Cathie Tees
Gulmarrad
Summary
Personable and motivated Registered Nurse with well developed leadership and communication skills. Offering an extensive understanding of patient care and healthcare administration, coupled with advanced clinical skills in patient assessment and treatment planning. Committed to delivering positive patient outcomes and fostering a collaborative team environment.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse
NSW Health
10.2024 - Current
- Manage recovery of complex cardiac rehabilitation patients post conditions including myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, valve replacements and ICD insertion. utilizing best practice guidelines.
- Promoted client independence by educating self-care techniques related to exercise and lifestyle modification.
- Observed and documented client factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviours to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Liaise with multidisciplinary team to co-ordinate client recovery. This includes cardiologists, GP, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists
- Reduced hospital readmissions by providing thorough discharge planning and follow-up care coordination.
After Hours Nurse Manager
NSW Health
08.2021 - Current
- AHNMs are responsible for the operational management of the facility after hours. This includes patient flow, bed management and staffing of the three areas- ED, Sub acute and Acute wards.
- This role requires management of staff inline with NHPPD and can include sourcing staff or offering leave when overstaffed to ensure safe staffing levels and adequate skill mix. Also includes allocating staff resources to areas of critical need such as during a rapid response.
- AHNM is a key point of contact between nursing staff, physicians, administration, and other healthcare professionals within the facility and often is required to liaise between the different parties.
- Required to attend and manage all Rapid response and Clinical reviews throughout the facility as the senior nurse responder and provide skilled assessment and treatment of critically ill patients. Also required to attend all duress alarms as the Senior responder.
- Oversees infection control procedures to protect patients from infections and keep nursing departments compliant with current requirements for example in relation to Covid precautions
- Monitor stock levels after hours and at times be responsible for allocation of stock. For example allocation of PPE during Covid and the current allocation of IV Fluids due to shortages.
- Orientate new nurses to the facility, ensuring they are aware of care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Utilise therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and coaching strategies with staff and also empower staff to provide best practice patient centred care.
- Supervise high-quality performance and appropriate behaviour from nursing staff.
- Ensure the safety of the facility by conducting regular surveillance of any risks addressing potential hazards promptly.
Registered Nurse in Emergency Department
NSW Health
09.2022 - Current
- Perform in both the Registered Nurse and Team Leader role within the department. The Team leader role also is responsible for Triage and has a patient load in the ED.
- First line emergency care and triage qualified.
- Immunisation accredited
- Skills include: IV cannulation and venepuncture, PICC/PORT accredited, IDC insertion, Advanced life support, Non invasive ventilation (BiPAP and High Flow NP),
- Team member in life-saving procedures such as CPR, intubation, and defibrillation during critical resuscitation situations.
- Responsible for assessing and monitoring patients to identify deterioration then communicating this to the medical officers as per the CERS pathway.
- Ensure contemporaneous documentation using electronic medical records systems and medication administration record.
- Utilise appropriate pathways for the patient condition and initiate ECAT protocols at triage.
- Ensure safe and accurate medication administration, adhering to hospital policies and procedures.
- Provided compassionate care to patients and their families, addressing concerns and answering questions regarding treatment options.
- Use closed loop communication techniques to communicate with team members to plan and implement patient treatment.
- Support new Registered Nurses in the Emergency Department, providing guidance and support during both orientation and ongoing shifts.
- Regularly seek ongoing education and professional development opportunities to remain current on best practices.
- Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and other equipment as per the set schedule for ED.
Clinical Nurse Educator
NSW Health
04.2019 - 09.2020
- I have been employed as both CNE for Maclean hospital and also for Maclean Community Health.
- In these role I evaluated clinical staff performance, identifying areas of improvement and providing constructive feedback utilising set assessment methods as per the NSW Health competencies.
- Utilized adult learning principles to adapt teaching methods according to individual need, maximizing understanding and retention of information.
- Developed monthly education sessions utilising multi- disciplinary teams to provide education in the allocated daily education times.
- Improved nursing competency through the creation and delivery of targeted training sessions such as anaphylaxis management in the community setting.
- Supported facility goals by aligning education with organizational objectives such as ensuring staff attend to safe blood products handling as per the accreditation standards.
- Contributed to hospital accreditation by ensuring compliance with standards and ensuring up to date registers of education for all staff.
- Served as a mentor for junior nursing staff, encouraging a positive and supportive environment.
- Enhanced patient care outcomes by developing and implementing targeted education programs such as the falls and pressure injury prevention program.
- Encouraged skills training and assessed competency using equipment for hands-on training sessions such as "resus Annie" for CPR/basic life support, the chest mannequin for PICC/PORT accreditation and the IV cannulation arm for IVC training.
Registered Nurse Community
NSW Health
01.2020 - 09.2020
- Manage complex acute and chronic wounds including vac dressings. extensive knowledge of wound products is required for this role
- Indwelling urinary catheter changes in the community
- Communicate with general practitioners and specialists when changes client conditions were identified and initiate appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Administered immunisations safely according to immunisation policy for Registered Nurses while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions.
- Provide palliative care support in both the initial diagnosis and end stage of disease. This included emotional support for clients and families and also physical support such as use of syringe drivers and pain relief medication administration.
