Amber Martin MSN, RN, CCRN
St Cloud
Summary
Qualified Nurse Leader with extensive and varied nursing experience. Proven ability to develop and deliver comprehensive educational programs tailored to healthcare professionals, with expertise in curriculum design, hands-on training, and project implementation. Recently completed an MSN with a specialization in Executive Leadership, focused on fostering positive workplace culture and improving nursing retention to enhance patient care quality and organizational standards.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Educator
St Cloud Hospital
10.2021 - 10.2025
- Develop and deliver onboarding, ongoing education, simulations, and competency evaluations for new and existing cardiac intensive care unit staff
- Provide hands-on clinical instruction, supervision, and formal performance feedback
- Train staff on specialty cardiac equipment (temporary pacemakers, IABP, Impella, CRRT) and update bedside staff on best practices, policies, and new evidence-based protocols
- Participate in organization-wide education initiatives and quality improvement projects, addressing KPIs such as CLABSI, CAUTI, VAE, HAPI, and Falls
- Collaborate with nursing leadership and interprofessional teams to resolve operational challenges, standardize care protocols, and implement targeted education from RCAs, incident reviews, and safety audits
- Policy owner, responsible for reviewing and updating assigned policies to ensure compliance with best practices, regulatory standards, and evidence-based care
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
St Cloud Hospital
10.2014 - 10.2021
- Manage and monitor critically ill surgical and medical cardiac patients, including open heart surgery, cardiogenic shock and myocardial infarction patients
- Administer medications, IV therapies, blood products, and provide advanced patient assessments with data interpretation
- Monitor and manage pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) readings to assess cardiac output, preload, afterload, and mixed venous oxygen saturation
- Interpret hemodynamic data to guide fluid management, vasoactive medication titration, and critical care interventions
- Deliver specialized device care including continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), temporary pacemaker, Percutaneous ventricular assist devices (PVAD), and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) management
- Precepted and mentored new nurses, providing guidance, clinical instruction, and feedback to support skill development, confidence, and integration into the unit
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care and educate patients and families on treatment and recovery
- Perform charge nurse responsibilities, including staffing coordination, workflow management, and unit oversight
Registered Nurse
Aya Healthcare
03.2014 - 09.2014
- Two 0.9 FTE contracts accepted in this time period: St. Benedictine Skilled Nursing Facility (Monticello, MN) and St. Cloud Hospital, CICU & Telemetry (St. Cloud, MN)
- Supported units experiencing staffing shortages, integrating quickly into the team and providing hands-on bedside care while maintaining high-quality patient outcomes
- All duties listed above (except charge and precepting duties)
- Rapidly adapted to new environments, policies, and EMR systems to deliver safe, efficient care
- Supervise nursing assistant staff to ensure safe, and compassionate care was provided to each patient
Registered Nurse
Wesley Medical Center
09.2009 - 02.2014
- Provide complex care for polytrauma patients, including head, spinal, chest, abdominal injuries, and multiple fractures
- Administer and titrate vasoactive, sedative, analgesic, and paralytic infusions to maintain hemodynamic stability
- Monitor invasive lines (arterial, central venous, PA catheters) and interpret hemodynamic data to guide clinical decisions
- Manage mechanical ventilation and advanced airway care, including tracheostomy management
- Care for patients requiring advanced support devices, such as ICP monitors, external ventricular drains, and CRRT
- Rapidly assess and stabilize patients experiencing massive hemorrhage, sepsis, shock, or multi-organ failure
- Provide pre- and post-operative teaching and emotional support to patients and families
- Serve as charge nurse and preceptor for new staff, supervising nursing assistants and ensuring safe, compassionate care
- Respond as a trauma team member to all level 1 emergency room traumas
Registered Nurse
Medical Staffing Network
09.2009 - 02.2014
- Provided nursing care across diverse settings, including long-term care, skilled nursing, group homes, psychiatric hospitals (adult and juvenile), hospice, LTAC, medical/surgical units, critical access hospitals, and critical care as a per diem employee
- Conducted mental health assessments, administered psychiatric medications, and de-escalated behavioral crises
- Delivered comprehensive care for residents with chronic illnesses, dementia, or complex medical needs, including medication administration, vital signs monitoring, and chronic disease management
- Developed individualized care plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, promoting quality of life, mobility, fall prevention, and regulatory compliance
- Provided hospice and end-of-life care, managing symptoms, pain, and palliative treatments, supporting patients and families, and coordinating with interdisciplinary hospice teams
Registered Nurse
LifeCare Center of Andover
06.2009 - 09.2009
- Medicare Compliance Officer
- Ensure Medicare A patient documentation meets CMS, Medicare, and state regulatory standards
- Review charts for skilled nursing justification, therapy needs, timely assessments, and accurate ICD-9 coding
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to verify eligibility, care plans, and billing accuracy
- Train and support staff on documentation standards, coding, and regulatory updates
- Conduct audits and implement quality improvement initiatives to maintain compliance and reduce risk of denials
