Alice Staunton

Alongside working at Queen Victoria, I have been working for an agency who have been sending me to a Salvation army nursing home called Barrington Lodge. I have been working here full time for a month and it has provided me with more invaluable experience to put into practice the skills I have learnt in aged care nursing over the last 8 months. I feel that my current experience has provided me with strong skills in;

-Time management; particularly in regards to medication administration, pain medication administration and monitoring of blood sugar levels and administration of insulin.

-Critical thinking skills.

-Patient assessment.

-Communication.

-Patient safety.

-Interdisciplinary team work.

-Patient and family education.

While working for Derwent views and Queen Victoria this has provided me with a valuable skillset including;

-Strong time management skills, particularly in regard to medication administration timings including schedule 4 and 8 medications

-Medication knowledge and administration, educate residents and families on medication regimens

-Monitoring BGL’S and administration of insulin as per medication chart.

-Subcutaneous injections of schedule 8 medications for pain relief and for patients who are receiving end of life care

-Monitoring and recording of vital signs, close monitoring of residents' health, assess changes in condition and provide appropriate care and guidance

-Monitoring and recording of syringe drivers

-Strong communication skills, accurately observe and interpret resident symptoms, then communicate clearly with doctors to ensure timely interventions

-Wound dressings adhering to wound chart.

-Multidisciplinary teamwork, work effectively with doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal resident outcomes

-Resident assessments: Conduct thorough evaluations to understand each resident's physical, mental, emotional and social needs.

-Resident advocacy and team leadership: champion residents' rights and wellbeing, supervise and mentor junior staff including student nurses and carers, to foster a positive and collaborative work environment

-Lifelong learning: Continuously develop professional knowledge and skills through ongoing education and training programs

-Providing emotional support and person centred care to residents, so that they feel supported, valued, listened to and cared for

-Communicating with family members as to any changes in residents condition.

-Clinical documentation.

- Providing end of life care.

- Providing care and support to patients with varying levels of dementia, Alzheimers and memory loss, and providing nursing care to patients with a range of physical, mental health and intellectual disabilities.

-Contacting family and relevant health professionals as to any changes in a residents condition.

-Medication administration rounds of up to 40 residents in a 3 hour period.

- Administration of schedule 8, subcutaneous and intramuscular medications.

- Monitoring of blood sugar levels and administration of insulin when and where required in a timely manner.

- Clinical documentation.

- Monitoring of vital signs to detect clinical deterioration in residents.

- Contribution and ongoing reviews of care plans to ensure residents physical, emotional, social and psychological needs are being met.

- Monitoring and recording of syringe drivers.

- Providing end of life care.

- Providing care and support to patients with varying levels of dementia, Alzheimers and memory loss, and providing nursing care to patients with a range of physical, mental health and intellectual disabilities.

- Contacting family and relevant health professionals as to any changes in a residents condition.

- Preparation and administration of IV medications.

- A TO E patient assessments.

- Maintaining accurate documentation.

- Monitoring and recording of vital signs using the ADDS chart to ensure timely detection of patient deterioration and escalation and intervention when required.

-Administration of oral and subcutaneous medications.

- Monitoring of blood sugar levels and administration of insulin when charted or required.

- Administration and checking of schedule 8 medications.

-Assisting patients with personal care tasks and ADL'S.

- PEG feeding.

- Wound care and dressings.

- Patient education.

- Patient admission and discharge.

- Liaising and communicating with other members of the healthcare team to ensure optimal patient health and care.

I left this position as I had a family member pass away and needed to return to the UK for a funeral.