Tara Vundum

• Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patient's acuity levels and individual needs.
• Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
• Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
• Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
• Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.

• Developed my understanding of the Emergency Department, and how to provide comprehensive and thorough care (within a relatively restricted time frame for ETP purposes).
• Focussed on being organised, and being able to provide my pod-members with support, but also asking for help when I felt my patient-load was too unwell for me to provide appropriate care alone.
• Escalating unwell patients, and communicating constantly with my team, the MDT, and our Red-Shirt to ensure patients were appropriately pain-free, between the flags, medications charted, a plan in place, and moved to a ward as soon as possible.
• Blood and cannulation trained.
• Worked as in-charge on MACU and ESSU, led multiple resusses, provided assistance to other staff members by cannulating and doing their bloods or observations.
• Worked with students a lot, as teaching is something I enjoy most about being a nurse, and can remember always admiring the nurses who took the time to help me learn on the job during placements.
• Optimized patient flow within the Emergency Department by collaborating with charge nurses in coordinating bed assignments and discharges according to capacity constraints.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction by delivering compassionate, culturally sensitive care tailored to individual needs and preferences.
• Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.

I have always been very proud of my work in mental health. I commenced by graduate program in March 2019 and was offered a full time position in May 2019 as a reflection of my performance. I worked in the high dependency unit, and as such have participated in many safe restraints. As per policy, we aim to never restrain consumers either physically or chemically. I aim to work closely with my clients to commence deescalation as they begin to feel frustrated, rather than needing to de-escalate an aggressive patient. While this is not always possible, I believe good mental health nursing will allow for it much of the time. I enjoy all aspects of mental health nursing.

Skills I have developed during this time include:

● Very strong de-escalation abilities.

● Continued study to retain optimal levels of education, using evidence-based practice, and staying up to date on policies and procedures.

● Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviours and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities to prevent further disability.

● Audited charts daily and reviewed all clinical documents to verify accuracy and completeness, progress towards core measurable targets and completion of appropriate patient health education.

● Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.

● Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare personnel to meet patients' personal, physical, psychological and cognitive needs.

● Performed ongoing assessments to evaluate mental health needs, working with a multidisciplinary team to develop, initiate, manage and modify individualized plans of care.

• Participated in case conferences to discuss complex cases collaboratively with colleagues from various disciplines for better decision-making processes.
• Improved patient outcomes by developing and implementing individualized care plans focused on mental health needs.

• Worked in a variety of wards including medical, surgical, and high acuity.
• Delivered patient care and managed treatment plans with clinical expertise.
• Administered medications to enhance patient health outcomes.
• Improved patient satisfaction by providing compassionate care.
• Coordinated with healthcare teams to optimize patient recovery.
• Enhanced recovery rates by implementing evidence-based practices.
• Monitored patient progress to ensure timely interventions.
• Promoted healthy lifestyle choices to prevent disease.

• Quality control manager on CCU - ensured new quality projects were commenced and completed monthly. These such programmes include education for nurses, and implementing safer environments for staff and patients such as emergency boxes in each room.
• Worked closely with the doctors to ensure patients had a clear pathway, monitoring their results, and feeding back this information immediately to the treating team.
• CCU is an acute care setting based on 12hour shifts.
• Mentor for the student nurses who had placements on the ward.
• Improved patient outcomes by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
• Assisted in emergency procedures, ensuring adherence to safety protocols.
• Enhanced patient comfort, addressing individual needs and concerns.
• Maintained accurate patient records for seamless communication and follow-up.
• Improved recovery rates by educating patients and families on post-discharge care.
• Improved patient safety by adhering to infection control guidelines.
• Enhanced team efficiency, participating in shift handovers and briefings.
• Supported patient advocacy, communicating effectively with family members.