Desiree Mae Cepicky

I started working in CCU Hopkins 9 years ago, making me one of the senior bands 5's. The ward's reputation of providing medical and personal care to patients and their families is a well-respected fact. I made sure that I uphold the standards of the ward in my work and dealings with the patients and their families. As a way of supporting the nurse in charge I made it a point of relieving her with minor tasks that nonetheless significant in running a shift as a whole such as; updating the Teletracking, updating the Nervecentre (red to gean) as appropriate to the patient's plan of care, made it a point to be present on ward rounds with sufficient knowledge of the patients, and if necessary able to carry on a ward round should the nurse in charge be needed somewhere else.

I am aware that every patient is unique and different. It is imperative to have this understanding and realised that to treat a person requires team work. I respect the role that every member of the multidisciplinary team has to offer and never hesitated to escalate and liaise with them for assistance so that appropriate, efficient, and timely treatment and care is provided.

Being a senior member, I provided support and guidance to both newly qualified and junior nurses that are struggling with immersing themselves to the role and still finding their confidence on the floor. I offered them endless encouragement and well measured help with tasks. I have learned that for a person to learn, as difficult as it might seem, experience is still the best teacher. However, I never hesitated to offer myself and help them with minor task so they are able to prioritise their workload.

I work closely with the health care assistants (HCA's) because years of experience has taught me never to undermine their importance and the difference they made between a good shift and one that struggles. Days on the floors can be hectic but with a good support system all is possible. I communicated with them clearly the goals and expectations for every shift and I do not hesitate in providing them a what-to-do list (ECG's, weights, BM's, fluid monitoring, frequency of observations, nil by mouth status, anticipated deterioration of patients and same day or next day procedures so they can assist in preparing the patients), to which in my experience they were always grateful because they felt involved and guided. During the initial outbreak of the COVID crisis the working bond between a nurse and HCA was unbreakable. The support and trust you have for each other as you literally risk your life to the unknown is equally heartwarming and heartbreaking. One of the highlights of my nursing profession was when I was the first nurse to look after a covid patient on the ward. Despite being uncertain about the situation, I managed to approached the situation and modelled that with good planning, following safety measures, and clear communication we remained effective, efficient, and productive on times of an unknown crisis.

During the period that Nervecentre went live in the Trust, I initiated a format on presenting information and highlighting the flow of the patient's hospital care (diagnostics, laboratory test/results, or significant information that serves as a heads up) in a glance to the different medical professional involved in the patient care. And I am very proud to say that the CCU Hopkins pioneered and remained to be the leading best user of the different potentials that the Nervecentre has to offer.

In rare instances where we had complaints from patients or their families, I professionally yet realistically dealt with the situation ensuring that there is a personal touch of empathy, as often times these complaints are rooted out of frustrations such as long waiting time to get admitted, long hospital stay, long waiting times for a procedure, and poor communication from the medical team especially the doctors. In cases wherein conflict was not resolved I offered assistance in properly escalating the conflict following the Trust's protocol and how complaints were done properly.

• Upheld strict adherence to hospital policies and procedures, contributing to consistent high-quality service delivery.
• Coordinated daily ward operations, ensuring smooth flow of patient care.
• Monitored and evaluated staff performance to maintain high standards of nursing care.
• Fostered a positive working environment by promoting effective team collaboration.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction by addressing concerns promptly and professionally.
• Mentored junior nurses for improved clinical skills and professional growth.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive patient care.
• Developed personalised care plans for optimal treatment outcomes.
• Optimised resources utilisation, minimising wastage whilst maintaining quality care.
• Maintained accurate medical records to comply with legal requirements and support diagnostic processes.
• Facilitated family meetings, promoting understanding of patients' conditions and treatment plans.
• Liaised effectively with physicians for timely execution of medical orders.
• Provided emotional support to patients and their families during difficult times.
• Participated in regular training sessions for continuous professional development.
• Ensured adequate staffing levels on each shift, managing schedules efficiently.
• Maintained open communication lines amongst staff members for better coordination.
• Promoted a culture of respect and dignity within the ward, enhancing overall patient experience.
• Dealt with emergencies with calm and composure.
• Complied with quality healthcare standards to uphold hospital reputation.

One of the highlights of my nursing profession was when I was the first nurse to look after a COVID patient on the ward. Despite being uncertain about the situation, I managed to approached the situation and modeled that with good planning, following safety measures, and clear communication we remained effective, efficient, and productive on times of an unknown crisis.

During the period that Nervecentre went live in the Trust, I initiated a format on presenting information and highlighting the flow of the patient's hospital care (diagnostics, laboratory test/results, or significant information that serves as a heads up) in a glance to the different medical professional involved in the patient care. And I am very proud to say that the CCU Hopkins pioneered and remained to be the leading best user of the different potentials that the Nervecentre has to offer.

I worked as a lead nurse and a part-time manager at Normal House Nursing Home for three years before coming to work at the hospital. It was a 24 bedded Nursing Home that look after elderly people requiring support with their medical need, safety, and general wellbeing as they approach the later stage of their life so they may continue to enjoy it with confidence and dignity. People diagnosed with dementia were common. We also provided care and support to people with mental health issues that has not met the criteria for sectioning and can be manage safely in a nursing home setting.

