Sarah Graham
Registered Practical Nurse
Kitchener,ON
Summary
Dedicated Nurse Extern with proven expertise in vital signs monitoring and compassionate care, honed at The Darling Home for Kids. Excelled in clinical judgment and patient advocacy, significantly improving care continuity and patient satisfaction. Adept at leveraging healthcare technology and providing emotional support, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care.Complex care for respite and palliative care for medically fragile and technology dependant children.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
Work History
Nurse Extern
The Darling Home for Kids
- Performed accurate documentation of patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Remained calm during high-stress, critical situations, demonstrating sustained focus and problem-solving in real-time.
- Consistently adhered to strict safety guidelines while administering medications or performing invasive procedures.
- Created an efficient shift handover process which improved continuity of care between nursing shifts.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
Nurse Extern Med Surge Unit
Stratford Hospital
05.2024 - 06.2024
- Assisted with activities of daily living by helping patients with bathing, changing clothes, eating, and daily hygiene tasks.
- Assisted with patient ambulation and use of mobility assistance aids to reduce risks.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported any changes to nursing staff.
- Collaborated with supervising nurses to ensure quality care for all patients on the unit.
- Observed and reported any changes in patient condition to proactively address potential risks.
- Promoted a safe and comfortable environment for patients by adhering to infection control protocols and maintaining cleanliness within the facility.
- Monitored and documented patient intake and output levels and reported concerns to care team.
- Demonstrated adaptability by working seamlessly across various clinical units based on staffing needs or volume fluctuations within the hospital setting.
- Provided compassionate care to patients during difficult times, promoting emotional well-being and recovery.
- Checked patient status to report signs and symptoms of adverse reactions to medication.
- Effectively managed time and resources to provide optimal patient care during high-volume shifts, ensuring timely provision of necessary interventions.
- Enhanced communication between interdisciplinary teams for better patient outcomes.
- Used evidence-based practices to guide decision-making, resulting in optimal patient outcomes.
- Prepared and administered medications in accordance with established protocols.
- Practiced patient care by taking vital signs and providing wound care for patients.
- Provided emotional support to family members during critical situations, fostering trust and open communication among caregivers, patients, and families.
- Administered medications accurately and efficiently, reducing the risk of medication errors.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families, facilitating more comfortable healthcare experience.
- Enhanced patient safety by promptly addressing concerns and reporting observations to nursing staff.
- Contributed to clean and safe environment by adhering to infection control and safety guidelines.
- Enhanced patient and family education by distributing relevant health care literature and resources.
- Improved patient satisfaction with compassionate bedside manner and attentive care.
- Improved care outcomes by participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and sharing observations.
- Improved team communication, ensuring all members were informed of patient needs and care plans.
- Enhanced patient care quality by assisting nurses with routine checks and monitoring vital signs.
- Facilitated patient hygiene and comfort by assisting with personal care tasks.
- Supported patient nutrition by assisting with meal planning and feeding as necessary.
- Administered medications under supervision, ensuring accuracy and adherence to treatment plans.
- Conducted patient mobility exercises to support physical rehabilitation and recovery.
- Participated in patient education sessions to encourage healthy lifestyle choices and self-care practices.
- Assisted in wound care for patients, promoting faster healing.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
Nurse Extern Medicine
St. Mary’s Hospital
01.2024 - 04.2024
- Assisted with activities of daily living by helping patients with bathing, changing clothes, eating, and daily hygiene tasks.
- Assisted with patient ambulation and use of mobility assistance aids to reduce risks.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported any changes to nursing staff.
- Collaborated with supervising nurses to ensure quality care for all patients on the unit.
- Observed and reported any changes in patient condition to proactively address potential risks.
- Promoted a safe and comfortable environment for patients by adhering to infection control protocols and maintaining cleanliness within the facility.
- Documented and communicated patient information in EMR system for accurate tracking.
- Monitored and documented patient intake and output levels and reported concerns to care team.
- Demonstrated adaptability by working seamlessly across various clinical units based on staffing needs or volume fluctuations within the hospital setting.
