Critical Care Concentration
I chose to pursue a critical care concentration, gaining even more clinical experience at the end of my internship. Extra hours working with the ICU dietitian at Mountainside Medical Center and several weeks under the guidance of a dietitian in the renal and pancreas transplant division of Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center were invaluable to my internship experience. In addition, several of the settings I participated in at Nemour's Children's Health served a critical care population.
1
Mountainside Medical Center ICU
Functioned as a critical care dietitian under the supervision of my preceptor to provide nutrition education when appropriate and provide optimal nutrition for patients via diet order changes, supplementation, and enteral & parenteral nutrition support.
2
Nemour's Children's Health: PICU, CICU, Oncology
Collaborated with dietitians in critical care settings such as the pediatric ICU, cardiac ICU, and inpatient oncology setting. Examined patients with congenital conditions affecting nutrition status and feasibility of nutrition intervention and employed critical thinking to determine the best clinical approach.
3
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Renal Transplant Division
Functioned as part of an interdisciplinary team to promote success for patients post-transplant, including but not limited to nutrition education regarding food safety, post-transplant diabetes, food-medication interactions, and nutrition for various states of kidney disease
Through my preceptor, a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), I was able to learn about and observe patient education about insulin, glucagon, and continuous glucose monitors (GCMs).
4
Critical Care during the COVID 19 pandemic
Working in the ICU this winter when COVID cases once again approached sky-high levels, the implementation of proper nutrition in the ICU was vital. Working with patients on medications such as pressors and propofol allowed me to become more well-versed in non-nutritional factors that can affect an intervention. I also become even more involved in the interdisciplinary team at this time, as communication was essential when patient interactions were so limited.
Professional Research Project (PRP)
Above are several slides I used as visual aides to deliver my PRP, "Implementation of a VBF Protocol: Barriers, Benefits, and Steps to Successful Implementation" to an audience of my peers and RD's. The presentation qualified for 1 CEU for all who attended. Researching this topic helped me to further immerse myself in the world of critical care.