Sara Mackie
Hamilton,ON
Summary
Dedicated Registered Nurse with a proven track record at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, specializing in psychiatric care and crisis intervention. Expert in mental health assessments and adept in DBT, CAMS, and Motivational Interviewing. I possess strong communication skills, adaptability to perform in high-stress environments and ability to work effectively in team settings. My approach combines empathetic patient care with rigorous evidence-based practices, driving meaningful progress in mental health treatment.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
07.2023 - Current
- Implemented evidence-based and best practice problem-solving interventions to establish protective measures for suicide prevention and self-harm.
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress and setbacks related to their diagnoses and treatment plans.
- Facilitated individual DBT therapy, where I showed empathy toward clients, while providing them with an environment conducive to reducing their problem behaviors and building toward a life worth living.
- Co-facilitated psychoeducation and skills groups for DBT, homework help groups, information sessions, and beating the boredom groups.
- Assisted physicians in the clinic with client consultations and assessments.
- Provided Charge Nurse coverage for the clinic, along with processing referrals as needed.
- Completed yearly grants to better the clinic through the St. Joseph's Comfort Fund.
- With the Comfort Fund money, I piloted the idea to create Distress Tolerance kits for the BPDS program to distribute to our clients.
Mental Health Registered Practical Nurse
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, ON
06.2018 - 06.2023
- Advocating for patients by supporting and respecting patients' rights, values, and beliefs.
- Counseling patients and caregivers, providing emotional and psychological support.
- Conducted an independent risk assessment for self-directed violence, analyzing risk factors, protective factors, mental status, and current triggers.
- Developed a collaborative safety plan with patients and reviewed it after any incidents or passes.
- Collaborated with treatment and service providers using an interprofessional, interdisciplinary team approach for continuity of care.
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions
- Administered oral, IV, and intramuscular medications, and monitored patient reactions.
- Coordinated with healthcare team to establish, enact and evaluate patient care plans
- Implemented evidence-based and best practice problem-solving interventions to establish protective measures for suicide prevention and self-harm
RN Student Concurrent Disorders Placement
St.Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, ON
09.2022 - 12.2022
- Delivered therapeutic support to patients dealing with substance use, addiction and mental health concerns and illnesses
- Co-facilitated Moving Forward Skillfully Group which is DBT informed
- Collaborated with team members to monitor treatment progress and improve individual clients' plans
- Educated patients on detox and withdrawal, medications, recovery, post acute withdrawal, coping skills and referred to community resources
- Completed comprehensive assessments of clients' substance use history and goals to develop individualized treatment plans with them
- Created and reviewed safety plans with any incidents
- Maintained clinical documentation for each case with detailed and timely updates
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON04.2023
Pratical Nursing Diploma
Mohawk College of Applied Arts And Technology
Hamilton, ON05.2017
Skills
- Sound knowledge of psychiatric disorders
- Mental health assessments
- Strong knowledge of risk assessment and management
- In-depth knowledge of psychopharmacology, including current psychotropic medications and their side effects
- Ability to assess and manage co-morbid medical disorders
- Knowledge of the Application of Consent and Capacity, as well as the Mental Health Act
- Motivational interviewing
- Crisis Intervention and Management
- Patient redirection and de-escalation
- Creating safety plans, reviewing, and updating
- Team Collaboration
- Therapeutic communication
- Proficient in Dovetale, Word, Excel, etc
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Nursing staff leadership
- Community mental health resources
Certification
- Conducting Effective & Adherent Individual DBT Sessions- DBT Centre of Vancouver Oct 2023
- CPI April 2024
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)- An Evidence Informed Approach Towards Change April 2024
- CAMS Foundational Online Course for Assessing and Treating Suicidal Risk- May 2024
- CPR Heart and Stroke Sept 2024
Timeline
Registered Nurse
St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
07.2023 - Current
RN Student Concurrent Disorders Placement
St.Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
09.2022 - 12.2022
Mental Health Registered Practical Nurse
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
06.2018 - 06.2023
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
McMaster University
Pratical Nursing Diploma
Mohawk College of Applied Arts And Technology
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