Mairidh Isabel O'Rourke

Profile

This role involves working in a variety of specialities within a major public health service in the Mornington Peninsula. Including Respiratory, Stroke, Gastroenterology, Cardiology and General Medicine, Vascular, Gastric, and Orthopaedic Surgery, as well as in Rehabilitation units. This diversity of experience has enhanced my clinical skills and adaptability by quickly building rapport with colleagues, follow established protocols/CPGs, and contributing positively to the overall patient care delivery by:

• Providing comprehensive nursing care to patients within my scope of practice by conducting thorough health assessments to identify patients' needs and create individualised care plans.
• Monitoring vital signs and escalating rapidly if there is any observing of deterioration in status.
• Administering of medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians and monitoring their effect. -Performing various nursing procedures, including wound care, stoma care, urinary catheterisation, venepuncture, cannulation, enteral feeding and IV therapy.
• Educating patients and their families about their medical conditions, treatment plans, and self-care practices.
• Providing guidance on medication management and lifestyle modifications.
• Collaborating with physicians, nurse practitioners, and multi-disciplinary professionals to coordinate and promote maintaining the health and well-being of individuals effectively to ensure continuity of care.
• Maintaining accurate and detailed medical records, documenting patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes.
• Following established protocols for quality and safety CPGs, record-keeping and reporting adverse events via VIHMS incident reporting system.
• -Advocating for patients' rights and ensure that their preferences are heard.

COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 crisis I worked predominantly in Bass ward which was the designated infection control ward for Covid-19 positive patients. I followed the ever evolving evidence based clinical practice guidelines in the care of patients with COVID-19. These guidelines included:

• Infection, prevention - following the proper use of PPE, hand hygiene, and infection control protocols.
• Medication management - following guidance on the use of antiviral medications, corticosteroids and other pharmacological interventions for COVID 19 including dosage, administration and monitoring for potential side effects.
• Respiratory Support - Competent management of respiratory support I.e. high flow Oxygen therapy, Non-Invasive Ventilation and Proning.
• Regular training - Staying updated on guidelines, and maintaining a compassionate and patient-centred approach were crucial components of nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Basic Life Support Assessor:

I have completed the BLS Train the Trainer Course. I am competent to assess PH workforce bureau pool and bank nurses for their yearly mandatory BLS/PBLS assessment, by following Australian Resuscitation and PH CPG which is to ensure staff are up to date with their competency.

Recruitment:

I have also been at peak times involved in the recruitment of pool/bank nurses, PSAs, (and during the COVID-19 pandemic) vaccination nurses, safety spotters and swabbers to Peninsula Health.

This involved:

• Screening, reviewing, selecting and inviting candidates for interview.
• Coordinating, scheduling and performing interviews with relevant managers.
• Contacting referees to confirm candidates previous work experience and credentials.
• Collaborating with HR to extend job offer to selected candidates and assist with on-boarding process.

Falls/Skin Integrity CNC Support

Since September 2023 I have been supporting both the Falls Clinical Leads and Skin Integrity CNCs in their roles as part of their involvement NSQSH standards relating to comprehensive care by:

• Collecting data from the Falls and Pressure Injury VIHMS incident reports within the organisation, collating and analysing this data for reporting.
• Liaising with the nursing and multidisciplinary teams to share information about patients who may be at risk of falling, discuss strategies to mitigate those risks and coordinate actions to enhance patient safety.
• Collecting data for Peninsula Health and Monash University who are auditing the effectiveness of mobilisation alarms in a randomised trial, by using disinvestment to investigate how effective mobilisation sensors are

Profile

Acute Medical Unit

Accountability

30 bed unit

Patient care & resource management

Collaborating across departments

Maintaining standards

Management of risks

After a three month period as a temporary team leader, I was offered a permanent position. The position title was changed in May 2008 during hospital wide restructuring and streamlining.

The role required the efficient running of the medical unit on a day to day basis. This involved ensuring the unit was staffed, resourced and managed effectively to meet the high standards expected by Epworth. I also had a responsibility for ensuring that there was a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors by ensuring staff follow Epworth's policies procedure and CPGs and ensuring staff utilised the Riskman for reporting any adverse events.

My role involved collaborating with other departments externally and within the hospital and with members of the multi-disciplinary team which ensured appropriate patient care and initiated effective discharge planning.

