Taylor Luna-Almand

36 hours per week

Emergency Department Registered Nurse

• Provide comprehensive emergency nursing care to an average of 120 patients daily in a high-volume, 24-bed freestanding Emergency Department, caring for pediatric, adult, geriatric, psychiatric, trauma, medical, and surgical patient populations.
• Perform rapid patient assessments, prioritize care using critical thinking and evidence-based practice, and initiate timely interventions for patients presenting with life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
• Independently recognize subtle changes in patient condition, initiate appropriate emergency interventions, and communicate effectively with providers to ensure prompt treatment of critically ill patients.
• Coordinated patient throughput as Charge Nurse, assigned nursing responsibilities, supported staff during high-acuity situations, and promoted safe, efficient patient care to enhance departmental operations.
• Collaborate with emergency physicians, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, radiology, EMS, and consulting specialties to develop and implement individualized plans of care.
• Administer high-risk medications including epinephrine, adenosine, amiodarone, sodium bicarbonate, TNK (tenecteplase), blood products, and other emergency medications in accordance with evidence-based protocols.
• Assist physicians during rapid sequence intubation, procedural sedation, lumbar punctures, and other emergency bedside procedures while maintaining patient safety and monitoring for complications.
• Perform ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous catheter placement using Mindray and SonoSite ultrasound systems, improving vascular access for patients with difficult venous access.
• Conduct comprehensive neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, and hemodynamic assessments, recognizing changes in patient status and initiating timely escalation of care.
• Provide emergency treatment for patients experiencing myocardial infarction, stroke symptoms, sepsis, respiratory failure, traumatic injuries, cardiac dysrhythmias, hemorrhage, behavioral health emergencies, and other complex medical conditions.
• Safely administer blood products, monitor for transfusion reactions, and implement emergency interventions when clinically indicated.
• Delivered culturally competent, patient-centered care to diverse populations, addressing needs of underserved, homeless, and medically complex individuals.
• Maintained accurate, thorough documentation using Epic, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and regulatory standards to support quality initiatives.
• Promote patient safety through adherence to evidence-based practice, infection prevention standards, medication safety principles, and interdisciplinary communication.

36 hours per week

Successfully completed the Emergency Department Nurse Residency Program while providing comprehensive care to patients with a wide range of medical, surgical, cardiac, neurological, orthopedic, psychiatric, and traumatic emergencies.
Key Responsibilities & Clinical Experience
• Delivered evidence-based emergency nursing care to pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients in a fast-paced emergency department.
• Performed rapid patient assessments, prioritized care based on patient acuity, initiated emergency interventions, and collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to provide safe, timely, patient-centered care.
• Administered emergency medications, monitored cardiac rhythms, assisted with emergency procedures, stabilized critically ill patients, and recognized changes in patient condition requiring immediate intervention.
• Assisted physicians during bedside procedures while maintaining patient safety, sterile technique, and continuous patient monitoring.
• Successfully completed the Emergency Department Nurse Residency Program through structured clinical education, mentorship, competency validation, and professional development.
• Selected to serve on the multidisciplinary Sepsis Committee, partnering with nursing leadership, physicians, pharmacy, laboratory services, and quality teams to improve early sepsis recognition, promote evidence-based treatment practices, and support initiatives focused on improving patient outcomes.
• Maintained accurate and timely documentation while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, patient safety initiatives, and organizational policies.
• Demonstrated a commitment to lifelong learning through ongoing professional development, continuing education, and evidence-based nursing practice.

36 hours per week

One of the nation's premier Level I trauma centers specializing in the care of critically injured patients and those requiring highly specialized neurological and trauma care.

Key Responsibilities & Clinical Experience
• Delivered comprehensive nursing care to high-acuity neurotrauma and critically injured adult patients requiring continuous neurological assessment and advanced monitoring.
• Managed patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, intracranial hemorrhages, skull fractures, multisystem trauma, penetrating injuries, blunt force trauma, postoperative neurosurgical conditions, and complex neurological disorders.
• Performed comprehensive neurological assessments including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), cranial nerve evaluations, pupillary assessments, motor and sensory examinations, and early recognition of neurological deterioration requiring immediate intervention.
• Independently monitored and managed patients requiring advanced invasive devices including External Ventricular Drains (EVDs), lumbar drains, arterial lines (A-lines), Jackson-Pratt (JP) drains, Hemovac drains, chest tubes, Foley catheters, nasogastric tubes, and negative pressure wound therapy (wound VACs).
• Recognized and promptly escalated changes in neurological status, hemodynamic instability, respiratory compromise, and other indicators of clinical deterioration through timely communication with trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Administered blood products, high-risk medications, anticoagulants, vasoactive medications as ordered, pain management therapies, and other complex medication regimens while continuously monitoring therapeutic response and potential adverse effects.
• Collaborated with trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, intensivists, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, rehabilitation specialists, case managers, and ancillary departments to coordinate evidence-based, patient-centered care.
• Educated patients and families regarding neurological injuries, postoperative recovery, medications, rehabilitation goals, discharge planning, and long-term recovery expectations.
• Maintained accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation while ensuring compliance with evidence-based practice, patient safety standards, infection prevention guidelines, and organizational policies.

36 hours per week

Selected Contributions & Clinical Practice
• Supported emergency physicians, registered nurses, and advanced practice providers in the assessment, stabilization, and treatment of pediatric, adult, geriatric, medical, surgical, orthopedic, psychiatric, cardiac, neurological, and trauma patients in a high-volume Emergency Department.
• Obtained and documented vital signs, performed 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs), completed point-of-care testing, collected blood specimens, and promptly communicated abnormal findings or changes in patient condition to the interdisciplinary team.
• Assisted during cardiac arrests, trauma activations, respiratory emergencies, rapid response events, and other high-acuity situations by preparing equipment, performing high-quality CPR, anticipating provider needs, and supporting emergency interventions.
• Assisted physicians and advanced practice providers with orthopedic procedures including fracture and joint reductions, splint application, immobilization, casting preparation, wound care, and procedural setup while maintaining patient comfort and safety.
• Assisted with procedural sedation by preparing equipment, monitoring patients within the technician scope of practice, and supporting physicians and registered nurses throughout procedures.
• Assisted with chest tube setup and insertion, sterile bedside procedures, wound management, laceration repairs, and other emergency procedures.
• Performed straight urinary catheterization, removed peripheral intravenous catheters and Foley catheters as delegated, and assisted with ongoing patient care in accordance with hospital policy and scope of practice.
• Applied traction splints and other orthopedic immobilization devices while assisting with stabilization and transport of injured patients.
• Transported stable and appropriately monitored patients to computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and inpatient units while maintaining patient safety and promptly reporting changes in condition.
• Prepared patient rooms, maintained crash carts, ensured emergency equipment readiness, stocked supplies, and promoted operational efficiency throughout the Emergency Department.
• Maintained accurate documentation, safeguarded patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations, and consistently promoted safe, compassionate, patient-centered care.

Leadership & Professional Contributions

• Served as a preceptor for newly hired Emergency Department Technicians throughout employment, providing orientation, bedside instruction, skills training, workflow education, and ongoing mentorship to support safe clinical practice and successful integration into the department.
• Collaborated with nursing leadership, registered nurses, physicians, and fellow technicians to foster a positive learning environment while reinforcing departmental standards, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
• Recognized as a dependable and experienced team member who consistently anticipated patient care needs, prioritized competing responsibilities, and supported efficient patient throughput during periods of high patient volume and critical emergencies.