Monique Van Ham

Since becoming the Theatre Trainee Nurse, I have been able to learn and become competent in vital surgery nursing skills which make me a strong candidate for this position.

• Understanding the patient's nursing requirements for a variety of different surgeries and medical conditions.
• Able to work independently in wards as the primary nurse.
• Ensure owners satisfaction is met during both admission and discharge of patient's.
• Competent in charting patient's following the veterinarian's plan, including medications and specific nursing requirements.
• Need minimal support completing radiographs, very competent in TPLO x-rays.
• Competent in working up anaesthetic case plans from relevant patient history, to pre-medication and induction drugs.
• Have been the primary anaesthetic nurse for a variety of different patient procedures include spey, castrate, low risk orthopaedic and ophthalmology procedures.
• Able to set up and test anaesthetic machines, including maintaining isoflurane levels, changing soda-lime, and setting up a T-piece breathing system.
• Strong knowledge on surgical instruments and setting up theatres for a variety of surgeries, taking into consideration surgeon preferences.
• Strong knowledge in cleaning and maintaining surgical instruments.
• Competent in using Cubex to stock theatre supplies and medications.

I have been so lucky to be able to complete all my veterinary nurse training and education through SASH, as I have worked alongside very experienced and talented nurses. I have had the amazing opportunity to been able to rotate through many of the hospitals departments, gaining extent knowledge on a variety of different nursing specialities, including Oncology, Emergency, Hospital care, Feline, Medicine, and Surgery/Theatre.

• Obtained relevant patient history from owners on admission to ensure correct patient care.
• Knowledge on common veterinary drugs and medicine, able to adequately explain to owner’s dose/frequency, administration route and side effects.
• Performed full physical examinations on patients.
• Administered prescribed injectable controlled substances, sedatives, and inhalant anaesthetics under supervision.
• Maintained detailed records of animal health care and diagnostic treatments.
• Competent in maintaining and following patient’s plans – Smartflow and EzyVet.
• Collected and prepared specimens for laboratory testing.
• Competent in placing intravenous catheters.
• Competent in fluid therapy set up – aseptic set up and administration.
• Ensure hospital and patient infection control measures are enforced and maintained.

• Maintained clean and organised sterile processing areas to prevent contamination of instruments and equipment.
  Decontaminated surgical instruments to remove blood, bacteria, and other contaminants before sterilisation.
• Inspected sterile package integrity prior to distribution.
• Appropriately handled and disposed of sharps, biohazards, and other hazardous materials.

• Cleaning all dishes, workstations, cooking equipment and food storage areas in accordance with food safety regulations.
• Waiter: Work closely with fellow restaurant staff to provide excellent customer service.
• Event manager: Organising other staff and chefs to keep functions running efficiently.
• Trainer: Assisting with training new staff members.

• Completed guest experience and operations training.