I was responsible for enabling staff to meet the ward-based competencies, which I did in conjunction with the Clinical Resource Nurse. I facilitated this by rostering shift patterns where I endeavoured to ensure there was an adequate skill-mix and make certain my colleagues work to high standard which involved good communication skills and compliance with role specific competencies.

The role required a high level of communication skills, time management and the ability to make effective decisions in a fast paced environment. While the day to day operations was critical a large part of the success is the ability to plan future needs and requirements of the unit, this includes recruitment, skill development and retention of quality people. Coupled with this is the ability to recognise the role of cost to ensure the unit is effective in its delivery of service but remains efficient.

Responsibilities

• Ward requirements staff and resources, are assessed and met on a ongoing basis
• Adequate skill mix is met on each shift to ensure high level of care
• Providing nursing support where required
• Liaised with doctors and with wider multi disciplinary teams
• Ensure discharge rates are timely and effective
• Ensure management of change is effected through shift handovers
• Recruitment and appraisals of staff
• First point of escalation for staff grievance or staff performance issues
• Maintaining quality, safety and service ensuring a high level of care provided to patients

Profile

Acute Medical Unit

I was initially recruited as Division 1 nurse within the general medical ward; however, in March 2002 I applied and gained the position of Clinical Resource Nurse within the same unit. There was a wide spectrum of responsibilities in the capacity of this post, which includes mentorship of graduate nurses in which I provided support, education/in-services on pertinent subjects relating to current medical conditions and appraising performance at the end of placement.

I participated in interviewing candidates for both Division 1 and 2 positions within the unit by telephone and in person, and then followed up the interviews by contacting referees. I also have developed an orientation package to introduce new nursing recruits to the ward.

My role also includes providing supervision to overseas nurses looking to gain registration with the Nursing Board of Victoria. I was the facilitator of basic life support updates for all nursing staff within the unit, am utilised as a resource for wound management and in the absence of a team leader am expected to take charge of the unit.

I was associated in the planning, development and launching of the Medical Observation Unit and was involved in the development of new nursing documentation evolving from progress notes to Medical Clinical Outcome Plans and Respiratory Care Pathways.

Responsibilities

• mentorship to graduate nurses
• patient care & direction to graduates
• providing support for recruitment
• ensuring effective orientation and well being of new staff
• delivering performance appraisal for graduates

Extended Roles:

Basic Life Support Facilitator:

Ensuring nursing and ancillary staff are trained within the guidelines of Epworth's BLS Protocols

Profile

Acute Medical Assessment Unit

Participated as a senior ‘E' Grade in the opening of a new Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) which was formally a general medical ward. This unit operated on a non-discriminatory admissions policy, admitting all medical emergencies requiring immediate stabilisation. This ranged from patients presenting with diabetic keto-acidosis to acute myocardial infarction's. Part of my role involved acting as co-ordinator to ensure these patients received optimum treatment and timely placement within an appropriate speciality for their ongoing care. Responsibilities were broad ranging incorporating both managerial and clinical skills. I was regularly expected to take overall charge of the unit.

Extended Roles:

Tissue Viability Link Nurse: Identified Link Nurse within area to facilitate standards within tissue

viability field.

Heart Manual Co-ordinator: Licensed to facilitate patients on cardiac rehabilitation programme.

Male Catheterisation: Trained in catheterisation, products and procedure .

Medical Devices: Identified Link Nurse. In charge of rolling programme of staff

on all medical devices.

Profile

Acute Medical Ward

The AMAU was previously a general medical ward where I developed as an ‘E; Grade Staff Nurse. At this point the ward received acute and long stay medical patients. As a senior nurse I was the designated Named Nurse, responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating programs of care in conjunction with the Multi-disciplinary team as well as maintaining standards. In this post I lead the nursing care management of a wide variety of patients from admission through to co-ordination their discharge planning. An additional requirement of my role was to act as mentor to newly qualified nurses as well as a preceptor to degree/diploma students.

Profile

Rheumatology Ward

This specialised in rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, SLE, and other forms of mixed connective tissue diseases. I participated in all aspects of care delivery as well as an active role in the rehabilitation of patients, this included the organisation and facilitation of patient education classes, examples of this were pain management and disease process.

Profile

Acute Medical Ward. Consolidated my nurse training by gaining excellent foundation skills in patient care and workload management. Developed research based approach to nursing care. This was also an opportunity to strengthen interpersonal and communication skills.