Ariel Castillo

Geri-Psychiatric

• Admissions and discharges are conducted in a timely manner. Responsible for obtaining report for an admission or conducting a nurse-to-nurse report for a discharge ensuring a smooth transition for the patient being either admitted/discharged.
• Care and provide safety for patients who voluntarily come in seeking for therapeutic help for their mental health.
• Medications are administered as scheduled. Consents are required in order to administer psychotropic medications so it's the nurse's responsibility to obtain consent from the patient.
• Hourly and every 15 minute checks are performed on patients to ensure safety. Patients are also sometimes placed on 1:1's.
• Knowledge and MAB certification obtained on how to safely prevent any physical harm to staff.
• Knowledge and education on the use of how to properly apply restraints safely to be placed on a patient if necessary.
• Monitored patient vital signs, documenting changes and communicating with the healthcare team.
• Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
• EPIC is the MAR that is utilized.

Medical-Surgical/Telemetry

• Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by healthcare providers.
• Monitored patient vital signs, documenting changes and communicating with the healthcare team.
• Educated patients and families on health management and post-discharge instructions.
• Responded promptly to patient emergencies, applying critical thinking in high-pressure situations.
• Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
• Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
• Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
• Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
• Change dressings, insert catheters, and start IVs.
• Prepares and administers medications using the rights established by the State Board of Nursing of state employed and facility policies and procedures.
• Delegated tasks when necessary, while also using clear and concise professional communication with coworkers.
• Ensures patient safety. (This includes if a patient is a fall risk, or if there are any restrictions to consider such as left or right arm precautions. Or if a patient is NPO).
• Responsible for obtaining consents before a patient has a procedure scheduled.
• PARAGON is the MAR that is utilized.

Acute Psychiatric Adult

• Patients that are admitted to this hospital are voluntarily, conserved, or on a legal hold. Legal holds such as 5150's, 5250's, or 5270's due to DTS (danger to self), DTO (danger to others), or gravely disabled.
• Maintaining a therapeutic, safe, and structured environment, which includes overseeing unit safety, managing social dynamics, and conducting unit rounds (every 15 minutes).
• Administering psychotropic medication, monitoring for side effects, evaluating therapeutic effectiveness, and administering emergency intramuscular (IM) injections.
• Managing aggressive, suicidal, or acutely psychotic patients through therapeutic de-escalation, behavioral interventions, and, if needed, applying physical restraints or seclusion for safety.
• Teaching coping skills, medication compliance, and self-care to patients and their families.
• Admissions and discharges are conducted in a timely manner. Responsible for obtaining report for an admission or conducting a nurse-to-nurse report for a discharge ensuring a smooth transition for the patient being either admitted/discharged.
• Monitored patient vital signs, documenting changes and communicating with the healthcare team.
• BestCare is the MAR utilized.

Long-term Psychiatric Facility

• Cared for conserved patients that were working towards goals of being discharged to a board and care setting or back home with family.
• Administering medication, monitoring vital signs, facilitating therapeutic activities, recording behavioral observations, and implementing crisis intervention or behavioral management plans.
• Conducted admissions and discharges in a timely manner. Responsible for obtaining report for an admission or conducting a nurse-to-nurse report for a discharge ensuring a smooth transition for the patient being either admitted/discharged. Making sure all questions and concerns were addressed.
• Hourly and every 15 minute checks are performed on patients to ensure safety.
• Conducted therapeutic, recreational, or educational activities as group for the patients.
• Had proper education and technique for the use of restraints if necessary.
• Floor nurse responsibilities included completing and documenting weeklies to monitor patient's progress. Assisting when it was meal time and being present with floor staff, and ensuring that patients aren't choking.
• Certified in CPI in which staff had the knowledge and technique to safely prevent any physical harm to staff.
• Responsible for sending out patient's to a higher level of care if a patient's condition changed.

Neuropsychiatry

• Assisted nursing staff with patient care tasks, ensuring comfort and safety of patients.
• Monitored vital signs and reported changes to nursing team for timely intervention.
• Assisted patients with daily living activities for enhanced comfort and wellbeing.
• Conducted 15 monitor checks on patients. Was also assigned on a 1:1 for patients who required more monitoring.
• Assisted with serving meals and snacks as scheduled.
• Assisted with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding if needed.

Pediatric & Adult Sub-Acute

• Provides essential daily care to patients under the supervision of nurses.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and transferring.
• Responsible for safely repositioning patients every 2 hours.
• Obtained vital signs every 4 hours for the nurses or as needed when delegated by the nurse.
• Utilized a hoyer lift to assist patients with transferring.

Assisted Living Facility/Memorycare

• Assisted nursing staff with patient care tasks, ensuring comfort and safety of patients.
• Assisted patients with activities of daily living such as bathing, transferring, dressing, and feeding.
• Assisted with activities with the elderly to assist with helping to stimulate brain function, maintain physical ability, and enhance communication.
• Repositioned patient's every 2 hours or as needed.
• Obtained vital signs once a shift and as needed if delegated by the nurse.