Alicia Hedges
Summary
- In good standings with the CNO as a Registered Nurse
- Exceptional organizational skills managing conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment with progressively changing clinical trajectories, maintaining a calm and measured composure while connecting with people during high-stress and demanding situations
- Demonstrated compassionate interpersonal skills in delivering safe, high-quality nursing care through comprehensive health assessments, interdisciplinary teamwork, supportive counselling, on-going education, health promotion, and patient advocacy
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Community Health Nurse
Department of National Defence
02.2024 - Current
- Provides immunizations to entitled personnel to ensure operational readiness of base military population
- Provides community health services in accordance with DFHP and unit's health policies and procedures
- Exceptionally knowledgeable in immunization standards inclusive of North American and Mission Specific Standards (OUTCAN, missions and deployments)
- Liaisons with community partners to provide allergy immunotherapy to military members
- Continually provides patient education to military members in regards to vaccine preventable diseases, sexual health and hypertension when needed.
- Demonstrates exceptional leadership and organizational skills through creation of reference documents created for peer use.
- Demonstrates exceptional organization and leadership by streamlining process for vaccine parades such as, BMQ, NOREX DAG and mass vaccine clinics to result in higher efficiency while reducing potential patient safety incidents.
- Collaborates with many different members within the health clinic to ensure the best care can be provided to our military members.
- Fosters a collaborative work environments by ensuring team members feel valued and supported
Mental Health Registered Nurse
Homewood Health Centre
07.2022 - 02.2024
- Administered psychotropic medications, monitoring for side effects, effectiveness, and making adjustments as necessary to optimize treatment outcomes.
- Worked with a variety of patients with complex needs including anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, eating disorders, and acute psychiatry.
- Established rapport with patients from diverse backgrounds through empathic listening and culturally sensitive communication practices.
- Coordinated discharge planning with patients, families, and community providers to ensure continuity of care and successful transition back into the community.
- Educated patients and family members about medical conditions and mental health, medications, treatments and preventive measures.
- Provided crisis intervention services during psychiatric emergencies, ensuring patient safety through effective de-escalation techniques.
- Enhanced patient safety by conducting thorough assessments, identifying potential risks, and initiating interventions as needed.
- Utilized supportive therapy, motivational interviewing, CBT and DBT with patients during 1:1 meetings to address the needs of the patient.
- Demonstrated strong patient assessment skills through mental health assessments and use of a variety of questionnaires and rating scales to monitor patients trajectory of treatment.
- Participated in case conferences to discuss complex cases collaboratively with colleagues from various disciplines for better decision-making processes.
- Keeping the best interest of the patients in mind by implementing health protection through the Mental Health Act in order to protect vulnerable patient populations.
- Conducted a variety of assessments, recorded changes in patient conditions and laboratory test results in a timely manner.
- Alleviated patient fears of treatments using kind, empathetic communication and language while also referring to skills learned through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
- Provided support to the Interventional Psychiatry Team and worked as the PACU registered nurse in Electroconvulsive Therapy as well as worked as the Infusion Nurse providing Ketamine through IV.
Public Health Nurse, Investigation and Outbreak
Region Of Waterloo Public Health And Emergency Services
08.2022 - 04.2023
- Provided case management, contact tracing and outbreak management for Acute Respiratory Illnesses, Influenza, Enteric and COVID-19 illness in long-term care, retirement homes and congregate settings
- Advised long term care and retirement homes on prevention and preparedness for managing cases, contacts and outbreaks, including assessing for and communicating Ministry of Health testing guidance and self-isolation to all high-risk contacts
- Investigating reports of suspected or confirmed cases and contacts of COVID-19, ARI, Influenza and Enteric illness
- Actively monitored symptomatic staff and residents in these facilities, and completing timely data entry and reporting in the provincial surveillance system
- Makes independent decisions in emergency situations with prompt notification to manager, director, and AMOH.
- Advises manager, Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH) of reported cases and seeks recommendations for follow-up in complex cases
- Provided support to the COVID-19 Mass Immunization Program
- Ensuring all vaccines are maintained in cold chain standards and assisting in the implementation of vaccine storage
- Administered vaccinations via intramuscular injection and completed proper documentation.
