Sarah Smith

2021-current Preop/Pacu Nurse manager

Staff Nurse from 2016-2021

• Administered patient care in pre-operative and post-operative settings to ensure safety and comfort.
• Directed nursing staff to ensure compliance with best practices and regulatory standards.
• Mentored nursing team, fostering professional development and improving overall team performance.
• Analyzed patient outcomes to identify areas for quality improvement initiatives.
• Conducted performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to support professional growth of nursing staff members.
• Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Ensured regulatory compliance by maintaining accurate records and staying up-to-date on industry standards.
• Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, physicians, and patients by leveraging clinical judgment and unit management expertise.
• Established and continuously optimized unit schedules and individual work assignments.
• Collaborated with surgical teams to prepare operating rooms and maintain sterile environments.
• Monitored patient vital signs, reporting changes to physicians for timely interventions.
• Educated patients and families on post-operative care plans and recovery expectations.
• Assist physicians with bedside procedures such as nerve blocks and manipulations under anesthesia.
• Start multiple IV's per day and administer medication if needed.
• Mentored junior nurses, fostering skills development and adherence to best practices in nursing care.

• Schedule patients for and carry out pre admission testing (perform EKG, draw blood work, order chest x-rays, schedule pre op clearance)
• Prepare patients for surgery (Vital signs, IV access, Shave/Prep area, Patient education, Mix and administer IV antibiotics on call to OR)
• Assist Anesthesiologist with nerve block to manage patients post-operative pain
• Recover patients after knee/shoulder arthroscopies, Rotator Cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, Pacemaker, Laminectomy, Spinal cord stimulators, Vertebroplasties
• Assist with Epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablations, facet blocks
• Manage and order supplies, linen
• Manage pharmacy, supervising expiration dates and ordering from various distributers
• Perform monthly maintenance of code/malignant hyperthermia cart
• Circulate for knee arthroscopies, laminectomies, carpal tunnel, trigger fingers including operating C-ARM.
• Assist physician with pain pump refills
• Maintain logs for accuchek, refrigerator, code/MH carts
• Perform monthly peer review (nursing, physician, anesthesia)
• Complete quarterly QI projects

• Manage care of up to eight patients during a 12 hour shift
• Perform head to toe assessment of patients and notify physician of clinical changes
• Act as patient advocate, assist in developing plan of care
• Educate patient and family members about disease process, medications, procedures
• Assist physicians during bedside procedures such as thoracentesis, central line insertion, dialysis catheter insertion, chest tube insertion and removal, pericardial pacing wire removal, cardioversion, and suture placement.
• Interact with departments within and outside of hospital regarding patient care in a professional manner
• Assess and recover the post cardiac catheterization patient
• Assess and care for post-op open heart patients recovering from coronary artery bypass with graft, or valve replacement
• Wound care, administer injections, insert/remove foley catheters, obtain IV access, remove sutures/staples
• Pre-op preparation of patient
• Medication administration, including managing and titrating nitroglycerin, cordarone, dopamine, dobutamine, and heparin drips
• Maintain patient dignity, privacy, and confidentiality
• Preceptor for new nurses and nursing students
• Admit/discharge patients
• Develop rapport with patient, families, physicians, and all members of health care team. Work with patients from a variety of cultures.
• Perform clinical tasks per hospital policy while using critical thinking
• Document patient assessments, nurses notes, patient activity, physician contact using Meditech
• Participate in code situations, perform CPR/ACLS
• Perform electrocardiograms

• Assist multiple patients with activities of daily living (bathing, changing, ambulation, and feeding)
• Obtain patient vital signs
• Provide quality patient care
• Perform blood glucose check
• Work as part of a health care team
• Record and document patient intake and output

• Answer department phone calls in professional manner
• Collect reports and provide to physicians
• Call radiological reports to ordering physicians
• Display radiological films for physician dictation
• Interact with multi departments within and outside of hospital
• Copy X-rays, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, and Special procedures films
• Maintain a clean, organized environment for all staff