Michelle Zorawowicz

• Trained and mentored nursing staff on best practices in what to recognize for patients who may need additional testing or clearance's based on the Pre Admission interview.
• Work daily with the anesthesia providers to review cases based on patient health history and acuity.
• Coordinated staff schedules, ensuring adequate coverage and minimizing overtime expenses.
• Evaluated nursing performance by sitting with staff during interviews and providing constructive feedback to identify areas of improvement to "tighten up" the interview.
• Mentored new nursing staff, fostering a supportive learning environment that resulted in increased retention rates.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for improved patient outcomes and streamlined processes. Daily communication with ASU and PACU Clinical Nurse Coordinators to review upcoming patients and who may need special considerations either Pre op or Post op.
• Collaborated with medical staff in the development of individualized care plans, ensuring that patients received the most appropriate treatment based on their specific needs and preferences.
• Daily communication the day before surgery with surgeons to report what is needed for patients (H and P updates etc) who are having surgery the next day to avoid delays getting into the OR on time.
• I continue to enjoy conducting patient interviews. I give each patient my direct line should they have any questions after the phone call which has resulted in an increase in patient satisfaction in surgical services.

Cared for patients, including those who were critically ill. Cared for all patients from those who were intubated to those who were to be discharged home same day. I joined the PACU team as a novice after 10 years on Med/Surg and grew to be confident in my critical care skills and my ability to quickly recognize an immediate change in my patient while in the PACU. This knowledge came from my ability to quickly recognize patient decline in the med/surg environment. I learned the role of charge nurse and preceptor while in PACU before transferring to Pre Admission Testing. I also earned the Daisy Award based on several patient and family recommendations while in PACU.

As a novice nurse I worked hard to improve my skills. I soon became a charge nurse and preceptor. I developed strong critical thinking skills. I worked well with the team and encouraged growth in my coworkers. I was a "new grad" in 1996 at the age of 34. Nursing is my second career and my true passion. I have always encouraged and mentored new nurses. I came into nursing during the "eat the young" generation. I suffered at the hand of this. I never perpetrated it.