Carmen Lucas

• Calm and responsive in critically stressful situations with strong prioritisation and delegation skills
• Involved in supporting complex discharge planning within the multidisciplinary team- continence equipment scripting, funding applications, community living plans, 24 hour care plans and nursing referrals
• Management of verbal and physical aggression and challenging situations
• Clear and concise communication skills to effectively coordinate staff and patient care
• Management of patient flow and daily ward operations
• Assisted with recruitment interviews and reference checks and conducted Professional Review and Development (PRDs) with staff.
• Facilitator of positive team culture
• Maintained current knowledge of evidence-based practice guidelines related to spinal nursing care.

Extra  Roles and Responsibilities 

• Blood Management Portfolio (ANUM lead)
• Positive Support Plan Champion
• Spinal Neurogenic Bladder/ Bowel Champion
• Discharge planning for TAC patients with VAC therapy project
• Developing a spinal specific addendum to the Austin's Pressure Injury prevention and management policy
• Clinical Handover Project Portfolio
• Clinical improvements to medication management on 3N
• 3 North Business Continuity Planning Project
• Forum Panel Member: Occupational Violence and Aggression Incident reporting to the Police- What is the point?
• Precepting Graduate nurses, undergraduate students and new staff

• Performance management
• Recruitment
• Rostering management
• Investigating and management of Riskmans
• Escalation of complex barriers to discharge
• Ward Budget
• Influential leadership to ensure excellent patient care and staff moral
• Work collaboratively within cancer neuroscience division
• Ensure ward is providing care in line with Austin policy and nursing standards.

• Community support for patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• Wound management advice and guidance
• Patient education/ advise/ support
• Pre surgical admission assessments/ organising planned admissions
• Work collaboratively with allied health team on client assessment
• Patient advocate
• Assisting patients with funding applications and access
• Prevent emergency presentations to hospital due to SCI complications
• Work collaboratively with community services to optimise patient carer and functional living at home
• Competent in logging statistics on The Care Manager (TCM) and have Smartrak access to use Austin’s fleet cars.

• Urodynamics (procedure and scheduling)
• Patient education/ advise/ support
• First SPC changes
• Continence scripting
• Support for patients on 3 North, Spinal Rehab and the community.

• Specialised clinical knowledge in Spinal nursing
• Involved in Quality improvements on 3N
• Provide support and education to staff and patients
• Provide leadership within the senior nursing team.

• Nurse in charge experience liaising with the patient, allied health, nurses, doctors and families to facilitate rehabilitation goals and discharge plans
• On the floor experience educating patients on how to manage their care in preparation for discharge
• Developed a more complex understanding of how to navigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Transport Accident Commission.

• Recognised as a valuable resource nurse providing flexible support to the ward
• Competency in complex management of spinal patients in their acute phase of injury and readmission including mechanical ventilation, tracheostomies, respiratory management, neurogenic bladder and bowel, complex wounds, patient education and emotional support
• Nursing experience in the Victorian Respiratory Support Service (VRSS) weening unit.

• 8 East- Colorectal Surgical Ward
• 3 North- Acute Spinal