MARGARET MCMURRAY
Cambridge,Canada
Summary
Registered healthcare professional with a strong background in critical care environments. Adept at handling high-stress situations and addressing complex patient needs. Demonstrates exceptional team collaboration skills, quickly adapting to evolving circumstances to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Proficient in advanced patient monitoring, emergency response, and therapeutic interventions. Recognized for reliability, empathy, and effective communication abilities that enhance both patient care and team efficiency.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinator – Clinical Responder
Ontario Health - Trillium Gift of Life Network
10.2021 - Current
- Approach families to offer the opportunity for organ and tissue donation and provide support throughout organ donation and end of life process
- Provide “just in time” education to clinical staff to relay new organ donation best practices and refresh previous knowledge
- Facilitate organ donation through assisting healthcare team in donor management, coordinating testing for the purpose of assessing organ suitability and involving the appropriate stakeholders to arrange OR
Resource Nurse – Intensive Care Unit ICU A/B
Grand River Hospital
01.2015 - 10.2021
- Responsible for managing the safe and effective care of 20 Med/Surg ICU and 9 step-down beds
- Maintaining day to day staffing of 17 nurses per shift while considering acuity, patient safety and budget constraints. Optimized staffing levels through efficient resource allocation during high census periods or staff shortages.
- Provided leadership, guidance, and mentorship to nursing staff to encourage ongoing individual growth and patient safety
- Navigated and troubleshot high stress situations using all available resources to support the high-quality care provided by the medical team
- Provided clinical expertise during difficult medical situations, ensuring optimal patient outcomes through sound decision-making skills.
- Enhanced interdisciplinary communication through effective collaboration with physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during difficult medical situations.
- Served as an advocate for both patients and fellow staff members by addressing concerns or issues promptly and professionally.
- Evaluated new medical equipment prior to procurement, ensuring feedback was given based on departmental needs and budgetary constraints.
- Promoted a culture of safety by consistently following infection control guidelines and reporting any potential hazards or safety concerns.
- Participated in accreditation program to ensure minimum standards were met or exceeded
Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinator – On Call
Trillium Gift of Life Network
05.2012 - 05.2021
- Approach families to offer the opportunity for organ and tissue donation and provide support throughout the organ donation and end of life process
- Facilitated organ donation through assisting the healthcare team in donor management, coordinating testing for the purpose of assessing organ suitability and involving the appropriate stakeholders to arrange OR
- Provide maternity leave coverage in a full time OTDC role at Hamilton Health Sciences requiring a focus on Hospital Development including policies, procedures and staff education relating to organ and tissue donation across the organization
Registered Nurse – Intensive Care Unit
Grand River Hospital
06.2003 - 06.2022
- Care of the critically ill medical and surgical patient population in a closed access ICU
- Demonstrated advanced critical thinking skills while managing complex clinical situations involving multiple organ systems failures in critically ill patients.
- Skills include cardiac monitoring, use of invasive pressure lines, infusion and titration of inotropic drugs, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy and others
- Assisted physicians with bedside procedures, ensuring accurate treatment administration and timely patient recovery.
- Mentored new nursing staff, facilitating smooth integration into the ICU unit and promoting a supportive workplace culture.
- Participated in continuing education opportunities to remain current on best practices and advancements within the field of critical care nursing.
- Critical Care Response Team - Ministry of Health mandated team that provides rapid medical support to other units to prevent Cardiac Arrest or ICU admission in the case of a deteriorating patient
- Provided education and guidance to floor staff in urgent medical situations
Registered Nurse – Emergency Medical Assistance Team
Sunnybrook Base Hospital
01.2004 - 05.2012
- Provided emergency medical assistance to areas of Ontario overwhelmed by disaster or disease
- Received ongoing training in Protected Code Blue, CBRN, Mass Casualty Incidents
Registered Nurse – Intensive Care Unit
SRT Medstaff
12.2005 - 07.2008
- Agency work providing supplemental Critical Care Nursing staff to various hospitals in GTA
- Required the ability to assimilate quickly into varied work environments and adjust to changing needs
Registered Nurse - Coronary Care Unit
Grand River Hospital
05.2001 - 06.2003
- Cared for the cardiac patient through the critical and recovery phase of illness and assisted with the transition back into the community
- Delivered high-quality patient care, maintaining accurate documentation of assessments, interventions, and evaluations.
- Initiated appropriate interventions during life-threatening arrhythmias, preserving patient stability and preventing further complications.
- Facilitated smooth transitions of care between hospital units by effectively communicating with receiving teams about patient status.
Education
Perianesthesia Nursing Course -
Conestoga College
Cambridge, ON12.2024
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
St. Francis Xavier University
Antigonish, Nova Scotia01.2018
Critical Care Review -
Brenda Morgan Workshop
Hamilton, ON01.2011
CCRT Training Workshop -
Critical Care Response Team
Toronto, ON01.2006
Coronary Care Certificate -
Conestoga College
Cambridge, ON01.2003
Registered Nurse Diploma -
Cambrian College
Greater Sudbury, ON01.2001
Bookkeeping Certificate -
Cambrian College
Greater Sudbury, ON01.1998
Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma -
Cambrian College
Greater Sudbury, ON01.1997
Skills
- Organizational skills
- Multitasking skills
- Leadership skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Intensive Care Nursing
- Organ donor procedures
- End-of-life care
- Clinical judgment
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Conflict resolution
- Professionalism
- Public speaking
- Knowledge of Microsoft Products Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Teams
- Knowledge of Hospital based EMR programs Cerner, Meditech, Epic
- Cultural sensitivity
- Indigenous Health Cultural Competence
- Patient Safety Essentials
Certifications
- Canadian Nurses Association Certification in Critical Care, 01/01/11
- Indigenous Health Cultural Competence – Ontario Health
- Patient Safety Essentials – Healthcare Excellence Canada
- BCLS, 11/01/24
- ACLS, 03/01/24
- Crucial Conversations Certification, 01/01/17
- N95 Mask fit testing, 01/01/24
- Certified by the Ontario Society of Medical Technologists, 06/01/97
- Class G Ontario Driver’s License, 01/01/90
Hobbies and Interests
- Equestrian sports
- Travel
Timeline
Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinator – Clinical Responder
Ontario Health - Trillium Gift of Life Network
10.2021 - Current
Resource Nurse – Intensive Care Unit ICU A/B
Grand River Hospital
01.2015 - 10.2021
Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinator – On Call
Trillium Gift of Life Network
05.2012 - 05.2021
Registered Nurse – Intensive Care Unit
SRT Medstaff
12.2005 - 07.2008
Registered Nurse – Emergency Medical Assistance Team
Sunnybrook Base Hospital
01.2004 - 05.2012
Registered Nurse – Intensive Care Unit
Grand River Hospital
06.2003 - 06.2022
Registered Nurse - Coronary Care Unit
Grand River Hospital
05.2001 - 06.2003
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
St. Francis Xavier University
Perianesthesia Nursing Course -
Conestoga College
Critical Care Review -
Brenda Morgan Workshop
CCRT Training Workshop -
Critical Care Response Team
Coronary Care Certificate -
Conestoga College
Registered Nurse Diploma -
Cambrian College
Bookkeeping Certificate -
Cambrian College
Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician Diploma -
Cambrian College
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