Abby Heywood
Reno,NV
Summary
Compassionate and adaptable Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of nursing experience, including 12 years in the medical field and experience as a clinical nursing instructor. Clinical expertise spans Cardiac Telemetry, Maternal–Child Health, Pre-Operative and Pre-Admission Testing, Hospice, Community Health, and School Nursing. Proven clinical educator with strengths in clinical instruction, curriculum development, and student mentorship, highly effective in multidisciplinary team environments. Skilled in patient care, clinical procedures, and educational technology, with a strong commitment to collaboration, adaptability, and fostering a positive learning environment.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Instructor
Carrington College of Nursing/SJVC
02.2025 - Current
- Supervise and guide nursing students in clinical settings to ensure safe, evidence-based patient care
- Teach and evaluate clinical skills, critical thinking, and professional nursing behaviors
- Provide real-time feedback, coaching, and remediation to support student success
- Assess student performance and complete clinical evaluations and documentation
- Facilitate integration of classroom theory into hands-on patient care
- Ensure compliance with facility policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements
- Collaborate with faculty, clinical staff, and interdisciplinary teams to support learning outcomes
School Nurse District Wide
Carson City School District
08.2024 - Current
- Provide direct nursing care, first aid, and medication administration to students in accordance with physician orders and district policies
- Assess, manage, and monitor acute and chronic health conditions within the school setting
- Develop and implement individualized healthcare plans (IHPs), emergency action plans, and 504 accommodations
- Maintain accurate health records and ensure compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, and state health regulations
- Collaborate with families, educators, and community providers to support student health and academic success
- Conduct health screenings, case management, and follow-up care as needed
- Promote health education, disease prevention, and student wellness initiatives
Case Manager/Hospice Nurse
Gentiva
02.2024 - 07.2025
- Manage and coordinate end-of-life care for hospice patients, ensuring comfort, dignity, and symptom control
- Conduct comprehensive assessments and develop individualized plans of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team
- Provide skilled nursing visits, medication management, pain and symptom management, and patient/family education
- Serve as primary point of contact for patients, families, and caregivers throughout the hospice experience
- Collaborate with physicians, social workers, chaplains, aides, and volunteers to meet physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs
- Monitor changes in condition, update care plans, and ensure timely communication with the care team
- Maintain accurate documentation and ensure compliance with hospice regulations and standards
Admission Testing Nurse and Trainer
Northern Nevada Health Systems
05.2019 - 02.2024
- Perform pre-admission assessments, chart reviews, and risk screening to ensure surgical readiness
- Review medical histories, medications, labs, and diagnostic results; identify and escalate concerns appropriately
- Provide patient education regarding pre- and post-operative instructions, medications, and procedures
- Coordinate care with surgeons, anesthesia, nursing units, and ancillary departments to optimize patient outcomes
- Ensure compliance with surgical protocols, safety standards, and regulatory requirements
- Train and onboard nursing staff in pre-admission testing workflows, documentation, and best practices
- Support quality improvement initiatives and standardization of PAT processes
Pre-op Nurse
Northern Nevada Medical Center
10.2017 - 05.2018
- Conduct pre-operative assessments, including vital signs, health history, and surgical readiness
- Verify patient identity, surgical site, consent, and required documentation per protocol
- Initiate IV access, administer pre-op medications, and prepare patients for anesthesia and surgery
- Provide patient and family education to reduce anxiety and promote understanding of procedures
- Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and perioperative teams to ensure safe transitions of care
- Monitor patient status and report abnormal findings or changes promptly
- Maintain accurate documentation and adhere to infection control and safety standards
Postpartum Nurse and NICU Float Nurse
Saint Mary's Medical Center
10.2016 - 01.2018
- Provide postpartum nursing care to mothers and newborns, including assessments, education, and discharge planning
- Monitor maternal recovery, pain control, and postpartum complications
- Support newborn care, feeding (breast/bottle), bonding, and safe sleep practices
- Educate families on postpartum and newborn care, warning signs, and follow-up needs
- Receive and assess newborns at delivery to ensure smooth transition to extrauterine life
- Perform initial newborn assessments, vital signs, and routine newborn care
- Collaborate with L&D providers, NICU, and pediatric teams as needed
- Identify and respond promptly to newborn distress or complications
- Provide skilled nursing care to neonates requiring specialized monitoring and support
- Assist with respiratory support, feeding, medication administration, and thermoregulation
- Monitor and document changes in neonatal condition and escalate concerns appropriately
- Support families through education and compassionate communication
- Delivered safe, age-appropriate nursing care across multiple pediatric units and acuity levels
- Conducted pediatric assessments, medication administration, and patient monitoring
- Adapted quickly to diverse unit workflows and patient populations
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to support coordinated, family-centered care
- Educated patients and families on treatments, medications, and discharge planning
Telemetry Nurse
Saint Mary's Medical Center
06.2015 - 10.2016
- Monitored and interpreted cardiac rhythms, promptly identifying and responding to changes in patient condition
- Provided comprehensive nursing care to patients with acute and chronic cardiac conditions
- Administered medications, titrated drips as ordered, and performed focused cardiac assessments
- Collaborated with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement care plans
- Maintained accurate documentation and adhered to cardiac, safety, and infection control standards
Admitting Clerk
Saint Mary's Medical Center
07.2013 - 06.2015
- Registered and admitted patients accurately, verifying demographics, insurance, and required documentation
- Ensured compliance with hospital policies, privacy regulations (HIPAA), and admission procedures
- Coordinated patient flow by communicating with nursing units, physicians, and ancillary departments
- Provided clear information to patients and families regarding admission processes and expectations
- Maintained accurate electronic records and resolved registration or insurance discrepancies
Education
RN -
Carrington College
05.2015
BSN - undefined
Western Governors University
05.2023
Master's of Nursing Education - Nursing Education
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ11-2026
Skills
- Effective communication
- Dependable
- Attention to detail
- Good listener
- Problem Solving
- Clinical supervision
- Assessment skills
- Small group instruction
- Student support
- One-on-one instruction
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Adaptability and flexibility
Certification
- Endorsed by the NSEA
- CPR Healthcare Provider Certified - BLS
Timeline
Clinical Instructor
Carrington College of Nursing/SJVC
02.2025 - Current
School Nurse District Wide
Carson City School District
08.2024 - Current
Case Manager/Hospice Nurse
Gentiva
02.2024 - 07.2025
Admission Testing Nurse and Trainer
Northern Nevada Health Systems
05.2019 - 02.2024
Pre-op Nurse
Northern Nevada Medical Center
10.2017 - 05.2018
Postpartum Nurse and NICU Float Nurse
Saint Mary's Medical Center
10.2016 - 01.2018
Telemetry Nurse
Saint Mary's Medical Center
06.2015 - 10.2016
Admitting Clerk
Saint Mary's Medical Center
07.2013 - 06.2015
BSN - undefined
Western Governors University
RN -
Carrington College
Master's of Nursing Education - Nursing Education
Grand Canyon University
Hobbies
Reading, Baking, Dancing