Belinda Couture

• Delivery of direct patient care through the assessment and management of pre-op and post-op orthopedic patients.
• Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members and nursing students, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
• Experience in the organization and management of a 21 patient unit through liaison and mentorship of multidisciplinary team as the unit charge charge nurse.
• Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients' acuity levels and individual needs.

• Front line staff skilled in the assessment and management of patients with continued substance use
• Application of harm reduction-based principles
• Providing support, resources and patient teaching to clients with continued use of controlled substances

• Front line staff skilled in the treatment of the medically acute patient completing a hospital stay either for the purpose of detox or for an alternate reason with simultaneous continued substance use concerns
• Experience completing assessment tools such as a mental status exam, suicide risk assessments and withdrawal scoring (CIWA/COWS)
• De-escalation of high stress situations using non-violent crisis intervention techniques
• Applications of the theoretical stages of change to meet patients where they are at in their journey with substance use

• Front line staff skilled in the triage and assessment of patients seeking assistance with detox from drugs and/or alcohol
• Management of patients in acute withdrawal
• Primary liaison within a multidisciplinary team including physicians, psychiatrists, addictions counsellors and nursing aids
• Utilizing therapeutic communication and trauma informed care with a diverse client population

Neuro/ Trauma Post-op Surgical Unit - Royal Alex Hospital

• Includes ICU step down observation room experience

Endoscopy Department (Prep, Recovery & Theatre) - University of Alberta Hospital

Neurosciences Program & Neuro ICU - Vancouver General Hospital

• Includes ICU step down and observation room experience.

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) - Royal Alex Hospital

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) - Alberta Hospital