Consuelo Apodaca-Crawley MSN, FNP-BC, CNOR, APRN-FA

Dedicated, compassionate FNP in a thriving Total Joint Practice driven to elevate patient outcomes and satisfaction. Prioritizing patient care through diagnosing, and treating surgical and nonsurgical patients while maintaining a busy outpatient clinic. Surgical first assist for total joint replacements, complex revisions, and traumatic fractures.

• Synchronized care with multidisciplinary teams to promote timely follow-up of treatment and supportive care recommendations for orthopaedic surgical patients.
• Educated patients and families on managing post-treatment home care needs and medication administration.
• Assisted with onboarding, and educating of APPs to facilitate the growth of the practice and team camaraderie.
• Manage an independent clinic for follow up on inpatient post surgical care with safe, and strategic discharge plans.
• Managed patients recovering from surgical orthopaedic procedures.
• Independent interpretation of radiographic and MRI imaging for orthopedic patients.
• Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
• Sustained quality standards by performing routine medication audits and upholding internal and industry best practices.
• First call for the orthopaedic practice involving trauma consults, managing complex fractures, assisting in surgical interventions, inpatient stays with reconciliation of medications and treatment plans. Follow up with surgical patients in clinic. Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
• Diagnose, treat, and manage complex orthopaedic patients.
• Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
• Followed up with all total joint patients for adherence to post-discharge medical and lifestyle plans.
• Surgical first assist for total joint replacement and complex revisions.
• Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
• Obtained additional resources from Medical Executive Committee to begin process of acquiring Core Certification for Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty through the Joint Commission.

Perioperative nurse in the operating room specializing in Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic spine at UNMH Main OR. Nationally certified in area of specialty.

• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions
• Implemented quality patient care techniques to align with safety, health and organizational regulations.
• Built rapport with patients and family members to deliver exceptional care.
• Maximized team performance by monitoring nursing care, including patient assessment processes and treatment implementations.
• Strengthened unit care standards and policies with focus on patient safety and dignity.
• Strong patient advocate.
• Self-directed with astute judgment skills. High level of personal accountability.
• Assisting and collaborating with all surgical team members in the planning, organizing, and treatment of the surgical patient assuring quality outcomes.
• Confidently preparing for surgical procedures utilizing evidence-based practice to decrease patient risks and assuring quality outcomes.
• Assisting in the coordination of neurosurgical teams, procedures, and meeting the needs of team members and patients.
• Assisting anesthesia providers with intubations, medication administration, positioning, and proper use of surgical equipment.
• Passionately educating, precepting, and mentoring new unit nurses to area of specialty, policies, and procedures, improving patient outcomes, and patient safety, all while maintaining a high level of care and safety for patients, surgeons, and anesthesia providers.
• Provided wound care and dressing changes routinely.

Total Joint Program Nurse Coordinator skilled at communicating, organizing, and problem-solving to raise the stature and ranks of the program and facility.

• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
• Implemented quality patient care techniques to align with safety, health and organizational regulations.
• Maximized team performance navigating patients from diagnosis of orthopaedic pathologies through preoperative and postoperative periods. Assisted with patient assessment processes and treatment implementations.
• Assessed patients for knowledge deficits immediately following surgery to identify and resolve potential complications.
• Strengthened unit care standards and policies with focus on patient safety and dignity, and quality outcomes.
• Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
• Supervised patient admissions and discharges from hospital to various settings, including home care, rehabilitative facility or self-care.
• Collaborated with physicians and leadership to devise initiatives for improving patient outcome and satisfaction scores.
• Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.

Over six years as a perioperative nurse in the operating room specializing in Orthopedic surgery at UNMH Main OR. Orthopedic specialty included Total Joints, Ortho trauma, foot and ankle, sports, and upper extremity surgical procedures.

• Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
• Assisting and collaborating with various team members in the planning, organizing, and treatment of the surgical patient by assessing, planning, and implementing the nursing process before and after surgical procedures.
• Confidently preparing for surgical procedures utilizing evidence-based practice to decrease patient risks and assuring quality outcomes.
• Assisting anesthesia providers with intubations, medication administration, positioning, and proper use of surgical equipment.
• Assuring sterility during surgical procedures and maintaining patient safety.
• Advocating for patients during their perioperative surgical experience.
• Self-directed with astute judgment skills. High level of personal accountability.
• Nationally certified in area of specialty.
• Educating, precepting, and mentoring new unit nurses to area of specialty, policies, and procedures, improving patient outcomes, and patient safety, all while maintaining a high level of care and safety for patients, surgeons, and anesthesia providers.
• Coordinated with surgeons and staff to deliver safe patient care during operations.
• Prepped operating rooms to comply with environmental asepsis standards.
• Utilized sterile techniques and infection-control guidelines to maintain clean and safe environment.
• Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.

Approximately three years in the Med-Surg specialty providing care for patients pre & post operative procedures with experience in acute/chronic illness. Maintained a sharp skill set in all realms of patient care bedside nursing.

• Implemented quality patient care techniques to align with safety, health, and organizational regulations.
• Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
• Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care.
• Worked with patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, congestive heart failure (CHF), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), diabetes or sepsis to asses needs and determine best options for care.
• Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
• Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
• Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
• Cared for patients' wounds and changed dressings.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Supervised patient admissions and discharges from hospital to home care, rehabilitative facility, or self-care.