Samantha McCracken

Nurse Management and Education

• Manage 15 nurses across 5-bed PACU and long-stay inpatient surgical hospital.
• Streamline nursing operations by optimising staff schedules, resource allocation and workflow processes.
• Foster improvement in staff development by providing ongoing mentoring and support, developing education programs, optimising professional development opportunities to improve workplace culture, individual and team competencies, clinical knowledge and delivery of exceptional patient care.
• Lead teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritising evidence-based best practice standards of care and manage performance issues in a constructive and timely manner.
• Develop evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
• Oversee and approve nurse recruitment, training, orientation and rostering.

Quality Improvement and Operational Management

• Direct day-to-day nursing and operational functions for medical and nursing staff for The CAPS Clinic, Sole'vita Surgery Private Hospital and 360UV Skin Cancer Clinic ensuring exceptional delivery of care.
• Actively participate in relevant committees to remain abreast of industry standards and regulation changes to manage organisational policy development ensuring alignment with NSQHS and ACORN standards.
• Regularly participate in management and relevant committee meetings to discuss and address issues related to patient safety, quality of care, and compliance with regulations to improve healthcare delivery and ensure compliance with industry standards.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with medical, nursing and administration staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
• Manage budgets effectively, identifying cost-saving measures while maintaining high-quality patient care standards.
• Lead quality improvement projects to enhance clinical outcomes through data-driven analysis and targeted interventions.
• Prepare and review infection control surveillance reports to identify trends and develop effective actions to control and prevent infections and surgical wound breakdowns.
• Develop and implement a risk management reporting system and champion a culture of quality improvement rather than blame.
• Conduct regular risk assessments and facility inspections to identify areas of potential vulnerability and implement corrective actions where necessary.
• Contribute to organisational strategic planning by providing insights on nursing best-practices, workforce development issues and healthcare trends affecting service delivery models.

Patient Care

• Collaborate with medical and nursing personnel and interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient care and develop comprehensive care plans for patients with complex needs.
• Develop strong relationships with community partners to facilitate continuity of care for patients transitioning between healthcare settings.
• Serve as a liaison between hospital and nursing leadership, administration, medical staff, allied health professionals, patients, families, and other stakeholders to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
• Oversee admissions and discharges and champion patient advocacy working collaboratively with nursing and medical staff to provide comprehensive care
• Serve as a clinical expert and advisory resource to nursing staff and patients on expected outcomes of surgery, normal trajectory of recovery and management of post-operative complications.
• Respond to and manage behavioural and medical crisis codes.

• Mentored nursing staff and promoted opportunities for professional development, contributing to a supportive work environment and improved retention rates.
• Trained new nurses in best practice techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Regularly participated in professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in the field of nursing.
• Assessed competency levels among nursing staff, identifying areas of improvement for targeted interventions.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for the development and implementation of evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Served as a subject matter expert in clinical practice areas, offering specialised instruction to enhance skill sets among nurses.
• Increased collaboration among nursing staff, promoting shared decision-making and improved patient outcomes through targeted educational initiatives.
• Reduced knowledge gaps by creating customised training plans that addressed specific needs within the nursing team.
• Improved patient safety by conducting simulation exercises that strengthened nurses' critical thinking skills as part of the education team.
• Remained up to date on clinical protocols, procedures and developments within the Emergency Department to serve as informational resource to novice nurses, junior doctors and students.
• Evaluated the effectiveness of training programs, making necessary adjustments to optimise learning outcomes.
• Assessed educational needs of nursing staff and researched clinical instruction trends to develop educational curriculum and competency tools for clinical procedures.
• Maintained compliance with accreditation standards by updating curriculum materials in accordance with industry best practices.
• Fostered a culture of lifelong learning among nursing staff through ongoing support and mentoring in line with adult learning principles.
• Enhanced patient care by developing and implementing comprehensive nursing education programs.
• Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
• Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities to encourage critical thinking skills among nursing staff.

• Utilised critical thinking skills to conduct thorough patient assessments and prioritise nursing interventions based on patients' acuity levels, changing conditions and individual needs.
• Initiated and administered medications safely according to established guidelines and extended scope of practice.
• Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
• Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
• Improved patient outcomes by implementing advanced and evidence-based nursing interventions and early escalation of care.
• Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
• Advocated for patients during resuscitation and provided support for patients' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
• Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the department.
• Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies, reduce wait times and improvement patient experiences.
• Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms using well developed critical thinking skills to ensure timely and appropriate health care.
• Delivered exceptional care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
• Swiftly responded to situations impacting safety and security to the department, actualising crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
• Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of patient behavioural and physiological changes, and implemented appropriate interventions in collaboration with the medical team.
• Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritising standard of care and best practices.
• Used clinical expertise to manage complex cases of critically-ill patients ensuring optimal emergency department treatment plans were executed effectively.
• Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients both within the Emergency Department and as a MET responder.
• Maintained high-level contemporaneous documentation to ensure smooth continuity of care throughout patient's hospital journey and fulfil medico-legal requirements.
• Maintained patient confidentiality and dignity at all times.

• Kindergarten health checks
• High school immunisation program
• Childhood immunisation program
• Paediatrics - medical/surgical/adolescents/high care wards
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Special Care Nursery