Melissa Busuttil

Whilst working in the medical imaging department I have learnt and been deemed competent in the following:

-Admission, pre and post care for patients undergoing interventional procedures

-Preparation, set up and opening of sterile equipment on procedure trolleys for the days procedures as per ACORN standards.

-Assisting with the transfer of patients on and off procedure tables as per WHS guidelines

-Assisting with procedures in the capacity of a scrub or scout nurse adhering to all ACORN standards.

-Clinically monitoring a patient during and after procedures and if need be escalating to a RN, DR, CNUM and treating team

-Advocating for my patients in relation to pain, best practice, education and ensuring a positive experience for them.

-I am able to check and administer oral and IV contrast, monitor patients during the scan post administration, treat for reaction or extravasation if this occurs and educate patient/provide post care instructions.

-I am a lead member of the infection control portfolio in my department, and a gold star hand hygiene auditor and as such conduct weekly hand hygiene audits of the department and provide education to staff regarding the same. I am responsible for entering this data via the hand hygiene portal and reporting these results to my NUM, department and hospital infection control committee in various formats and meetings.

I create, coordinate and implement risk management strategies to improve my departments infection control practices.

- I have completed my hospital endorsed train the trainer course for basic life support and as such can conduct annual basic life support assessments on fellow staff members and provide education regarding the same.

-For the last year i have taken up a non clincal role with in my department as the interventional bookings liaison officer. As such I liaison with the hospital teams to book all medical imaging procedures in for both in and outpatients. Duties of the role include: receiving and processing request forms and ensuring they are correctly complete, booking procedures via Karisma portal and communicating with all multidisciplinary bodies involved( ie: admitting team, interventionalists, medical imaging and ward nursing staff, radiographers, anaesthetic team and bed manager) EMR/ Patient portal communication and entry, completing patient nurse health assessments, providing patient information regarding procedural preparation, providing patient education both pre and post procedure, following up with patients post procedure via ward round or telephone consult for patient satisfaction and quality service reporting, liaising with our Angio coordinator to ensure we have the correct equipment and stock available for procedures, liaising with the NUM and TL to ensure we have adequate staffing levels to complete procedures safely.

• Assessed incoming trauma victims quickly in collaboration with other healthcare providers for immediate life-saving measures.
• Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians.
• Delivered compassionate care to patients of diverse ages, backgrounds, and medical needs in the fast-paced emergency department setting.
• Educated families about medication management at home following hospitalization or discharge instructions postprocedure.
• Responded effectively to rapidly changing situations by adapting treatment plans as necessary for optimal patient outcomes.
• Reduced wait times for patients by effectively prioritizing cases and allocating resources.
• Improved patient outcomes by efficiently assessing, triaging, and treating emergency room patients.
• Assisted physicians with bedside procedures such as intubations, central line placements, and lumbar punctures to ensure optimal patient care.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex patients.
• Served as a preceptor for new nursing staff, providing guidance and support during their orientation period.
• Provided emotional support to patients and families during difficult experiences while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Closely monitored critical patients requiring continuous observation or frequent intervention due to unstable conditions.
• Performed thorough physical assessments on each patient upon arrival to the emergency department, identifying urgent medical concerns and initiating appropriate interventions.
• Participated in emergency department quality improvement initiatives, identifying areas for potential growth and implementing strategies for enhanced patient care.
• Maintained accurate documentation of patient assessments, treatments, interventions, responses, and dispositions using electronic health records systems.
• Administered medications accurately according to established protocols while monitoring for potential adverse reactions or side effects.
• Developed strong rapport with patients by actively listening to their concerns and addressing their questions regarding treatment options.
• Provided on-going education to patients regarding their medical conditions, diagnostic tests, procedures, medications, and preventive measures.
• Enhanced teamwork among staff through clear communication and collaboration in high-stress situations.
• Contributed to the development of evidence-based nursing practice through participation in continuous education opportunities and professional organizations.
• Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
• Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
• Delivered important IV and venous medications to control symptoms and provide effective treatments.
• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
• Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
• Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.