I was full time on the floor as a nurse and partly involved with the management side of the Home. I was a well-rounded nurse and my responsibilities included but not limited to administering medications, checking blood sugar levels, taking vital signs, providing PEG feeding, providing wound and catheter care. I liaise, make referrals, and ensure that our patients/residents are compliant with their appointments with their general practitioner, District Nurses, chiropodist, physiotherapist/occupational therapist, and community tissue viability nurses. In doing so, I established and maintained a good working relationship with members of the multidisciplinary team within the community. General practitioners are known for being particular with their home visits due to the workload but because we established a good reputation with them, a request for home visits for patients that as acutely deteriorated or has medical concerns in any form were dealt promptly. I did the monthly ordering of medications and made sure that stocks were changed or replenished before the beginning of the new cycle. I was also responsible for the monthly drug audit both for regular and controlled drugs which are submitted back to our local pharmaceutical supplier for record keeping. I sat down with family on their visits or attend to phone calls and give them updates and addressed concerns. I maintained a professional, yet open and honest relationship with the families providing them the opportunity to voice out concerns and issues in an understanding and neutral environment.

• As part of management, I took part in organising and preparing the Home and staff prior and during the CQC inspection. I was actively involved on the day of inspection and sat down with CQC inspectors discussing matters that were relevant to the Home. I was involved in the planning and implementation of plans and protocols as action plan either as feedback to the inspection or to maintain the standards of care we provided to our residents. I had held meetings with social workers and sometimes solicitors if legal matters are involved. I made sure that every shift is safely covered both in skill mix and numbers. I allocated keyworkers to our residents and delegated to staff the responsibility of keeping the resident's records and care plans up-to date and relevant, monthly auditing of the residents' personal belongings and replenishing the stocks. In doing so, staff has the sense of involvement and accountability and not just solely there to provide personal care or assist with feedings. I encouraged an honest and friendly working environment amongst the staff. I organised team building activities and provided inspirations for them to work harder by giving them a well-deserved recognition for their hard work. As most of the healthcare assistant are on the NVQ pathway, I arranged study days and allow them the opportunity to discuss and share to the group a chosen topic as a means of educating the workplace but also as a helpful tool in their studies. I was a frontline in resolving conflicts among residents. Most of the residents had diagnoses of dementia, disorientation to the environment and their present life role are very common, this a strong trigger point in creating misunderstanding amongst residents leading to an outburst of uncontrolled behaviours and hurtful words. In very rare occasion the conflict can involve a resident and staff so as amongst staff.

• Assisted in patient care, improved comfort and well-being.
• Provided basic health education to patients for proper self-care post discharge.
• Delivered high-quality patient service by maintaining cleanliness in the Home
• Prepared meals for patients, ensured balanced nutrition intake.
• Assisted in physical therapy sessions with patients to promote mobility improvement.
• Managed personal hygiene of bed-bound patients, maintained dignity and respect at all times.
• Escorted patients for tests or procedures within the hospital premises whilst ensuring their safety and comfort.
• Assisted elderly residents with daily tasks such as eating, bathing and dressing up for an enhanced quality of life while living in care homes.
• Coordinated activities that encourage social interaction amongst residents within the care home setting to foster a sense of community spirit among them .
• Handled challenging behaviour from dementia-affected individuals effectively without resorting to force or intimidation.
• Assisted in all aspects of personal care, retaining comfort and dignity.
• Helped individuals with day-to-day activities while consistently encouraging independence and self-belief.
• Worked closely with nurses to maintain high levels of communication.
• Completed care documentation and monitored patient progress to achieve up-to-date records.
• Safely escorted patients during medical appointments and hospital visits.
• Met with patients and families to discuss care plan adaptations, seeking continual improvement.
• Provided compassionate personal care for elderly patients, offering support with washing, dressing and toileting.
• Administered blood tests and blood pressure checks.

• Adapted teaching methods to cater to individual student needs.
• Created engaging lesson plans for IELTS preparation.
• Developed effective strategies for students to improve their English proficiency.
• Boosted student confidence by providing regular feedback on performance in mock tests.
• Utilised multimedia resources to enhance the learning experience for students.
• Stayed updated on latest changes in IELTS formats and scoring systems.
• Guided individuals towards achieving high scores in IELTS test by identifying strengths and weaknesses.
• Assisted weak learners with extra attention, leading to improvement in language skills.
• Set exam papers for practice sessions, ensuring comprehensive coverage of syllabus content.
• Fostered a positive and encouraging atmosphere that facilitated learning effectively.
• Offered constructive criticism whilst praising achievements, promoting motivation among learners.
• Engaged students in group discussions, enhancing their spoken English skills significantly.
• Maximized student participation in class activities through implementing interactive teaching methods effectively.
• Provided frequent opportunities for speaking practice, improving fluency of the learners significantly.
• Adapted teaching styles and resources to suit student age and ability.
• Prepared students to take official exams, achieving high success rate.
• Established positive, productive classroom environments for maximized student engagement.

• Provided comprehensive patient care, bolstered recovery.
• Administered medication for symptom management.
• Liaised with multidisciplinary team to improve patient outcomes.
• Managed wound dressing changes, promoted healing.
• Recorded patient data for accurate medical records.
• Monitored vital signs, ensured stability.
• Assisted doctors during examinations and procedures, enhanced efficiency.
• Maintained strict infection control standards throughout ward duties, minimized cross-contamination risks.