Maria Victoria "Avic" Aquino

Lead Clinical Nurse/RN III Pediatric OR

• Assumed the role of Weekend OR Charge Nurse since 2010. Worked collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams (Adult and Peds)
• Expedited OR cases as Charge Nurse especially during weekends.
• Coordinated seamless transitions between levels of care (Preop, Intra Op, Post Op) by communicating effectively with surgery and anesthesia.
• Served as a clinical resource for staff, offering guidance on best practices and troubleshooting difficult OR cases to ensure high-quality care delivery.

* Created a Pediatric Transplant and Organ

Procurement Resource Binder.

• Championed infection control measures within the unit, contributing to the prevention of the spread COVID and improved patient and staff safety - April, 2020

* Drafted an OR Clinical Pathway for pediatric

COVID+ patients in a Negative Pressure Room.

* Developed an Airborne Quick Check Sign

* Customized a Mini COVID+ Cart.

• Participated in quality improvement initiatives, analyzing data trends and implementing changes that led to increased efficiency in care delivery processes.

* Created and customized the Pediatric Count Board

(Double sided, flippable to cater to complex, transplant

cases.

* Developed and implemented the SSTOP (Service

Specific Time Out Process) using AV integration for the

Pediatric OR.

* Created a safety video on Proper Handling of Iced

Saline during organ transplantation.

• Spearheaded the Transplant transition to ZBOR4. Assumed the role of Pediatric Transplant specialty resource nurse and trained the team to scrub and circulate transplant cases.
• Managed doctor's preference cards for Trauma and Transplant services.
• Managed Successfactors second managers- assigned staff members, and employee
• Reviewed HERO reports
• Promoted a positive work environment, fostering open communication among team members and developing camaraderie.

* Created and directed Safety videos for the OR

Rules for Safety, Welcome To Peds OR, and

Preventable Injuries in Pediatrics.

• Streamlined patient flow by effectively coordinating with interdisciplinary teams and prioritizing tasks based on urgency.

* Updated the Pediatric OR Guidelines for Leveling

Urgent Emergent Cases in collaboration with Dr. Nick
Dalesio

• Modified and drafted the Pediatric OR Mass Casualty Incident Action Plan for the OR Charge Nurse
• COMMITTEES

* Nursing Clinical Practice

* Specimen policy update

* JHHS Structured Communication

* PIPS

* PeriOp Mass Casualty Preparedness Council

* Peds OR CUSP

* Transplant Workflow

• Mentored new nurses (to run as Charge) through preceptorship programs, facilitating their transition into the clinical setting while enhancing their professional growth.

OR Nurse Clinician IIE

• Assumed the Weekend OR Charge Nurse and expedited urgent/emergent cases accordingly
• Promoted a culture of safety by adhering to established policies, procedures, and guidelines for patient care delivery across the organization.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members for comprehensive patient surgical plans, improving overall outcomes.
• Utilized strong critical thinking skills in making clinical decisions that best supported overall health outcomes for pediatric patients served
• Managed complex caseloads on the weekends with limited resources
• Mentored RNIII nurses to run charge on the weekends, sharing clinical expertise to strengthen their skills and knowledge base during the weekends
• Evaluated effectiveness of current nursing practices through continuous quality improvement initiatives, leading to enhanced patient satisfaction levels.

* Created a Pediatric OR RN Checklist

* Developed S.O.R.T. Stickers to track down

lost/misplaced items in the OR (specimens, surgical

instruments, implants)

* Designed and customized the ECMO Cart to improve

response time during emergencies.

• Provided skilled, timely and level-headed surgical response during urgent/emergent cases.

* Streamlined the Pediatric Emergency Carts

(GPS, Laparoscopy, ENT, Neuro/VP Shunt, Plastics,

Ortho)

• Assumed the role of the Interim Pediatric Cardiac Lead. Initiated the competency training and development of pediatric cardiac nurses and scrub technicians.

* Developed a pre and post test to new members of

the cardiac team.

* Improved the Cardiac Competency Tool for

based on the level of complexity of cases.

OR Charge Nurse

• Set up ORs the night before
• Created surgeon's preference kardex
• Pulled supplies and instrument sets for scheduled cases.
• Conducted staff huddles and designated room assignments.
• Continuously updated professional knowledge, participating in ongoing training opportunities and workshops.

* Attended Neurosurgical Nurse Program (October

2005

* 1st Runner Up, Nursing Quiz Bee Nurses Week

Celebration

• Contributed to a positive work atmosphere by fostering teamwork and open communication among colleagues.
• Streamlined workflow by coordinating closely with the anesthesia team during induction and emergence phases.
• Assisted surgeons during operations, ensuring smooth transitions between steps and minimizing errors.
• Washed, assembled, packed, and processed instrument sets for next day (steam, sterrad, EO gas)
• Assumed the role of Perioperative Nurse (PON) to deliver comprehensive patient centered care

* Conducted patient preop visit the night before

* Gave preop instructions

* Monitored patient's intraoperative phase

* Performed post op visits for three days

• Improved patient safety with thorough knowledge of emergency protocols and crisis management skills.

* Ozone Disco Fire Tragedy

• Successfully managed multiple cases simultaneously, demonstrating adaptability under high-pressure situations.

Grade D Theatre Staff Nurse

• Contributed to a positive work atmosphere by fostering teamwork and open communication among colleagues.
• Streamlined workflow by coordinating closely with the anesthesia team during induction and emergence phases.
• Assisted (scrubs and circulates) surgeons during operations, ensuring smooth transitions between steps and minimizing errors. (Adult Orthopedic, ENT, Ophthalmology cases)
• Assumed the additional roles of implant and equipment specialist.

Nurse Corps Officer First Lieutenant

• Utilized strong leadership skills as a charge nurse; supervised nursing staff while managing clinical operations and patient flow within the unit.

* Worked in MICU, Emergency Department,

Orthopedic Unit, and Operating rooms.

• Streamlined medical and surgical processes by implementing standardized documentation procedures, improving efficiency and accuracy of records management.
• Completed extensive probationary and basic military training (Tactics, navigation, ammunitions, field training exercise, POWs, marksmanship, rappelling)
• Completed Basic Nursing Clinicals.
• Completed training in combat mass casualty care and applied lifesaving interventions.