Noel Armstrong

• Provide patient care in a 12-bed CVICU (as well as a sister-unit consisting of 14-beds) serving patients undergoing open-heart surgeries varying from CABGs and valvular replacements/repairs to IABP/LVAD/RVAD and ECMO placements. Both units also specialize in lung/heart transplantation.
• Extensive background in pre/intra/post operative care of heart and lung transplant patients
• Assist physicians in emergent situations including rapid intubations, ECMO cannulation and open chest codes
• Monitoring patient vital signs, interpreting EKG rhythms as well as ABGs and responding appropriately to changes
• Provide assistance and document procedures (chest tube insertions, CVC placements including Swan-Ganz, bronchoscopies, tracheotomies and more)
• Ensure patients and family are included in plans of care while providing emotional support and resources
• Serve as charge nurse which includes responsibilities including making patient assignments, delegating staffing, leading group huddles, and implementing safety/quality management projects
• Serve as preceptor for new graduate nurses for 12 week periods

This is a primary place of employment working full-time hours between travel contracts. During these periods, all of the above apply including roles as charge nurse and preceptor.

• Provided patient care in a 20-bed unit that included a population consisting of but not limited to postop CABGs, valve repairs/replacements, LVADs, ECMOs, IABPS, AAA/TAA repairs
• Weekly floats to NSU (neuro/surgical ICU) and TSICU (trauma/surgical ICU)
• Rapid intubations, emergent central linings (including swanz), and cardiac device insertions
• Open-chest procedures at bed
• Weekly floats to NSICU, TSICU, and PACU

• Provide patient care in a 14-bed MSICU
• Patient population including DKA, post-PCI, TTM, Impella/IABP devices, septic shock patients, and post-surgical patients of all specialties needing ICU care post-operatively

• Provide care to patients in 10-bed ICU treating patients with variety of critical diagnoses
• Administered continuous care to patients involved in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), sepsis, DKA, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
• Explained health care issues and ramifications to patients and families to promote informed medical care choices

• Provide patient care in 14-bed ICU
• Population consisting of COVID patients as well as general ICU patients with issues including DKA, STEMIs and strokes