- Serve as charge nurse during staffing challenges and provide on-call coverage for staffing needs
Licensed Practical Nurse
LifeCare Center of Andover
06.2007 - 06.2009
- Medicare Compliance Officer
- All duties listed above as this was the same job, just a change in my licensing level
- Served as Acting Assistant Director of Nursing and Medicare Nurse for a three-month period, overseeing operations and clinical responsibilities while a permanent replacement was recruited
Licensed Practical Nurse
LifeCare Center of Andover
03.2005 - 06.2007
- Unit Manager
- Oversee patient care for a large unit, ensuring compliance with policies, state regulations, and Medicare/Medicaid standards
- Monitored quality indicators (falls, pressure injuries, infections, resident satisfaction) and implemented corrective actions
- Managed admissions, discharges, care transitions, and collaborated on individualized care plans with interdisciplinary teams
- Participated in budget management, resource allocation, and staffing optimization; supervised nursing staff to ensure safe, compassionate care
- Served as charge nurse and provided on-call coverage to address staffing challenges
- Assisted DON with quality improvement and accreditation initiatives
Licensed Practical Nurse
Medical Staffing Network
08.2005 - 09.2009
- Per diem licensed practical nurse for multiple settings locally including long term care, skilled nursing, group home settings, and hospice crisis care coverage
Licensed Practical Nurse
Sedgwick County Jail
01.2004 - 03.2005
- Assess and triage acute and chronic medical issues for all incoming patients
- Administer medications, including controlled substances, following security protocols
- Manage communicable disease screening, outbreak response, and chronic disease care
- Provide health education and counseling within a correctional setting
- Ensure staff and inmate safety during medical interventions using security protocols and de-escalation techniques
- Perform 12-lead EKGs and facilitate daily sick call in the clinic
- Collaborate with correctional staff and medical providers to maintain continuity of care
- Delegate to and supervise medication assistant staff as needed.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Cameo Care Center
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Provide assessment and management of residents with chronic mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and dementia-related behaviors
- Administer and monitor psychiatric and general medications, adjusting care plans as needed
- Develop and implement individualized care plans with interdisciplinary teams
- Conduct psychoeducational sessions and support activities to enhance coping, social skills, and daily functioning
- Monitor safety, de-escalate crises, and ensure adherence to protocols
- Document interventions and outcomes per facility and regulatory standards
- Educate families and caregivers on psychiatric conditions and care strategies
- Assist psychiatrist with rounding; serve as charge nurse and supervise nursing staff to ensure safe, compassionate care
Licensed Practical Nurse
Medicalodge North
08.1999 - 01.2001
- Provide comprehensive care for residents with chronic illnesses, dementia, and complex medical needs in long term care setting
- Administer medications, monitor vital signs, and manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, and COPD
- Develop individualized care plans promoting quality of life, mobility, and fall prevention
- Coordinate care with rehabilitation services, dietitians, and primary care providers
- Educate residents and families on disease management, medication adherence, and self-care
- Participate in quality improvement, infection control, and regulatory compliance initiatives
- Serve as charge nurse (>90% of shifts) and supervise nursing assistants to ensure safe, compassionate care
Education
MSN -
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN11.2025
BSN -
Western Governor’s University
Salt Lake City, UT10.2019
ADN -
Pratt Community College
Pratt, KS05.2009
Skills
- Critical Care Nursing
- Hemodynamic Monitoring
- Cardiac Arrest Management
- Mentorship & Precepting
- Policy Development
- Project Implementation
- Performance Improvement
- Regulatory Compliance
Affiliations
- Member, American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) 2021-Current
- Member, Central Minnesota Chapter of AACN (CMAC) 2021-Current
Certification
- Registered Nurse
- Minnesota, United States
- 2191881
- Critical Care Registered Nurse
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Timeline
Clinical Educator
St Cloud Hospital
10.2021 - 10.2025
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
St Cloud Hospital
10.2014 - 10.2021
Registered Nurse
Aya Healthcare
03.2014 - 09.2014
Registered Nurse
Wesley Medical Center
09.2009 - 02.2014
Registered Nurse
Medical Staffing Network
09.2009 - 02.2014
Registered Nurse
LifeCare Center of Andover
06.2009 - 09.2009
Licensed Practical Nurse
LifeCare Center of Andover
06.2007 - 06.2009
Licensed Practical Nurse
Medical Staffing Network
08.2005 - 09.2009
Licensed Practical Nurse
LifeCare Center of Andover
03.2005 - 06.2007
Licensed Practical Nurse
Sedgwick County Jail
01.2004 - 03.2005
Licensed Practical Nurse
Cameo Care Center
01.2001 - 01.2004
Licensed Practical Nurse
Medicalodge North
08.1999 - 01.2001
MSN -
Walden University
BSN -
Western Governor’s University
ADN -
Pratt Community College
LEADERSHIP
During my employment as Clinical Educator, I have expanded on my leadership impact through design and implementation of evidence-based training programs, quality and safety initiatives and mentorship. This role has strengthened my expertise in skills that align directly with organizational leadership and executive nursing practice such as staff development, change management, policy implementation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. I have completed the Master of Nursing program with Executive Leadership specialization at Walden University and will begin pursuit of a DNP and MBA in Winter 2026 to further expand clinical and organizational leadership expertise.