Sandra Ramirez Bocanegra

Assigned to Corpus Christi Medical Center at Bay Area Hospital and Doctors Regional in the Intensive Care Units.

I was assigned to Corpus Christi Medical Center, Doctor's Regional Hospital to multiple Intensive Care Units including COVID ICU.

Accepted a short contract, 4 week assignment with Nomad Health to help with staffing in the critical care units. Worked in all of the ICU units at Methodist hospital.

Travel COVID CRISIS RESPONDER. I was assigned to the COVID ICU at St Luke's Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, TX. My role included taking care of COVID patients. I closely monitored my patient's respiratory status which oftentimes escalated from nasal cannula to intubation. Intubated patients required IV sedation and paralytics. Oftentimes they also required IV drips to maintain their blood pressure. Communication with the doctors was essential to make sure we were doing all we could to save lives. COVID patients also had a schedule for being in a prone position up to 12-18 hours at a time. A role I took pride in was being my patient's support system in a time when patients couldn't have visitors as well as being the support system for the family when they couldn't be with their loved one in the hospital. Although sad, it was a privilege to be in a position where I could be there for those who needed a smile, a gentle touch and words of encouragement.

Travel COVID CRISIS RESPONDER at JPS Hospital. My responsibilities included caring mainly for COVID patients in the ICU. Managed mechanical vents, IV drips, pain and sedation protocols, infection control measures, communicated with doctors and other teams on patient's behalf, monitored labs, vital signs and radiology reports. Communicated with patient and family members. Followed proning protocols as well.

Shoreline Neuro ICU/Memorial MICU Responsible for direct patient care, closely monitoring for any changes in condition stroke management, Nuero surgical care such as craniotomies, EVD drains, aneurysm coiling and clippings. Not to exclude hemodynamic monitoring, Medication/IV therapy, central lines, arterial lines, intake and output, intubated patients, sedation and pain management, telemetry monitoring, infection control measures, patient education and documentation. Communicate with Physicians and members of other disciplines for continuity of care including families.

Outpatient recovery nurse for patients who had procedures such as colonscopies, EGD's , esophageal dilations, etc. Monitored post/op vital signs and patient's response to sedation. Discussed with patient and family post op education, discharge instructions and safety measures.

Worked closely with recruiters for onboarding. I was responsible for new hire processing for all 6 campuses which included: drug screening, administering all necessary immunizations, TB testing, N95 masks fit testing and education. Made sure all was documented accordingly and had all files JACHO ready. I worked closely with health nurses from our other CHRISTUS Spohn facilities and assisted with work-related injuries and back to work processes.

As a PRN Psychiatric nurse, I was available to help with staffing when needed. My duties included direct patient care, medication administration and education, vital signs, charting and maintaining safety precautions and a therapeutic environment.

Working with Staffing pool, I was available to all the Psychiatric units including Child/Adolescent, Crisis Stabilization unit (CSU) , and Geriatrics. My duties included direct patient care, used the nursing process accordingly, communicated with Physicians and members of other disciplines for continuity of care. I was primarily responsible for medication administration, pain management, treatments, finger sticks, insulin administration, etc. on all patients and documenting accordingly. Working in psychiatry, I became efficient in paying close attention to detail in order to make sure that safety with the patients and staff was of highest priority. During this time, I was able to work with and learn from a wide variety of generations from geriatrics, adults, adolescents and children.

My duties included direct patient care with children & adolescents. Other responsibilities assigned to me were safe medication administration, monitoring for any side effects, medication education in group settings and individually, and implemented nursing process accordingly. I learned a lot about behaviors, therapeutic measures, safety, along with how to recognize escalating behaviors and deescalating measures.

This being my first year of nursing, I had endless opportunities for growth. I learned how to be proficient in starting IVs, helping with procedures such as Lumbar Punctures, and applying the nursing process accordingly. I was responsible for direct patient care, head to toe assessments, safe medication administration, IV therapy, documentation, and communicating with families, nurses, and physicians.