- Maintained detailed records of vaccinations administered, ensuring accurate reporting for public health purposes.
- Stayed up-to-date on evolving guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines, applying current best practices when administering doses to patients.
- Educated patients on the importance of vaccination, addressing concerns and providing accurate information about possible side effects.
- Providing education on contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination, and management of adverse vaccine reactions, such as anaphylaxis
Labour and Delivery Registered Nurse
Guelph General Hospital
05.2022 - 07.2022
- Exhibited strong critical thinking skills in responding to emergencies such as postpartum hemorrhage or neonatal resuscitation, collaborating with the healthcare team to provide prompt interventions and stabilize patients' conditions.
- Performed rapid patient assessments, care planning, pain management, and ongoing patient education during labour, childbirth, and postpartum.
- Interpreted electronic fetal monitoring, and intervened to minimize obstetrical emergencies while diligently documenting care provided
- Communicated and collaborated inter-professionally with physicians, midwives, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists, lactation consultants and social workers to provide safe, outstanding care
- Helped families initiate breastfeeding and/or hand expression within one hour of birth, providing breastfeeding teaching, encouragement and support, including those experiencing significant breastfeeding challenges, while following the Baby Friendly Initiative guidelines
- Prepared families to return home by providing guidance to new mothers on postpartum recovery and infant care, performing mother and infant assessments and new-born care discharge teaching.
- Knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual health and harm reduction strategies.
- Participated as an effective team member within an interdisciplinary health setting with community members of various backgrounds and cultures.
COVID-19 Contact Tracer
Region Of Waterloo Public Health And Emergency Services
12.2021 - 09.2022
- Reduced COVID-19 transmission by effectively identifying and contacting exposed individuals.
- Provided emotional support for distressed individuals during difficult conversations surrounding their potential exposure to COVID19.
- Enhanced community safety, providing clear guidance on isolation and quarantine procedures to exposed individuals.
- Improved contact tracing efficiency with accurate data entry and case management system utilization.
- Maintained compliance with all relevant privacy and confidentiality regulations, ensuring the protection of sensitive personal information throughout the contact tracing process.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON12-2021
Skills
- Strong leadership abilities
- Effective communication
- Collaborative teamwork
- Patient Advocacy
- Effective time management
- Quick learner in new environments
- Health education
- Medical documentation
- Patient education and counseling
- De-escalation
- Supportive interpersonal skills
- Welcoming attitude
Certification
- Current Certification of Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario
- Secondary Duty HAZMAT Course - 2025
- Secondary Duty Spill Response Training - 2025
- Secondary Duty HRMA - 2024
- Education Program for Immunization Competencies - 2024
- Sentinel - 2024
- Mask Fit - 2024
- CPR Level - BLS - 2024
- Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Health - 2021
Professionalism and Excellent Communication award - McMaster University 2022.
Awarded for excellent communication skills and professionalism by McMaster University in 2022 when I graduated with my BScN Degree
Timeline
Community Health Nurse
Department of National Defence
02.2024 - Current
Public Health Nurse, Investigation and Outbreak
Region Of Waterloo Public Health And Emergency Services
08.2022 - 04.2023
Mental Health Registered Nurse
Homewood Health Centre
07.2022 - 02.2024
Labour and Delivery Registered Nurse
Guelph General Hospital
05.2022 - 07.2022
COVID-19 Contact Tracer
Region Of Waterloo Public Health And Emergency Services
12.2021 - 09.2022
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
McMaster University
Similar Profiles
Tyler RoehlTyler Roehl
United States Marine at Department of National DefenceUnited States Marine at Department of National Defence
Jason McleanJason Mclean
Refrigeration Hvac and Controls Technician at Department of National DefenceRefrigeration Hvac and Controls Technician at Department of National Defence
Evan WeatherallEvan Weatherall
Materiel Management Technician / Procurement Specialist at Department of National DefenceMateriel Management Technician / Procurement Specialist at Department of National Defence
Jason David MacDonaldJason David MacDonald
Combat Engineer at Department of National DefenceCombat Engineer at Department of National Defence
Laura MillerLaura Miller
Community Health Nurse at Polk County Health CenterCommunity Health Nurse at Polk County Health Center