MARIA ELENA GAFFUD
Airdrie,Canada
Summary
Conscientious, integrity-driven nursing professional with more than 8 years of nursing experience caring for critical patients utilizing critical thinking and assessment skills to prioritize nursing needs. Treat patients of all ages and specializes in delivering effective quality nursing care. Performs in stressful and crisis situations an interprets and applies policies and procedures with good judgement.
Emergency care professional prepared to bring valuable experience to role, ensuring optimal patient outcomes through swift and effective treatment. Focused on collaborative teamwork and adaptability to meet ever-changing demands in high-stress situations. Skilled in patient assessment and emergency interventions, embodying reliability and composure.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Health Care Aide
St. Marguarite Manor
Calgary, AB
09.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: Covenant Care Supported Living Facility
- Provide our residents with assistance as they accomplish daily tasks, including bathing, eating, dressing, grooming and using the restroom
- Attended, participated, and contributed to monthly staff meetings addressing resident needs.
- Perform medical task such as administering medication and checking vital sign
- Maintain all care records in accordance with company policy and audit care records weekly to ensure accuracy
- Communicate any problems, concerns or issues to residents’ family members as needed
- Ensure all patients take medications as directed by health care providers
- Assisted residents with daily dental and mouth care, bath functions, and hair care.
- Build rapport with residents by establishing personal connections and showing interest in their lives
- Respond to any safety or medical issues
- Monitored and inspected residence hall rooms to determine safety and manage maintenance issues.
- Lead daily group and individual activities for entertainment
- Assisted residents in preparing for activity and social programs.
Nursing Student
Peter Lougheed Centre
Calgary, AB
04.2025 - 06.2025
- Supported nursing staff by performing routine tasks such as taking vitals, administering medications, and documenting patient information.
- Conducted thorough head-to-toe assessments on assigned patients during each shift, identifying any abnormalities that required further attention from healthcare providers.
- Worked alongside experienced nursing professionals to learn new procedures.
- Reviewed charts, doctor notes and test results to gather information on patients.
- Reported abnormal findings or changes in physical, mental, and emotional conditions to RN.
- Contributed to a safe and hygienic environment by adhering to strict infection control protocols and maintaining proper sanitation procedures.
- Cleaned and treated wounds to avoid infection and provide protection.
- Assisted nurses in wound care procedures, ensuring proper technique was applied to promote optimal healing outcomes for patients.
- Applied evidence-based practices when providing nursing care to ensure that interventions were grounded in current research and best practice guidelines.
- Demonstrated adaptability by quickly responding to changing patient conditions and adjusting care strategies accordingly.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and subcutaneous injections and monitored responses.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to optimize patient outcomes through comprehensive treatment planning.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
Health Care Aide
Multi – Generational Housing and Community Centre
Calgary, AB
12.2022 - 03.2023
- Demonstrated excellent performance in delivering compassionate care with respect to resident
- Maintained clean, safe, and well-organized patient environment.
- Assisted alien with their personal Hygiene, Toileting, Feeding
- Gained skills in providing Peri-care, showering and comforting residents.
- Learned PCC/POC, DARP charting
- Learned the safety and aspects with respect to caring resident
- Enriched cultural understanding and diversity appreciation through organization of multicultural events.
Health Care Aide Student
Bethany Care Society
Calgary, AB
01.2018 - 03.2018
- Assisted patients with personal hygiene tasks such as bathing, grooming, toileting, ensuring dignity was maintained throughout the process.
- Improved patient comfort by providing compassionate and attentive care during daily activities.
- Assisted patients with mobility, including transfers, ambulation, and positioning, reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
- Demonstrated strong commitment to ethical standards and adherence to HIPAA regulations regarding patient privacy protection within all aspects of professional practice as a Health Care Aide Student.
- Supported patients'' nutritional needs by preparing meals, feeding assistance, and monitoring dietary restrictions as needed.
- Developed rapport with diverse populations of patients through active listening skills and empathetic caregiving techniques that foster trust relationships essential for successful outcomes in healthcare settings.
- Promoted good oral and personal hygiene by aiding patients with shaving, bathing, and teeth brushing.
- Answered call lights and supported patient comfort and safety by adjusting bed rails and equipment.
- Cared for residents in assisted living facility and delivered high-quality support to meet needs.
Emergency Room Nurse (RN 2)
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
10.2008 - 10.2015
- Advanced trauma and cardiac life support, primary and secondary nursing assessment
- Decontamination procedures, Disaster preparedness and management
- Spinal immobilization and extremity splinting
- Managed complex cases involving trauma or multiple organ system failures by providing compassionate care alongside advanced clinical interventions.
