Donna James
Spinningdale,IV24
Summary
Experienced Registered Nurse with extensive expertise in administering regular and PRN medicines, controlled drugs, and injections. Proficient in pain assessment and management for individuals unable to recognise or report discomfort, alongside monitoring vital signs using NEWS scoring and providing skin care, pressure area care, and wound management. Demonstrates strong infection control awareness and is a certified trainer in ‘Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression’ as well as psychological interventions for stress and distress in dementia. Experienced in clinical risk assessment, delirium management, cognitive stimulation therapy for dementia, and CBT techniques for older adults. Known for excellent communication skills, empathy, teamwork, and the ability to remain calm under pressure while delivering compassionate care tailored to individual needs.
Loyal employee with solid understanding of training and mentoring employees. Dedicated team player, proactive and hands-on in task completion.
Takes on challenging new role harnessing interpersonal skills, collaboration and problem-solving. Driven to deliver high-quality service and consistent results.
Overview
1
1
Certification
20
20
years of professional experience
Work history
Extended maternity leave
05.2023 - 07.2026
Private night care
William Lobban
Bonar Bridge, Highland
07.2022 - 05.2023
- Provided care and support to a lady with dementia and her family, enabling her to remain at home during final months of her life. Worked 2 nights per week, delivering overnight care to optimise her physical and psychological needs. Offered psychoeducation to family and care team, enhancing their understanding of her behaviours and needs.
Older Adult CPN East Sutherland CMHT
04.2020 - 06.2022
- Mental health assessment, and treatment of older adults within their home or at a clinic. This included functional mental illness and dementia, as well as taking into account the person’s physical comorbidities and needs, and how their needs might change as their illness progresses.
- Administration of, and monitoring medication efficacy, as well as looking out for adverse side effects.
- Risk assessment and management; completing risk assessments and management plans, working within legal frameworks when applicable.
- Part of my role was to provide stress and distress training to other health and social care workers, and to continue to work with these staff in their areas providing supervision and support. I also took referrals for residents in care homes who were experiencing stress and distress, if appropriate I would assess them and work with staff to complete psychological formulations and care plans.
Staff Nurse
Dementia Inpatient Service Migdale Hospital, Bonar Bridge
Bonar Bridge
10.2006 - 04.2022
- Inpatient assessment and care of individuals with dementia and complex needs. Implementing care plans, risk management and identifying future needs. Delivering day to day nursing care, from ensuring basic hygiene needs to meeting complex psychological needs at end of life.
- Administered and monitored medication to ensure patient safety and compliance with treatment protocols.
- Monitored and recorded vital signs, responding promptly to any significant changes to ensure patient stability.
- Using relevant screening tools to measure cognitive or physical base lines, and monitor progress or decline.
- Completing referrals and liaising with the wider MDT, utilising excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- During OOH time I was often the nurse in charge of the hospital, also covering an older adult general ward as the most senior staff member. Being the nurse in charge of a remote and rural hospital, required me to be able to make competent clinical and management decisions.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mental Health Nursing
SVQ Level 3 Health Care - Pre Nursing Course
Skills
- Administration of regular and PRN medicines, controlled drugs and injections
- Pain assessment and management in people who may not be able to recognize or report they are in pain
- Monitoring of Vital signs; NEWS scoring
- Skin monitoring; pressure area care and wound care
- Good infection control awareness
- ‘Prevention and management of Violence and aggression’ trainer
- Psychological interventions in response to stress and distress in dementia trainer and practitioner
- Trained in ‘Cognitive stimulation therapy for people with dementia’
- Completed ‘Introduction to CBT for older adults
- Trained in ‘The decider life skills
- Experienced in clinical Risk assessment and management
- Experienced in recognizing and managing delirium in older adults
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Caring and compassionate, able to empathize with people and relate to them on an individual level
- Team player
- Calm under pressure
Affiliations
- I enjoy gardening, walking my dogs and being creative.
Certification
NMC pin 03I0154S
Timeline
Extended maternity leave
05.2023 - 07.2026
Private night care
William Lobban
07.2022 - 05.2023
Older Adult CPN East Sutherland CMHT
04.2020 - 06.2022
Staff Nurse
Dementia Inpatient Service Migdale Hospital, Bonar Bridge
10.2006 - 04.2022