Mary Lou Almares

I worked as a Telemetry Nurse at various local hospitals, including Kern Medical and Bakersfield Heart Hospitals and currently working at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.

• Managed emergency care situations, applying critical thinking and rapid decision-making skills.
• Achieved departmental goals and objectives by instituting new processes and standards for in-patient care.
• Trained other nurses on patient care and daily tasks, supporting growth and professional development.
• Administered medications according to physician orders and monitored for effectiveness.
• Monitored and reported changes in patient conditions to appropriate healthcare professionals promptly.
• Demonstrated excellent customer service skills while interacting with all levels of staff members and patients and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
• Adapted to different hospital units and practices, demonstrating flexibility and resilience.
• Performed vital signs monitoring including temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate and blood pressure measurements.
• Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
• Participated in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care and satisfaction.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to ensure quality patient care was provided throughout the continuum of care.
• Provided direct patient care to patients in various specialties such as cardiac, oncology, neurology, and surgery.
• Conducted patient assessments, including monitoring vital signs and identifying potential health issues.
• Initiated emergency interventions as needed based on changes in condition or critical lab values.
• Provided leadership support for other nurses through mentorship programs or educational opportunities.
• Observed strict safety measures, including checking medication dosages before administration to patients.

Working in the Med-Surg/Telemetry Unit, but also floats to the Sub-acute Unit to take care of patients with long term tracheostomy and PEG tubes. Administers medications, tracks dosages, and documents patient conditions. Assesses patient needs, prioritize treatment, maintains patient flows and assists physicians with non-invasive procedures. Coordinates outpatient follow up appointments for the residents when in the sub-acute care unit.

• Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
• Maintained current knowledge of healthcare trends, standards of care, treatments, drugs and therapies used in the field of Telemetry nursing.
• Achieved departmental goals and objectives by instituting new processes and standards for in-patient care.
• Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
• Collaborated with health groups to plan or implement programs designed to improve overall health of communities.
• Coordinated discharge planning to ensure continuity of care post-hospitalization.
• Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
• Initiated appropriate action during code blue situations.
• Monitored diet, physical activity, behaviors and other patient factors to assess conditions and adjust treatment plans.
• Educated patients on health conditions and promoted better nutrition and holistic stress relief methods.
• Participated in quality improvement initiatives within the unit.
• Educated patients on their condition and medications while providing emotional support.
• Provided care to patients in a variety of settings, including critical care units, medical-surgical units, and emergency departments.
• Provided emotional support to patients and their families during difficult times.
• Performed ECG monitoring and interpretation of cardiac rhythms.
• Administered medications in proper dosages as detailed by physicians on patient charts.
• Observed strict safety measures, including checking medication dosages before administration to patients.
• Utilized telemetry to monitor patients cardiac status.
• Conducted specified laboratory tests to help detect conditions and determine diagnosis.
• Monitored medications and reviewed lab results.
• Supervised activities of licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants.

• Maintained corporate responsibility by staying up-to-date with laws affecting human resource training programs.
• Led training classes and recorded instruction for later use.
• Developed new training programs in compliance with company and government standards.
• Developed and implemented staff training programs to ensure employee competency in job duties.
• Collaborated with senior management to develop long-term strategies for organizational growth.
• Conducted evaluations of training courses to uncover areas in need of improvement.
• Provided guidance, mentorship, and support to all staff members.
• Identified opportunities for personal and professional development of individual employees through assessments and interviews.
• Worked closely with Human Resources department in creating a positive working environment for employees across all departments.
• Coordinated team leader motivational initiatives to incentivize professional growth and program improvements.
• Planned and led training programs on staff development to enhance employee knowledge, engagement, satisfaction and performance.
• Ensured compliance with government regulations related to employee education requirements.
• Conducted performance reviews for employees and provided feedback on areas of improvement.
• Planned, organized, and facilitated seminars, workshops, conferences, webinars related to staff development topics.
• Assisted with onboarding new employees by conducting orientation and company-wide or job-specific training.
• Monitored training costs to maintain training budget.

• Evaluated patients, recognized and addressed complications and coordinated treatment with other members of critical care team.
• Recorded patient condition, vital signs, recovery progress and medication side effects.
• Provided emotional support and counseling to patients and their families.
• Observed strict safety measures, including checking medication dosages before administration to patients.
• Monitored vital signs, administered injections, and provided assistance with medical procedures.
• Actively participated in quality improvement initiatives within the department.
• Administered oral, IV and intra-muscular medications and monitored patient reactions.

• Accompanied clients to doctors' offices and on other trips outside home, providing transportation,
• Dressed, groomed and fed patients with limited physical abilities to support basic needs.
• Prepared meals according to prescribed dietary needs and monitored food intake of assigned patients.

• Dressed, groomed and fed a patient with Cerebral Palsy who has limited physical abilities to support basic needs.
• Helped clients stay happy and healthy by providing mental and emotional support.
• Organized and administered medications on schedules to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.