MARGARET IRVIN WARD

A genuine passion for nursing has driven my unwavering commitment to excellence. My mental health background and clinical experiences have cultivated a comprehensive skill set spanning various patient care sectors. As a behavioral technician, I implemented treatment plans for individuals on the autism spectrum and emphasized patient advocacy, my job's most meaningful aspect. Promoting their ability to live independently was a tremendously rewarding experience.
As a psychometrist, I assessed patients across the lifespan. This position necessitated accurate and timely documentation, cultivating my attention to detail and ability to communicate concisely yet efficiently. I also trained new hires, developed quality improvement plans, and served as my team's leader. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I assumed responsibility for more clinical duties. Alongside my position as a psychometrist, I updated testing materials to make them virtually accessible and managed the front desk.

Throughout my healthcare journey, I have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing my patients with the highest quality of care. My commitment to serve others has remained steadfast, making me confident that I have the qualifications and experience to succeed in your healthcare facility as a registered nurse.

I intend to establish myself as a competent nursing resident in the Emergency Department as soon as I graduate. Ultimately, I aim to become a leader in emergency nursing, setting an example for new and experienced nurses alike. For this reason, I am committed to proactively seeking out opportunities to gain new skills and knowledge, while using my current skills to contribute to the team in any way I can. I believe in compassionate, patient-centered care while striving for excellence in all that I do. My goal is to not only serve individual patients but also make a broader impact on the community and elevate the standards of the nursing profession.

Nursing means more than just providing medical care. It requires genuine listening, offering comfort, and advocating for patients. It also underscores the importance of perpetual learning and introspection. These highly esteemed attributes are vital to ensuring patient health that lasts. I am eager to uphold these same characteristics to make a lasting impact on the lives of those I serve.

With my clinical experience, I have developed a comprehensive skill set that encompasses a wide range of patient care areas, including geriatrics, emergency care, community health, medicine, surgery, and mental health. As a result of these positions, I have consistently applied critical skills such as keen assessment, precise documentation, seamless interprofessional collaboration, and rigorous evaluation.With this understanding in place, I have perfected my approach to nursing. I begin each shift with a thorough assessment, including a review of the patient's medical history, allergies, and specific health concerns. In light of this understanding, I tailor my interventions based on clinical manifestations, lab results, and input from patients and my colleagues.

Following each shift, I have developed detailed patient care plans that reflect clear and measurable objectives aligned with specific patient needs. This is part of my commitment to self-reflection and continuous learning. The ability to understand the nuances of each patient's particular circumstances enables me to provide the best possible care to my patients. I am committed to continuing to do so, no matter my expertise.

My practice has also been guided by safety principles, which encompass proactive measures to prevent adverse events such as falls, pressure injuries, aspiration, and infection control, among others. In order to maintain patient safety, I diligently monitor and address potential risks. This same concern for their physical safety applies to their personal data security. My experience in various hospitals has strengthened my ability to navigate electronic medical records, such as EPIC, Meditech, and Kareo, which has contributed to my ability to confidently adhere to legal and ethical data management standards, no matter the setting. I strive to ensure that patient information is stored securely and handled with the utmost respect and discretion. This demonstrates my dedication to fostering a respectful, trust-based relationship with patients.

My ability to establish an honest relationship with patients has been enhanced by my interpersonal skills. These interpersonal skills also reflect my appreciation for interprofessional collaboration, a critical component of improving patient outcomes. This collaborative effort ensures consistent monitoring and care. It involves a diverse team of healthcare professionals, such as respiratory therapists, wound care nurses, physical therapists, lab technicians, and other specialists. My ability to communicate effectively, anticipate tasks, and seamlessly assist multiple specialists with various procedures has significantly contributed to comprehensive client care. This collaborative approach has consistently yielded positive results in all aspects of my professional development.

In all, my diverse clinical background has equipped me to provide a wide range of high-quality patient care services, which have proven instrumental in ensuring my patients' success. My commitment to serving others has remained steadfast throughout my healthcare journey. This makes me confident that I have the qualifications and experience to succeed wherever my next healthcare opportunity leads me.

