Start from Hospital School. My jobs often crossed over and had a long relationship with Head Start from volunteering to teaching assistant prior to this nurse position.

• Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
• Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to deliver safe and efficient care.
• Worked within health care team to identify knowledge deficits, implement individualized patient teaching r/t care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to safe an appropriate recovery goals.
• Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
• Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
• Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
• Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring and specimen collection.
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
• Identified patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with patients and families.
• Gathered patient health data through interviews and observation, documenting data in electronic records.
• Promoted patient independence by teaching self-care skills.
• Identified learning needs of patients and families and responded with advocacy and health education.
• Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence.
• Assessed medical status of patients pre- and post-operation by checking vital parameters and supervising food intake.
• Formulated plans for nursing measures to restore, maintain and promote patients' physical and mental health.
• Collected blood, tissue and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing.
• Managed elements of patient care from admission to discharge or transfer to other units.
• Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic and cognitive status of patients.
• Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care and discharge instructions.
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
• Minimized hospital stays with recovery-centered approaches, reducing average in-patient stay length.
• Verified patients had information necessary for ongoing care, providing guidance on diagnoses, management of medications and prevention methods.
• Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
• Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel deliver safe and efficient care.
• Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.