Director of Care Services
Whiddon Maclean
03.2017 - 04.2019
- Leading and management of a team of 85 staff members across nursing, catering, support and administration services to provide exceptional care for 60 aged care clients.
- Financial budget management. This includes accessing funding through residential fees and the ACFI system. Management of staff wages and leave balances, expenses including catering, medical, maintenance and ensuring efficiency in expenditure resulting in adequate monthly EBITDA.
- Ensure financial and clinical KPIs are benchmarked through internal and external auditing services and implementing improvement plans when deficits are identified.
- Implementation of policy and procedures as determined by legislation, 44 Aged care accreditation standards and The Whiddon Group.
- Converting The Whiddon Groups Strategic direction into business and operational plans.
- Lead the Maclean facility through a successful accreditation in 2017 with passing of all 44 standards.
- Attend yearly staff appraisals and initiate performance management plans as required
- Promoted a positive work environment through effective leadership and support for staff development opportunities. During this tenure staff retention increased as well as staff and workplace culture.
- Championed a culture of safety, promoting adherence to best practices in infection control and risk management.
- Updating facility and equipment to allow staff to preform duties safely and competently for example purchasing new lifting equipment and pressure injury management equipment.
- Reconfigured all job descriptions and duty statements in consultation with staff across all disciplines. This included maintenance, nursing, catering, cleaning and laundry staff.
- Coordinated and recorded team meetings, encouraging open communication and an open door policy.
Deputy Director of Care Services
Whiddon Grafton
02.2015 - 04.2017
- This role requires working with the Director of Care Services to lead and manage approximately 100 staff across catering, cleaning, maintenance and nursing domains.
- Responsibilities include maintaining and improving client care both clinically and emotionally through staff development.
- Liaising with families and the multidisciplinary team to enhance client care inline with the 44 accreditation standrds for aged care. Other roles include
- Other duties included management of complaints, nursing staff rostering, ACFI compilation and lodgment, education planning and co-ordination, quality assurance management, incident management, budget setting and monitoring.
- Implementation of new practices and systems including the My Life model of care to enhance client experience and lifestyle in aged care.
- During this period it also required planning for the commissioning and move to stage 1 of the Grafton building. Including redevelopment of the roster and staffing requirements, planning for smooth client transition, on the spot problem solving before, during and after the move, monitoring of client and staff wellbeing, learn the multifaceted function of new technology and planning for stage 2.
Registered Nurse
NSW Health
04.2010 - Current
- 2010-2011 Post graduate year that included rotation through Operating theatre/recovery, High dependency unit and Emergency at Grafton Base Hospital.
- 2010 onwards employed by Maclean Hospital as a Registered Nurse following registration in 2009. Experience included medical nursing, recovery, community nursing, HITH and Emergency department. Most recent employment prior to aged care position was in the emergency department as a Registered Nurse then clinical nurse specialist.
- During this time I learnt the basics of nursing care that I rely on today including pressure injury care, falls management, supporting patient with activities of daily living, documentation, incident management, locating policies and procedures, medication administration, management of scheduled medications
- This was also when I attended a large amount of extra curricular study as noted in the educaton section of this document.
Education
Master of Nursing - Emergency
Griffith University
QLD11.2013
Bachelor of Nurisng - Nursing
Southern Cross University
NSW10.2009
Principles of Emergency Care - Nursing
Australian College of Nursing
09.2011
Acute Cardiac Care Course- Masters Level - Cardiac Nursing
Health Education Professionals
Queensland11.2012
Triage For Emergency Nurses
National Triage Training
Lismore2011
Certificate 4 in Training And Assessment - Education
Plenty Training
2016
Immunisation For Registered Nurses - Immunisation
Australian College of Nursing
2015
HETI Emergency Masterclass - Emergency Nursing
HETI
2019
Resus 4 Kids Trainer Accredited -
Resus For Kids
NSW Health2019
Skills
- Advanced life support
- Clinical assessment and judgement
- Multi disciplinary collaboration
- Advanced clinical skills
- Time management
- Key performance indicators
- Financial management
- Computer skills
- Multitasking
- Workforce management
- Verbal and written communication, documentation and reporting
- Complex Problem-solving
Timeline
Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse
NSW Health
10.2024 - Current
Registered Nurse in Emergency Department
NSW Health
09.2022 - Current
After Hours Nurse Manager
NSW Health
08.2021 - Current
Registered Nurse Community
NSW Health
01.2020 - 09.2020
Clinical Nurse Educator
NSW Health
04.2019 - 09.2020
Director of Care Services
Whiddon Maclean
03.2017 - 04.2019
Deputy Director of Care Services
Whiddon Grafton
02.2015 - 04.2017
Registered Nurse
NSW Health
04.2010 - Current
Master of Nursing - Emergency
Griffith University
Bachelor of Nurisng - Nursing
Southern Cross University
Principles of Emergency Care - Nursing
Australian College of Nursing
Acute Cardiac Care Course- Masters Level - Cardiac Nursing
Health Education Professionals
Triage For Emergency Nurses
National Triage Training
Certificate 4 in Training And Assessment - Education
Plenty Training
Immunisation For Registered Nurses - Immunisation
Australian College of Nursing
HETI Emergency Masterclass - Emergency Nursing
HETI
Resus 4 Kids Trainer Accredited -
Resus For Kids
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