Ruby Grudzinskas

• Provide holistic nursing care to paediatric patients on a 16-bed ward specialising in burns, plastics, craniofacial, ENT, and surgical care, while also supporting medical outliers.
• Safely manage a caseload of up to four patients per shift, performing comprehensive pre- and post-operative assessments and creating individualised care plans in collaboration with the MDT.
• Monitor, identify, and escalate early signs of patient deterioration.
• Deliver family-centred education and support on common procedures (e.g. appendicectomy, cleft repair, burn management), ensuring families feel informed, reassured, and confident in ongoing care.
• Perform advanced wound care and burns dressings with increasing independence and expertise.
• Maintain meticulous eMR documentation and provide structured ISBAR handovers to ensure safe and consistent care transitions.
• Demonstrate compassion and empathy by taking time to listen to and support families, promoting trust and positive hospital experiences.
• Proactively pursued CPD and upskilling since returning from maternity leave, completing advanced competencies and broadening scope of practice to support higher acuity patients.

Key Competencies & Accreditations:

• Medication safety and administration, including PCA/NCA management (accredited)
• CVAD management and care (accredited)
• Chest drain management (accredited)
• Advanced wound care, burns dressings, and ANTT techniques
• Effective discharge planning and family education
• Strong prioritisation, time management, and communication within the MDT

• Supported multiple areas across the hospital including Burns, Orthopaedics, Neurology, Emergency, Oncology, Day Surgery, and Outpatient Clinics.
• Predominantly worked in the outpatient Burns and Plastics Treatment Centre, assisting in: Assessing observations, heights and weights, pre-sedation checklists (confirming fasting requirements and previous medical history), monitoring recovery from sedation, Adhoc form documentation and distraction / assistance with play therapy.

• Provided care to children (0–18 years) with complex disabilities and chronic conditions.
• Independently managed a caseload of 3–4 patients, following a care management plan to provide care and physical support.

Developed competency in:

• Personal care (showering, changing, oral care)
• Seizure management
• Oral and enteral feeding
• Hoist transfers
• Nursing handover and documentation

• Led a motivated and enthusiastic team to provide a safe and supportive environment for children to engage in meaningful activities.
• Provided support to children with disabilities, where I worked closely with children with Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome and Autism.