Elizabeth Medhane

Experienced and compassionate Mental Health Nurse with over 8 years of expertise in providing patient-centered care in high-acuity mental health settings. Currently working as Acting Clinical Nurse at Graylands Hospital - Montgomery Ward. I excel in managing complex clinical situations, including crisis intervention, patient assessments, and care planning. Skilled at leading multidisciplinary teams, I effectively delegate tasks, communicate effectively, and ensure the delivery of safe, ethical, and evidence-based care. With a strong commitment to professional development, I stay informed of the latest mental health practices and continuously strive to improve patient outcomes. My comprehensive clinical skills, combined with exceptional time management, communication, and interpersonal abilities, enable me to provide holistic care while navigating the challenges of a fast-paced healthcare environment. I am dedicated to supporting individuals on their mental health journey and contributing to the advancement of mental health services.

Experienced and compassionate Mental Health Nurse with over 8 years of expertise in providing patient-centered care in high-acuity mental health settings. Currently working as Acting Clinical Nurse at Graylands Hospital - Montgomery Ward. I excel in managing complex clinical situations, including crisis intervention, patient assessments, and care planning. Skilled at leading multidisciplinary teams, I effectively delegate tasks, communicate effectively, and ensure the delivery of safe, ethical, and evidence-based care. With a strong commitment to professional development, I stay informed of the latest mental health practices and continuously strive to improve patient outcomes. My comprehensive clinical skills, combined with exceptional time management, communication, and interpersonal abilities, enable me to provide holistic care while navigating the challenges of a fast-paced healthcare environment. I am dedicated to supporting individuals on their mental health journey and contributing to the advancement of mental health services.

• I have acted as a clinical nurse for a substantive period in Smith Ward which had 15 male patients and Montgomery Ward which had 15 female patients. Both wards had patients with chronic mental illnesses and on most occasions acutely unwell and aggressive.
• Managed acutely unwell and aggressive patients requiring 2:1 or 3:1 special. Coordinating these shifts involves working with a multidisciplinary team that includes up to 9 nurses, doctors, domestic staff, students, allied health professionals and other patients.
• Maintain the safety of patients and staff in accordance with the Mental Health Act 2014 and other governing legislation to ensure positive outcomes. For example, staff should wear duress pedants and check them at the commencement of each shift. Check and update patients' clinical alerts PSOLIS.
• Provide adherence to Infection Control Protocol during confirmed cases of infections like Covid by putting up visible signs to minimise the spread of infection to patients, staff and visitors. Inform the infection control team, managers and all parties involved. Delegate staff to set up the ward for lockdown including donning and doffing areas, collect PCR swab tests and send to pathology, etc.
• Complete and send the electronic Ward Report at the end of every shift with an accurate record of bed numbers, staff names and roles, admissions, transfers, discharges, PRNs, a summary of critically important events/incidents, assessment of the level of acuity of the ward, notifiable events, in a format that is contemporaneous and befits ISOBAR handover standards.
• Allocate duties to staff, by taking into consideration skill mix, gender, legal obligations and individual patient needs, including the complexity of the patient's needs, risk factors, level of clinical observations, staffing resources, buddy nurse system, ward activity and clinical acuity.
  Communicate all patient movements to Nurse.
• Managers, Medical records and triage. Some examples include patients, going and coming back from leave, admissions, transfers, missing patients, medical appointments and emergencies etc.
• Coordinate a medical emergency following the NMHS Code Blue Policy.
  Allocating a scribe nurse, and airway nurse, delegate a staff to call an ambulance while collaborating with the Senior Registered Nurse and Duty medical officer.

      -    Delegate a nurse to make copies of all relevant information.

      -  Give an ISOBAR handover to the paramedics before transfer to ED.

      -  Excellent skills in staying calm and composed throughout.

• Accurately complete incident reports using Clinical Incident Management Systems (CIMS) and another applicable forms such as Workplace Violence and Aggression incident report forms.

• Provided information about the Mental Health Act 2014, mental illness and medications to my patients and their family and carers to empower and support them in their recovery journey.
• Provide advanced quality nursing care informed by best practice and National Safety and Quality Healthcare Standards

·  Managed cases of patients with Chronic mental illnesses by Assessing, planning implementing and evaluating patient care plans in collaboration with their carers and the multidisciplinary team for positive outcomes.

• Participated, in multidisciplinary team and patient/family care meetings. Focused on recovery goals using some of the standardised tools and systems such as management plans on PSOLIS, HONOS and three-monthly clinical reviews.
• Effectively recognise deterioration of patient’s mental state, complete mental state examinations, BRA, Administer PRN medications as per treatment chart and monitor their effectiveness medication.
• Adhere to NMHS Values which include Care,Respect,Innovation,Teamwork,Integrity and work in guidance of acts such as The Equal Opportunity Act was enacted in 1984, OHS Act, Mental health Act, WA Health Code of Conduct, Work Health and Safety legislation, the Disability Services Act 1993 etc.
• Delegated aspects of care to others based on their competence and scope of practice such as students and graduate nurses.
• Keep up to date with professional development through ongoing mandatory and non-mandatory trainings.
• Participated in the continuous quality improvement process to monitor, evaluate and improve patient safety and satisfaction with care. Participate in trainings for quality improvement initiatives, audits and evaluations.

• I advocate for patients by involving their families and carers under the Carer Recognition Act 2010 in implementing holistic treatment, support and discharge plans. In addition,
• Educate carers on patient medication administration plans and manage difficult behaviours to minimise restrictive practices before the patient goes on CTO. Notify the patient's guardians or nominated next of kin when there is a notifiable event including AWOL.
• Actively listen to patients to get a clear understanding of their needs and concerns.
• Advocate for patients by allocating staff to attend their mental health tribunal hearings. Also, give a copy of their hearing information letter.
• Provide patients with a copy of their treatment support and discharge plan and make sure they understand and agree with it.
• Educate patients on their rights under the Mental Health Act.
• Refer patients to Advocacy services and assist in finding interpreters or AUSLAN services under the Disability Services Act.

Carla Vidal | Acting Nurse Manager
Graylands Hospital
Brockway Road, Mount Claremont WA 6010 
T: (08) 615 96634 
M: 0450 677 915
E: carla.vidal@health.wa.gov.au

Ngoni Bonzo | Clinical Nurse Specialist
Graylands Hospital
Brockway Road, Mount Claremont WA 6010 
T: (08) 61596724 
M: 0476 189 532 
E: ngonidzashe.bonzo2@health.wa.gov.au