MICHELLE JOHNSON

• Duties - scrub/scout (OR surgical team) for endoscopy, general, vascular, gynaecology and ENT surgery. Up to 15 patients/day, depending on type of procedure.
• Maintain a sterile environment within the operating room, reducing the risk of infection.
• Utilize sterile techniques and infection-control guidelines to maintain clean and safe environment.
• Implement time-out protocols before starting surgeries, verifying correct patient identification and procedural details.
• Document surgical procedure and patient care on hospital Surginet computer program as per hospital protocol.
• Mentor new nurses entering the profession, guiding them through their initial experiences within the operating room setting.
• Train new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Prepare equipment and supplies necessary for each surgical procedure, ensuring availability when needed by surgeons.
• Adapt quickly to changing situations in the operating room, utilizing problem-solving skills under pressure.
• Collect, label and transport specimens to lab for testing.
• Assist in complex surgeries with precise execution of tasks, ensuring optimal outcomes for patients.
• Advocate to protect health, safety, and rights of patient.
• Manage efficient use of operating room resources, including minimizing waste.
• Continually update knowledge on best practices through ongoing professional development.
• Promote a culture of teamwork within the surgical suite by fostering open communication and collaboration among colleagues.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient outcomes and enhance OR practices.

• Duties - pre-operative patient assessment, scrub/scout/Post Anaesthetic Care Unit Nurse for endoscopy, general, obstetrics (caesarean sections) and dental surgery.

Responsibilities and activities in addition to those mentioned above:

• Performed pre-operative assessments to prepare patients for surgery.
• Manage efficient use of operating room resources, streamlining procedures and minimizing waste.
• Enhance patient safety by implementing strict adherence to surgical protocols and guidelines.
• Conducted thorough preoperative assessments to identify potential risks and address concerns prior to surgery.
• Provided instruction to patients and family members before and after surgical procedures.
• Monitored patients during recovery and provided post-operative care.
• Provided compassionate support to patients during recovery, monitoring vital signs and administering medications as needed.
• Document treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.

• Duties - scrub/scout for general, vascular, ENT, dental, gynaecology and minor orthopaedic surgery.

Additional activities employed at Calvary:

• Managed efficient use of operating room resources, streamlining procedures and minimizing waste.
• Enhanced patient safety by implementing strict adherence to surgical protocols and guidelines.
• Participated in quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient outcomes and enhance OR practices.
• Contributed to interdisciplinary meetings by sharing expertise on operating room processes and patient care requirements.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – ENT (ear, nose & throat) Surgery

Additional responsibilities and achievements to those stated above include:

• Responsible for maintenance and ordering of equipment and disposable items.
• Educated new staff in specialty.
• Organised trials and purchase of equipment for new nasal sinus surgery.
• Participated in accreditation activities specifically designed for the OR.
• Participated on interview panels for other CNS applicants.

• Duties - scrub/scout for general, vascular and head and neck surgery.

Additional activity:

• Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients. Westmead, a large referral hospital , treats patient's with multiple traumas.

• Duties - scrub nurse for ENT surgery, (Saturday morning shift during maternity leave)

• Duties - scrub/scout (OR surgical team) for endoscopy, general, vascular, gynaecology and ENT surgery.
• CNS: vascular surgery, Sep 1994 – Jan 1996
• Educated new staff in the specialty.
• Ordered equipped and supplies - including specialty vascular grafts.
• Primarily scrub nurse for vascular, ENT, gynaecology, urology and minor orthopaedic surgery.
• Anaesthetic and recovery room nursing