- Provided compassionate care to patients during difficult times, promoting emotional well-being and recovery.
- Checked patient status to report signs and symptoms of adverse reactions to medication.
- Handled specimen collection and prepared for transport to facilitate laboratory testing.
- Effectively managed time and resources to provide optimal patient care during high-volume shifts, ensuring timely provision of necessary interventions.
- Enhanced communication between interdisciplinary teams for better patient outcomes.
- Used evidence-based practices to guide decision-making, resulting in optimal patient outcomes.
- Prepared and administered medications in accordance with established protocols.
- Practiced patient care by taking vital signs and providing wound care for patients.
- Provided emotional support to family members during critical situations, fostering trust and open communication among caregivers, patients, and families.
- Administered medications accurately and efficiently, reducing the risk of medication errors.
- Actively participated in continuing education opportunities for personal growth as well as improved patient outcomes through updated knowledge of best practices within nursing standards.
- Supported efficient operation of healthcare team by maintaining organized patient records and charts.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families, facilitating more comfortable healthcare experience.
- Enhanced patient safety by promptly addressing concerns and reporting observations to nursing staff.
- Contributed to clean and safe environment by adhering to infection control and safety guidelines.
- Enhanced patient and family education by distributing relevant health care literature and resources.
- Improved care outcomes by participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and sharing observations.
- Streamlined patient admission and discharge processes, reducing wait times and administrative burden.
- Conducted patient mobility exercises to support physical rehabilitation and recovery.
- Assisted in wound care for patients, promoting faster healing.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
Education
Central Venous Lines - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College Institute of Technology And Advanced Learning
Kitchener, ON12.2024
Anatomy And Physiology For Infusion Therapy - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College Institute of Technology And Advanced Learning
Kitchener, ON12.2024
Starting IV Lines And Venipuncture - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College
12.2024
Infusion Therapy In Clinical Practice - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College
12.2024
Registered Practical Nurse - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College
12.2024
Skills
- Vital signs monitoring
- Clinical judgment
- Compassionate care
- Feeding assistance
- Electronic charting
- Mobility assistance
- Wound care
- Direct patient care
- Catheter care
- Patient assessment
- Injection administration
- Infection control
- Health promotion
- Family education
- Documentation accuracy
- Patient needs assessment
- Treatment Planning
- Anatomy
- Cultural history
- Healthcare technology
- Personal hygiene management
- Neurophysiology
- Personal support
- Nursing team support
- Medication and IV administration
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Blood draw and sample collection
- Compassionate and caring
- Certified in CPR/AED
- Documentation
- Clear patient communication
- Decision-making
- Accurate documentation
- Medication administration
- Procedure assistance
- Patient condition monitoring
- Care coordination
- Collecting vitals
- Patient and family advocacy
- Nursing performance assessment
- Microsoft office
- Routine examinations
- Patient care assessment
- Oxygen saturation standards
- Patient care oversight
- Preventive healthcare
- Instrument sterilization
- Diet and nutrition
- Delegation and motivation
- Strong clinical judgment
- Chronic disease management
- Intake and discharge
- Test interpretations
- Immunizations and vaccinations
- Patient consultation
- Treatment recommendations
- Tracheostomy care
- Intravenous therapy
- Preventive health
- Rehabilitation assistance
- Insulin medication assistance
- Patient examination
Languages
English
Full Professional
Registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario
Member with the CNO 2024
Timeline
Nurse Extern Med Surge Unit
Stratford Hospital
05.2024 - 06.2024
Nurse Extern Medicine
St. Mary’s Hospital
01.2024 - 04.2024
Nurse Extern
The Darling Home for Kids
Central Venous Lines - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College Institute of Technology And Advanced Learning
Anatomy And Physiology For Infusion Therapy - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College Institute of Technology And Advanced Learning
Starting IV Lines And Venipuncture - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College
Infusion Therapy In Clinical Practice - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College
Registered Practical Nurse - Practical Nursing
Conestoga College
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