- Assess patient’s health problems and needs by performing a general impression of the patient to determine the priority of care based on the immediate assessment and focusing on the patient’s needs.
- Develops a comprehensive plan of care which specifies any routine nursing assistance the patient needs to meet the basic human needs, and describes appropriate nursing responsibilities for fulfilling the collaborative and medical plan of care.
- Assisting in airway management and ventilation, cardiac life support, minor operations such as chest tube insertion, central line insertion, arterial line insertion.
- Performing emergency blood transfusion, insulin infusion, morphine infusion, giving inotropes and vasoconstrictors.
- Preceptor to new students and seasoned nurses.
- Assisted with training and mentoring new emergency room nursing staff members, sharing expertise and fostering a supportive team environment.
- Coached and mentored junior staff to uplift department capabilities.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Peripheral vascular access and assisting in central venous line insertion and IO access
- Delivered important IV and venous medications to control symptoms and provide effective treatments.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Responded effectively during mass casualty incidents or disaster situations by triaging incoming patients quickly according to severity of injuries.
- Performs immediate nursing care to acutely ill patients by providing independent nursing intervention such as proper positioning of the patient and starting oxygen inhalation to decrease discomfort or pain and by giving first aid assistance to injured patients.
- Admission and transfer of patient to critical care units, operating room, catheterization
- Discharge of patients, Health education of patients and family members
Pediatric Nurse
Cagayan Valley Medical Centre
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines
06.2007 - 09.2008
- Provide pre and post operative care including wound care vital sign monitoring and preparation for surgery.
- Interpret test results and develop preliminary treatment plans under physician guidance.
- Administered medication and prescribed therapies and recorded adverse reactions and outcomes.
- Performed periodic checks of patient vital signs and used diagnostic tests to establish physical and medical condition.
- Instructed patients’ families in medical care treatment and community resources.
- Installed IV and central lines and performs phlebotomy duties to obtain blood samples or administer medication
- Ensure the provision of quality medical care to patients requiring emergency treatment in accordance with physician orders, hospital policy, and standard nursing practice.
- Assisting physicians in doing physical examinations and bedside procedures
- Initiate and perform a range of approved nursing measures and procedures based on patient needs related to physical and mental comfort and safety with special reference to pain, hygiene, nutrition and hydration and cardiac and respiratory needs.
- Assists patients during admission to the hospital by meeting the needs of patients and families that addresses immediate intervention.
- Performs immediate nursing care to acutely ill patients by providing independent nursing intervention such as proper positioning of the patient and starting oxygen inhalation to decrease discomfort or pain and by giving first aid assistance to injured patients.
- Cardiac Life Supports
- Prepares patient for and assists in special nursing procedures.
- Evaluates goals and objective of care plans.
Education
Certificate - Bridge To Canadian Nursing
Mount Royal University
Calgary, AB06-2025
Health Care Aide Certificate - Health Care Aide
MTG Healthcare Academy
Calgary, AB04.2018
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines
Philippines03.2006
Doctor of Medical Dentistry - Dentistry
Centro Escolar University
Philippines03.2003
Skills
- Health Care Aide Certified , Alberta approved program
- Registered with the government of Alberta Health Care Aide Directory
- Excellent costumer service gained in working for assisted living facility including Dementia care neighborhood, interacting with residents, families and staff
- Ability to set and adjust priorities, multi tasking and manage time effectively in response to changing units needs
- Proficient and reliable to work under a fact -paced, physically demanding environment
Certification
- BLS
- Dementia Care
- Supportive Pathways
- Health and Safety for Caregiving
- Palliative and End of Life
Timeline
Nursing Student
Peter Lougheed Centre
04.2025 - 06.2025
Health Care Aide
Multi – Generational Housing and Community Centre
12.2022 - 03.2023
Health Care Aide
St. Marguarite Manor
09.2020 - Current
Health Care Aide Student
Bethany Care Society
01.2018 - 03.2018
Emergency Room Nurse (RN 2)
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group
10.2008 - 10.2015
Pediatric Nurse
Cagayan Valley Medical Centre
06.2007 - 09.2008
Certificate - Bridge To Canadian Nursing
Mount Royal University
Health Care Aide Certificate - Health Care Aide
MTG Healthcare Academy
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines
Doctor of Medical Dentistry - Dentistry
Centro Escolar University