Tamara Hogshead

• Administered IV infusions for rare diseases, such as: Remicade for Crohn's Disease, Rituximab for Lupus Nephritis and Tepezza for Severe Thyroid Eye Disease.
• Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
• Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
• Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
• Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
• Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.

• Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians.
• Cared for critically ill patients in the CVICU
• Reduced complications by promptly identifying and addressing critical changes in patient conditions.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for high-risk cardiac patients.
• Assisted with invasive CVICU procedures, such as central line placements and pulmonary artery catheter insertions, ensuring aseptic technique and patient comfort throughout the process.

As a PAC clinical reviewer, I was responsible for aiding in appropriate placement of patients who were leaving the hospital, whether to LTAC (Long-Term Acute Care), IPR (Inpatient Rehab), SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility), or in some cases, returning to their home. After reviewing clinical notes from providers in hospitals, I completed Interqual reviews to determine if the patient met criteria for the requested placement. I would then forward the Interqual evaluation to the physician if the patient was requesting LTAC or IPR. If a SNF was requested, I would either authorize the placement, or send to the MD if the patient failed to meet the proper criteria. My job also included to speaking to providers and taking clinical information via phone. Our providers included nurses from NY, Minnesota, MI and IL.

My responsibilities as an RN with Fresenious Kidney Care included initiating and overseeing hemodialysis for both acute and chronic dialysis patients. Monitoring of the patients vital signs, access sites and the dialysis machines were crucial for successful outcomes after being dialyzed. I also administered IV medications to the patients that were ordered by the nephrologist, such as Erythropoietin and IV Venofer,

As an ER nurse, my primary responsibility was monitoring and caring for patients. In this, I took notes of symptoms, drew all labs, assessed patients by auscultating breath and bowel sounds, overseeing ventilator patients' care, titrating IV vasopressors, monitoring heart rhythms, oxygen saturations, blood pressure, etc. I was responsible for participating in all CODE BLUEs called on patients in cardiac arrest. I cared for patients with gunshot wounds, who had been in MVA and other trauma. Stonecrest Emergency Department is both a Level III Trauma Unit and a certified Stroke Unit. Transporting patients who were unstable, I stayed while the patient was in radiology or would transport to cardiac cath lab, surgery, etc. I cared for both adult and pediatric patients and was certified in ACLS and PALS.

As an ICU nurse and charge nurse in the ICU, I oversaw the care of critically ill patients, some who were on ventilators with tracheostomies, arterial lines, Swan-Ganz lines and/or post-arrest hypothermic treatment. I monitored, titrating and tapering IV vasopressors, IV paralytics and sedation. I assisted physicians in procedures by administering Conscious Sedation, and assisted with bedside procedures, such as intubation, and emergency vascular line placements. In Stonecrest's ICU, I was the lead in instructing protocols for the hospital's Artic Sun, which is hypothermic protocol for post-arrest patients who are unconscious, but had acheived "ROSC" Return of Spontaneous Circulation.

As a hospice RN, I worked as an intake nurse for new patients and also saw my assigned patients in their homes. I administered medications, wound care which oftentimes included Wound VACs and spent much time comforting the patient and family.

When I worked as an RN for CareHere, I initially started as the nurse for Rutherford County Juvenile Detention, overseeing the care of inmates with administration of medications and completing physicals for the state. After a year, my supervisor wanted an RN to oversee the clinic for CUD employees which provides physicals and lab reviews. I worked with a physician and I was responsible for running the clinic, ordering MD-prescribed medications that were dispensed to employees.

As camp nurse, I was available for all children who had symptoms of illness or were simply home-sick. I took histories on campers, created medication-administration records and administered the medications to children while they were at camp.

I started at Williamson Medical Center in 1985 as a unit secretary and EKG tech while I was in nursing school. In May of 1987, I graduated from Columbia State and went to work in the CCU. As a CCU nurse and charge nurse, I oversaw the care of critically ill patients, some who were on ventilators with tracheostomies, arterial lines, and Swan-Ganz lines. I monitored, titrating and tapering IV vasopressors, IV paralytics and sedation. I assisted physicians with bedside procedures, such as thoracentesis, paracentesis, peritoneal dialysis, intubation, and emergency vascular line placements. I was in charge of riding with every critical transport to Nashville. While at WMC, I was an ACLS instructor for ten years.