Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Clinical Experience
Timeline
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Sarah Nowaski

Chicago,IL

Summary

Diligent nursing professional with proven success in emergency, cardiology, trauma, and critical care environments. Skilled at delivering high-quality patient care in dynamic, fast-paced settings while adapting to evolving patient needs and clinical priorities. Team-oriented and dependable, with advanced healthcare knowledge, exceptional communication abilities, and sound clinical judgment. Set to graduate as an AGACNP in May 2025, with a commitment to leveraging advanced practice skills to enhance patient outcomes and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience

Work History

Cardiac Catheterization Lab Registered Nurse

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
01.2024 - Current
  • Performs comprehensive patient assessments, including pre-procedure education, preparation and positioning for diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures in a fast-paced, team-oriented cath lab environment.
  • Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to execute emergency interventions, including STEMI activations and managing patients in critical cardiac events
  • Administers IV conscious sedation and vasoactive medications, closely monitors hemodynamic status and promptly alerts physicians to changes in patient condition
  • Assists in a wide range of procedures, such as Right and Left heart catheterizations, percutaneous coronary interventions, balloon pulmonary angioplasties, alcohol septal ablations, thrombectomies, PFO/ASD closures, pericardialcentesis, intraortic balloon pump insertions, Impella insertions and structural heart and valve replacement procedures.

ER/ICU Travel RN

St. Bernard's Hospital
01.2023 - Current
  • Assessed patient conditions by taking vital signs and evaluating symptoms to determine appropriate treatment.
  • Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
  • Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
  • Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
  • Provided culturally competent care for a wide range of patients within the diverse community

ER Travel RN

Texas Health Resources Arlington Memorial Hospital
08.2022 - 11.2022
  • Cared for patients in Emergent conditions such as cardiac arrests, stroke, and respiratory distress
  • Triaged patients according to acuity level ensuring care was provided in a timely manner
  • Provided psychiatric care for patients in acute psychiatric conditions
  • Educated patients and answered questions about health condition, prognosis, and treatment.

Charge RN Trauma ICU

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
08.2020 - 12.2022
  • Supervising 10 bed unit as Charge Nurse attending to details of staff assignments, patient care and
  • Run mass transfusion protocol under Belmont for Level 1 trauma activations and OB emergencies
  • Managed various medical equipment including EVD, Arterial lines, Bolts and open abdomen wound vacuum
  • Provided care for multisystem traumas including gun shot, stabbing, MVC and fall victims

ER Charge RN

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
10.2018 - 08.2022
  • Over 70 bed ER managing end codes, bed assignments, staff and patient care at Level 2 Trauma Center
  • Efficiently provided care to patients of differing acuity levels in a time-restricting and demanding environment
  • Administered and titrated critical IV medications such as Norepinephrine, Cardizem, Insulin and Propofol
  • Cared for a variety of patient conditions including traumas, cardiac arrests, strokes

ER Travel RN

University Of Texas Medical Branch
02.2022 - 04.2022
  • Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices at level 1 Trauma Center
  • Provided Emergency Medicine care for COVID-19 intubated, BiPAP, high-flow and nonrebreather patients
  • Compassionately provided end-of-life-care for patients and continued conversations with family members

RN

St. David’s Free Standing Emergency Center
10.2018 - 09.2019
  • Collaborated with condensed staff on site to provide efficient care to patients for a variety of complaints
  • Stabilized patients and arranged transport to appropriate facilities for inpatient admissions
  • Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.

Education

Masters of Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
05-2025

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Texas A&M Health Science Center
College Station, TX
08.2018

Skills

  • Certified in ACLS, BLS, and PALS
  • Certified in TNCC
  • TX compact license number: 953506
  • Illinois license number: 041543213
  • Trauma Level I & II Experience
  • Epic and Meditech EMR Systems
  • U/S guided IV administration
  • Trauma Nurse Team Lead
  • Nurse Preceptor
  • Charge Nurse in ED and Trauma ICU

Clinical Experience

General Cardiology Consult Service (Northwestern Memorial Hospital) 

  • Conducted comprehensive patient assessments, including history-taking, physical exams, and reviewing diagnostic data.
  • Presented cases to the cardiology team, contributing to diagnostic and treatment planning discussions.
  • Documented detailed and accurate patient notes in the electronic medical record (EMR), including recommendations and follow-up plans.

CTICU Anesthesia Team (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)

  • Performed preoperative and postoperative assessments for patients undergoing complex cardiac and thoracic surgeries.
  • Actively managed critically ill patients with advanced cardiac support devices, including ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), Impella, intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), and durable ventricular assist devices (VADs).
  • Collaborated with intensivists, anesthesiologists, and the broader care team to ensure safe and effective management of patients requiring advanced mechanical circulatory support.

Cardiology Outpatient Clinic (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)

  • Provided care to patients in a cardiology clinic setting, focusing on managing chronic cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
  • Educated patients on lifestyle modifications, medication adherence, and disease prevention strategies.
  • Assisted in interpreting diagnostic tests such as EKGs, stress tests, and echocardiograms to guide treatment.

Orthopedic Spine Surgery (Advanced Orthopedics and Spine Medicine)

  • Participated in the preoperative and postoperative management of patients undergoing spine and orthopedic surgeries.
  • Conducted thorough physical assessments, monitored for complications, and collaborated with surgical teams to address patient needs.
  • Coordinated discharge planning, including pain management strategies, mobility plans, and rehabilitation referrals.

Trauma Critical Care Team (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)

  • Assisted in the management of critically injured patients in a high-acuity trauma ICU setting.
  • Performed detailed trauma assessments, monitored hemodynamics, and contributed to treatment planning.
  • Gained experience in managing ventilators, chest tubes, and other critical care interventions.

Timeline

Cardiac Catheterization Lab Registered Nurse

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
01.2024 - Current

ER/ICU Travel RN

St. Bernard's Hospital
01.2023 - Current

ER Travel RN

Texas Health Resources Arlington Memorial Hospital
08.2022 - 11.2022

ER Travel RN

University Of Texas Medical Branch
02.2022 - 04.2022

Charge RN Trauma ICU

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
08.2020 - 12.2022

ER Charge RN

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
10.2018 - 08.2022

RN

St. David’s Free Standing Emergency Center
10.2018 - 09.2019

Masters of Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Texas Tech University

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Texas A&M Health Science Center
Sarah Nowaski