Sandy Barraza
Chicago
Summary
Compassionate psychiatric Registered Nurse with comprehensive experience in mental health nursing. Works well with diverse patient populations and fosters trusting relationships to improve outcomes. Proven to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle difficult patients and high-stress situations. Skilled in patient assessment, crisis intervention, and therapeutic communication. Adept at collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to provide high-quality care.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai Hospital
07.2022 - Current
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Administered psychiatric medications, ensuring compliance with treatment plans and monitoring patient responses.
- Conducted comprehensive mental health assessments to identify patient needs and develop individualized care plans.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient care and enhance treatment efficacy.
- Educated patients and families on mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies.
- Mentored junior nursing staff in best practices for psychiatric care, promoting professional development.
- Led crisis intervention initiatives, providing immediate support during acute psychiatric episodes.
- Ensured patient safety by closely monitoring behaviors, administering medications as prescribed, and intervening during incidents of aggression or selfharm.
- Advocated for patient rights and well-being, fostering a safe therapeutic environment within the facility.
- Built trust with patients from various cultural backgrounds through culturally competent care practices tailored to individual needs.
- Responded to numerous volatile situations and violent outbreaks to restore safety and security of patients and staff.
- Oversaw care of suicidal patients and acted swiftly to reduce risk of harm to themselves or others.
- Collaborated proactively with psychiatrists to adjust treatment plans based on observed changes in symptoms or behavior patterns among patients.
- Promoted a therapeutic environment by establishing rapport, maintaining boundaries, and fostering open communication with patients and families.
- Administered medication and treatments to patients to observe and record responses.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regime
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Performs clean and accurate blood draws.
Patient Care Technician
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Prentice Women's Hospital
07.2017 - 08.2021
- Assisted in transferring patients, beds and patient care equipment to other rooms adhering to necessary safety precautions.
- Documented patient information and care activities in electronic health record.
- Helped patients with self-feeding and assisted feeding, based on individual needs.
- Completed activities of daily living for patients unable to self-care, and assisted those with limited mobility in completing tasks.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Responded to patient requests for supplies and personal comfort items such as extra blankets.
- Maintained patient stability by checking vital signs and weight and recording intake and outtake information.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Instituto College
Chicago, IL12-2021
Skills
- Charge RN
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Patient safety
- Empathy
- Medication management
- Urgent and emergency care skills
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Ethics and professionalism
- Technology skills
- Patient assessments
- Documentation and charting
- Crisis intervention
- Suicide prevention
- De-escalation techniques
- Discharge planning
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Substance abuse treatment
- CPR certification
- Monitoring vital signs
- Electronic health records
- Blood draw and sample collection
- Vitals monitoring
- Delegation and motivation
Certification
- BLS
- CPI
Timeline
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai Hospital
07.2022 - Current
Patient Care Technician
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Prentice Women's Hospital
07.2017 - 08.2021
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Instituto College