1. Patient-Centered Care

• Genuinely seeking to understand and value the perspectives of others, creates an environment that encourages open communication and mutual respect. My community health course reinforced that working as a nurse requires a deep commitment to cultural competence and open-mindedness. Understanding and respecting diverse perspectives and backgrounds is essential for providing patient-centered care. In addition, I have realized how important it is to take proactive measures in addressing social determinants of health, as they influence health outcomes dramatically. As a nurse, understanding social determinants of health has aided me in conducting more comprehensive patient assessments. By recognizing and considering these factors, I can proactively address potential barriers to healthcare access and outcomes, ultimately providing more effective and patient-centered care

2. Quality Improvement

• While preparing for my afternoon rounds, I was reading up on each of my patient's recent vitals. While reviewing the notes on my patient who was admitted for extremely high blood pressure, I noticed his most recent BP was 194/105. I knew that since my supervising nurse (the charge nurse) had been in a meeting for the last hour, she likely was unaware. I rushed to the patient’s room to assess his status. This caused me great concern regarding the effectiveness of the floor's communication. When I reported back to my nurse, I brought up my concerns and inquired about communication routes that may be more effective.

3. Safety

• In my experience on the IMC floor, I encountered a patient with a history of cirrhosis, which had progressed to hepatic encephalopathy. Based on their status, I identified a range of critical nursing diagnoses, including fluid/electrolyte imbalance, risk for injury related to altered mental status, and risk for aspiration secondary to an EGD. I needed to ensure close monitoring of the patient due to potential complications, but simultaneously, it was imperative to uphold her dignity and privacy. By thoughtfully leaving her door open with curtains drawn, I demonstrated a practical application of my theoretical knowledge—strategically balancing patient safety with privacy.
• I regularly ambulated patients recovering from surgery. To maintain their safety, I used a gait belt and tightened it enough to allow my dominant hand to properly grip under the strap. I also instructed them to notify me immediately if feeling light-headed, and how I would guide them to the floor in case of a fall. Lastly, while ambulating, I maintained a proper stance by walking slightly behind them and made sure to keep their IV lines secure and off the ground.

4. Team Work and Collaboration

• While working with my patient with hemophilia, I noticed two different lab technicians visited to draw blood. When the second technician came in, I informed her that my patient had already had lab work done and to reach out to the lab to re-confirm the orders. I didn’t want to cause any additional complications by drawing too much blood. Additionally, I aided in contacting the facility's PICC nurse to replace the patient’s peripheral IV with a midline catheter. Open communication and collaboration allowed me to ensure the safety and comfort of my patients.

5. Informatics

• My experience in various hospitals has strengthened my ability to navigate electronic medical records which has contributed to my ability to confidently adhere to legal and ethical data management standards, no matter the setting. I strive to ensure that patient information is stored securely and handled with the utmost respect and discretion. This demonstrates my dedication to fostering a respectful, trust-based relationship with patients.

6. Evidence-based Practice

• I applied evidence-based practice by explaining to my patient the importance of monitoring their blood sugar levels to preserve her kidney’s function. I told her how diabetes can contribute to chronic kidney disease, as uncontrolled high blood sugar damages the arteries within the kidneys. It has been proven that education provides the most effective means of ensuring patient compliance with nursing interventions.

7. Leadership

• Exhibiting leadership and management skills in conjunction with a keen understanding of safety principles is fundamental to ensuring a caring and secure environment for care delivery. While working at the IMC, I was entrusted with caring for a patient who was paralyzed. Given their unique challenges, notably the inability to utilize the call button or reposition their supplemental oxygen, I took proactive measures to secure their safety and attend to their ADLs. Furthermore, when confronted with the issue of the patient's nasal cannula frequently slipping off — leading to a concerning SpO2 drop to 82% on one occasion — I exercised leadership by taking decisive action. My preceptor was in a meeting, so I had to intervene alone at first. I promptly re-oxygenated the patient and notified other nurses who were available. After restoring their oxygenation status, I took the initiative to apply padding behind their ears and under the nasal cannula to prevent dislodging. To further guarantee patient safety, I adopted a rigorous routine, making rounds every 30 minutes. These actions not only underscored my commitment to safety but also demonstrated the active synthesis of leadership, management, and safety principles in my nursing practice. Through such proactive measures, I continuously strive to create a nurturing and safe care environment for all my patients.

• Certified Behavioral Technician, Trumpet Behavioral Health - 10/2017 - 10/2018
• Basic Life Support, American Heart Association - 07/2022 - 07/2024
• Mental Health First Aid Training, Integral Care - 03/2023 - 03/2026
• Opioid Education & Naloxone Administration Training, Texas A&M Health Opioid Taskforce, 02/2023
• Community Emergency Response Team, University of Utah: Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational & Environmental Health - 06/2023-06/2024