Shift Charge Nurse
Working as the floor charge nurse, I am able to use the leadership and clinical expertise I have gained during my ten years as an inpatient mental health nurse. Over the past year I have served as the charge nurse for approximately 40 shifts. Specific dates are available upon request.
Interdisciplinary Treatment Team Representative
Three times a week all the disciplines of the Aspen Unit meet to discuss patient treatment plans. Communication skills are key, to share observations from a nursing perspective, but also to relay the team's insights back to the nursing staff. Over the past year I attended approximately 15 treatment team meetings. Specific dates are available upon request.
Visit Prepping
The number of opportunities each week for patients to visit with family is limited. The physical space where these visits occur should not be an additional limitation. For this reason I have prioritized preparing the unit for weekend afternoon visits. Beyond personally cleaning the tables and sweeping the floors, I am attentive to the furniture arrangement to balance capacity and proximity. Finally I ensure water and coffee are available.
Shadow and New Hire Preceptor
During an orientation period, many new employees are not only beginning a new job, it is the beginning of a career. As a trainer of new nurses, I make an effort to not simply teach the execution of tasks, but to encourage the critical thinking unique to mental health nursing. Specific dates are available upon request.