Lisa Marie Khumalo

• caring for babies and children aged 0-12 years on a busy general medical, chronic and complex, and respiratory ward, with up to 27 patients
• providing safe, compassionate and person-centred care to children and their families in accordance with NSW Health Core Values of Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment
• experience in Team Leader role for many years, taking charge of the ward after hours when the NUM is absent, coordinating patient flow, supervising and supporting staff, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams, problem solving, and managing challenging situations
• acting as a preceptor for new graduate nurses, new staff members, and mentoring student nurses on their clinical placements
• utilizing critical thinking and time management skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on acuity levels and individual needs
• conducting thorough patient assessments to identify changes in clinical condition, promptly escalating and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary
• working collaboratively and communicating effectively with medical teams and other allied health staff to provide high level patient care
• establishing and maintaining quality relationships with children and their families, particularly long-term chronic patients
• participating in ongoing professional development opportunities
• have obtained many specialised skills/competencies, including CVAD/PORT accreditation, Salbutamol stretching, care of chest drains and Urokinase administration, Magnesium Sulphate administration, TPN, Tracheostomy care, and have many years of experience caring for patients on high flow oxygen therapy, CPAP, BIPAP, or who require long-term invasive ventilation

12 Month program with a 6 month rotation in the Grace Centre for Newborn Care, and 6 months on a general medical and respiratory ward

• conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in clinical status and escalated appropriately
• learned to provide holistic and evidence based care to the newborn and family
• administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention
• developed excellent time management and communication skills
• learned to care for babies with oxygen therapy, CPAP, enteral feeding tubes, TPN, catheters etc.

• worked under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses to assist with measuring vital signs, giving oral feeds and attending to personal hygiene care
• at this time, was also able to act as a second checker for certain medications