Brenda McDougall
Bendigo,VIC
Summary
Intelligent advanced practice Intensive Care Registered Nurse with 30 years of experience in direct patient care and nursing management positions in hospital and community settings. Experience spans across ICU, CCU, neurosciences and med-surgical environments. Outside-the-box thinker with strong crisis resolution skills.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse
Aveo Kennington Gardens
04.2023 - Current
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
- Through timely support plan reviews and effective rostering, improved client facing time utilisation by 15%.
- Reduced hospital readmissions through effective discharge planning, patient education, and follow-up care coordination.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Streamlined medication administration processes for increased safety and accuracy during busy shifts.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Demonstrated expertise in wound management techniques resulting in accelerated healing times for patients with complex wounds or pressure injuries.
- Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as liaison between healthcare team and loved ones.
- Served as preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
Acting Care Manager
Aveo Kennington Gardens
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Stepped up into Care Manager role at short notice, whilst simultaneously acting in RN role.
- Recruited, trained and managed staff of 25 ENs and PCAs, including rostering, sick leave, annual leave, and mandatory training.
- Enhanced patient care by developing and implementing individualized care plans.
- Improved patient satisfaction through effective communication and collaboration with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
- Reduced hospital readmission rates by providing comprehensive discharge planning and follow-up support.
- Streamlined care coordination processes, resulting in timely referrals and access to appropriate resources.
- Facilitated family meetings to address concerns, establish goals of care, and provide psychosocial support.
- Conducted thorough assessments to identify patients'' needs, strengths, and barriers to achieving optimal health outcomes.
- Monitored patient progress closely, adjusting care plans as needed to promote ongoing improvement.
- Educated clients and families on community resources, treatment options and health care services to better manage conditions.
- Participated in team meetings and trainings to stay updated on best practices and new developments in care management.
Clinical Nurse Specialist ICU/CCU
St John Of God Hospital Bendigo
01.2015 - 01.2021
- Assessed patient conditions by performing thorough examinations and asking appropriate medical questions..
- Provided counselling to patients and families and referred patients to other treatment facilities.
- Evaluated patient progress and responses to various treatments.
- Collaborated with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to devise and manage individualized plans of care.
- Performed head-to-toe physical assessments, prioritizing treatment and delegating assignments to maintain patient flows.
- Responded to medical crises codes.
- Directed day-to-day nursing and operational functions for 12 bed facility, ensuring exceptional delivery of care when developing well-rounded nursing teams.
- Conducted rounds with physicians, advising physicians on patients' conditions and assisting in coordinating diagnostic testing and follow up appointments to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
- Supervised team of up to 8 nurses.
- Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule
- Learned new skills and applied to daily tasks to improve efficiency and productivity
Acting Associate Nurse Unit Manager ICU/CCU
St John Of God Hospital Bendigo
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Routinely managed 12 bed combined ICU/ Coronary Care unit, prioritising patient safety through appropriate staff allocation and close supervision and support
- Provided direct care to critically ill patients: managed arterial and CVC lines, epidurals, vascaths, vasoactive treatments utilising formal protocols
- Managed acutely ill cardiac patients and cardiac complications of ICU patients, including chest pain, arrhythmias, hypotension and cardiac arrest
- Managed bradyarrhythmias, utilising Isoprenaline infusions and external and internal pacing wires, and patients post interventional cardiology procedures
- Haemodynamic monitoring of critically unstable ICU patients
- Management of ventilated patients: airway, sedation, pain, blood gas analysis, induction, and monitoring post extubation
- Management of patients on continuous haemofiltration: commencement and cessation of treatment, care of venous access, electrolyte monitoring and replacement fluid management
- Assessment, planning, and implementing care and evaluating patients' responses to treatment
- Effective collaboration with multi-disciplinary team
- Concise, accurate and timely verbal and written communication
- Supervision and clinical education of undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Participation in mandatory education and ongoing professional development
- Attendance at MET calls/code blue calls: Support and resource person for ward staff
- Coordinated patient movement in and out of department, often at short notice, requiring accurate and timely decision making
Registered Nurse Surgical Unit
St John Of God Hospital
03.2009 - 02.2010
- Started intravenous fluids, administered medications and documented patient charts by recording food and fluid output and intake.
- Managed caseload of twelve patients simultaneously by providing bedside care, treatments, IV therapy and wound care.
- Educated patients and families on medical-surgical procedures, therapeutic regimens and pain management techniques.
- Managed patients' pain by implementing pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management interventions.
Associate Nurse Unit Manager
Vimy House Private Hospital
07.2006 - 02.2009
- Supervised, directed and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, physicians and patients by leveraging clinical judgment and unit management expertise.
- Assessed patients to determine individual needs and develop care plans in coordination with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.
- Developed strategy to target nursing and patient satisfaction issues, improve response and patient care quality and suggest actionable improvements to promote hospital-wide quality and safety initiatives .
Education
Post Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing -
La Trobe University
Bendigo, VIC11.2010
Diploma - Professional Writing and Editing
CAE Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC11.2008
Graduate Diploma of Music (Opera Performance) -
Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University)
Brisbane, QLD11.1993
Bachelor of Arts - Music
University of Melbourne Victorian College of The Arts
Melbourne, VIC11.1992
Certificate in General Nursing -
Goulburn Valley Health
Shepparton, VIC10.1987
Skills
- Training Needs Assessment
- Accreditation Process Implementation
- Staff Assessment
- Interpersonal Communication
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Medical Condition Monitoring
- Oral and Written Communication
- Clinical procedure improvements
- Clinical interventions
- Current ALS and BLS certification
- Clinical leadership
Affiliations
Victorian Driver's License
AHPRA Registered Nurse Division 1
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
Additional Information
In addition to the roles detailed above, I have worked as a surgical, neurosurgical and emergency nurse in public and private health care facilities in Melbourne, including Monash Medical Centre, The Austin and Cabrini. I have also worked as a corporate writer and spent many years immersed in my opera singing career which took me overseas and to Sydney, where I worked as professional singer with Australia's national opera company, Opera Australia.
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Aveo Kennington Gardens
04.2023 - Current
Acting Care Manager
Aveo Kennington Gardens
09.2022 - 04.2023
Clinical Nurse Specialist ICU/CCU
St John Of God Hospital Bendigo
01.2015 - 01.2021
Acting Associate Nurse Unit Manager ICU/CCU
St John Of God Hospital Bendigo
01.2014 - 01.2015
Registered Nurse Surgical Unit
St John Of God Hospital
03.2009 - 02.2010
Associate Nurse Unit Manager
Vimy House Private Hospital
07.2006 - 02.2009
Post Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing -
La Trobe University
Diploma - Professional Writing and Editing
CAE Melbourne
Graduate Diploma of Music (Opera Performance) -
Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University)
Bachelor of Arts - Music
University of Melbourne Victorian College of The Arts
Certificate in General Nursing -
Goulburn Valley Health
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