Susan Stachofsky, RN-BC

Provide compassionate care to involuntary psychiatric patients. Lead and mentor the team of caregivers on my shift. Work collaboratively with other shifts and the treatment team to provide effective care with optimal outcomes. Administer medications and treatments. Keep staff informed to changes and information from nursing supervisor meetings. Demonstrate a strong work ethic and lead by example. Provide positive feedback to staff and plans where improvement is needed. Verbal de-escalation is provided to patients as needed. Praise and reinforcement provided to patients who are improving and demonstrating positive steps towards recovery. I have strong critical thinking skills and am able to take the lead in an emergency.

• Caring for voluntary and involuntary psychiatric patients often experiencing co-morbid substance use and addiction.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare personnel to meet patients' personal, physical, psychological and cognitive needs.
• Patient and family education
• Successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
• Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction
• Delivered outstanding care to patients with various diagnoses and managed care from treatment initiation through to completion.
• Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Performed ongoing assessments to evaluate mental health needs, working with multidisciplinary team to develop, initiate, manage and modify individualized plans of care.

Provide caring and compassionate nursing care to individuals on a locked involuntary psychiatric unit. Assess, treat and maintain a safe and therapeutic environment. Charge nurse; supervision of staff and made staff assignments based on patient acuity. Admission of acutely ill psychiatric patients. Worked with patients with acute psychiatric illnesses and who were often also experiencing substance withdrawal.

• Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities to prevent further disability.
• Frequent use of verbal de-escalation skills with agitated and/or aggressive patients.
• Use of safe hands on procedures when needed for patients who are unable to regain control.
• Conferred with physicians and other treatment team members to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
• Supervised professional and paraprofessional nursing staff and delegated tasks to maintain continuum of care.
• Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
• Chair of the Unit Practice Council
• Led successful 22-person team comprised of RNs, LPNs and ancillary staff.

Housed and provided support services to individuals with mental illness, dementia, developmental disabilities, and physical disabilities in a residential home setting. Responsible for all aspects of operations 24 hours a day.

Provided direct patient care, housing, rehabilitation, support services, medication management and consumer/family education to homeless individuals with mental illness, substance abuse/addiction, and physical illnesses. Planned, directed, and evaluated nursing care to decrease homelessness of individuals suffering from serious and persistent mental illness. Planned, directed and evaluated services and care provided by 42 employees. Ensured compliance operation compliance with state RCW's and WAC's. Responsible for all aspects of operations 24 hours per day.

Provided direct nursing services. Used intervention skills to effectively deescalate situations. Assessed and documented patients' psychosocial, emotional, and physical status. Evaluated and documented response of patient to medications and therapeutic interventions. Escorted and provided nursing care before, during and after treatment for ECT patients. Unit Supervisor. Instituted seclusion/restraint procedures in a safe and effective manner as necessary.

Staffed, interviewed, hired and supervised employees in nursing facility for individuals with mental illness and physical illnesses. Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans and health maintenance approaches. Scheduling and oversight of licensed and non-licensed nursing staff.

Provided direct nursing care to acute and chronic mental ill individuals in an inpatient hospital setting. Administered medication and treatment. On-going patient assessment and documentation.