Paige A. Smaha
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Oak Park,IL
Summary
Dynamic and highly skilled Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience in high-acuity Cardiac ICU settings. Expert in managing critically ill patients including those requiring advanced mechanical circulatory support such as IABP, Impella, and LVAD. Organized leader in high-pressure situations, routinely running and overseeing emergency resuscitation efforts. Proficient in placing central venous catheters and arterial lines. Collaborative and confident team member who thrives in interdisciplinary environments, contributing to high-quality, evidenced based care. Known for clinical excellence, adaptability, and a strong drive to improve outcomes in cardiovascular critical care.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Nurse Practitioner, Cardiovascular Thoracic Unit
Advocate Christ Medical Center
01.2023 - Current
- Perform advanced bedside procedures such as arterial line placement, trialysis catheter insertion, transvenous pacemaker placement, and Swan-Ganz catheter placement.
- Manage ventilators, vasoactive medications, hemodynamics monitoring, and mechanical circulatory support devices.
- Provide rapid assessment and management of acutely decompensating patients, including initiating emergency interventions and stabilizing critically ill patients in high-acuity settings.
- Conduct comprehensive patient assessments, including history-taking, physical examinations, and diagnostic testing to formulate effective treatment plans.
- Develop and implement individualized care plans for diverse patient populations, ensuring alignment with best practices and evidence-based guidelines.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to manage complex cases, enhancing patient outcomes through coordinated care strategies.
- Educate patients and families on health management strategies, chronic disease management, and preventive care to empower informed decision-making.
- Train new staff on clinical protocols and workflows, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improving team efficiency in delivering patient care.
Registered Nurse, Surgical Trauma ICU
Advocate Christ Medical Center
01.2016 - 01.2023
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action during trauma and emergency situations involving serious head injuries, cardiac arrests, stroke alerts, gunshot wounds, thoracic trauma, and multiple other various conditions.
- Safely operated and managed various medical devices, and equipment including continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), chest tubes, arterial lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, central lines, ICP/EVD monitoring devices, mechanical ventilators, and rapid fluid administration equipment.
- Monitored patient condition changes by interpreting and identifying irregular telemetry rhythms and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity with urgency.
- Proficiently administered and appropriately titrated multiple life-sustaining medications.
- Actively anticipated and proactively prevented acute, critical, and/or complex chronic conditions that may result in rapid physiologic deterioration or life-threatening instability.
- Effectively collaborate and communicate with the healthcare team to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Performed pertinent physical comprehensive/problem-focused, mental health, functional status, and developmentally appropriate examinations.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Utilized strong interpersonal skills to cater to emotional needs of the patient, family, and other individuals involved.
- Intermittently assumed the role as charge nurse.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL 01.2012 - 01.2016
Master of Science in Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL 01.2019 - 01.2022
Skills
Advanced hemodynamic monitoring and interpretation
Ventilator and airway management
Mechanical circulatory support management (IABP, LVAD, Impella)
Cardiac arrhythmia recognition and management
Post operative bleeding and cardiac tamponade management
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)- cardiac, lung, IVC
Invasive line placement (arterial line, CVC, trialysis, Swan-ganz)
Acute recognition and stabilization hemodynamically unstable patients
Nurse Practitioner Practicum Experiences
- Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL, Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit, 180, Randi Rockwell, AG-ACNP
- Advocate Sherman Hospital, Elgin, IL, Medical Intensive Care Unit, 360, Joseph Jones, AG-ACNP, Tiffany Sayani, AG-ACNP
Licensure And Certification
- Registered Nurse, (041442398), 01/01/16, Present
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) (2022041967), (ANCC) 07/11/22, Present
- Controlled Substance
- DEA Certificate
- BLS and ACLS for Healthcare Professionals
Timeline
Nurse Practitioner, Cardiovascular Thoracic Unit
Advocate Christ Medical Center
01.2023 - Current
Master of Science in Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Lewis University
01.2019 - 01.2022
Registered Nurse, Surgical Trauma ICU
Advocate Christ Medical Center
01.2016 - 01.2023
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Lewis University
01.2012 - 01.2016
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