Arlene DeKam
Registered Nurse
Muskegon,United States
Summary
Experienced Hospice Nurse Supervisor with background in home and institutional care. Works gently with patients and family to initiate comfort and palliative care. Supports family with extensive resources and information concerning end-of-life events and expectations. Connects with clients easily to provide thoughtful and compassionate assistance. Effective collaboration with hospital staff to manage the continuum of care between the hospital and home/facility. Facilitated discharges from area hospitals to patient's home, Harbor Hospice Residence or Facility. Organized and service-minded with dedication to providing detailed and thorough client intake services. Effective leadership to staff of 10 while continuing to work in the field.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Hospice Intake Supervisor
Harbor Hospice
Muskegon, United States
01.2017 - Current
- Trained, evaluated and coached clinical staff of 10 to improve performance.
- Supervised, directed and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Conducted patient assessments and developed treatment plans.
- Reviewed department performance and adjusted coverage to compensate for changing conditions.
- Assessed patients to determine individual needs and develop care plans in coordination with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.
- Fostered improvement in staff development, personnel training and standards of patient care.
- Promoted professional development opportunities to encourage nurses to pursue continuous training.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Developed strategy to target nursing and patient satisfaction issues, improve response and patient care quality and suggest actionable improvements to promote agency-wide quality and safety initiative.
- Engaged and participated in consults, patient care plan development and patient monitoring.
- Taught family members and caregivers various ways to manage patients' pain, how to check for vital signs and proper methods for dressing changes.
- Developed and implemented individualized care plan for each hospice patient while following physician instructions.
- Offered listening ear to both patients and loved ones to meet emotional and mental, as well as physical needs.
- Recognized and understood specific stages of dying process, providing comfort-based care during vulnerable times.
- Established and maintained successful relationships with patients, families and physicians by utilizing exemplary communication and active listening skills.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety and rights of patient.
- Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
- Applied nursing expertise to meet needs of GIP patients in challenging Hospital environment.
- Assisted in management and direct care at hospice residence
- Facilitated discharges of hospice patients from hospital to home/facility
Home Care Case Manager
Mercy VNS And Hospice
Muskegon, MI
09.2011 - 01.2017
- Provided direct personal care and administrative services to clients.
- Met Productivity by Case Managing 15-20 patients and making between 4-6 visits daily
- Helped clients with managed home care, ensuring efficacy of care by monitoring health status.
- Documented vital statistics and coordinated with health care providers.
- Participated in team-building activities to enhance working relationships.
- Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork.
- Performed duties in accordance with applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment.
- Devoted special emphasis to punctuality and worked to maintain outstanding attendance record, consistently arriving to work ready to start immediately.
Hospice Case Manager
Heartland Hospice
Fremont, MI
07.2010 - 09.2011
- Documented case notes daily and coordinated follow-up for seamless case management.
- Successfully case managed 15-20 hospice patients.
- Worked with medical teams, patients and families to implement effective treatment plans.
- Updated treatment plans bimonthly with latest intervention strategies and progress notes.
- Participated in IDT meetings weekly.
- Maintained excellent attendance record, consistently arriving to work on time.
Staff Nurse
Heartland Nursing And Rehab
Muskegon, MI
07.2009 - 07.2010
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring and specimen collection.
- Gathered patient health data through interviews and observation, documenting data in health record
- Identified learning needs of patients and families and responded with advocacy and health education.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic and cognitive status of patients.
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care and discharge instructions.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
- Identified patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with patients and families.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI 09.2007 - 04.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, MI 09.1986 - 05.1991
Skills
Consultation and advisory
Eligibility review
Compassionate communication
Critical thinking skills
Staff Management
Physician communication
ICD-10 Coding
Patient and family advocacy
Strong clinical judgment
Medicare guidelines for hospice care
Hospice philosophy understanding
Accomplishments
- Achieved decrease in hospital length of stay for patients discharging with hospice through effectively working with hospital administration to better communication and referral process to hospice.
- Supervised team of 10 staff members.
- Consistently and effectively worked to increase referrals to Harbor Hospice from Mercy Hospital.
- Supervised and maintained high morale to a team as we worked through the COVID pandemic.
- Led a team through both a new EMR at Harbor Hospice and assisted in training hospice staff in the local hospital's new EMR.
- Used Microsoft Excel to maintain monthly intake statistic spreadsheets.
Affiliations
Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Associaton
Certification
Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse
Timeline
Hospice Intake Supervisor
Harbor Hospice
01.2017 - Current
Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse
09-2015
Home Care Case Manager
Mercy VNS And Hospice
09.2011 - 01.2017
Hospice Case Manager
Heartland Hospice
07.2010 - 09.2011
Staff Nurse
Heartland Nursing And Rehab
07.2009 - 07.2010
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Grand Valley State University
09.2007 - 04.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Calvin College
09.1986 - 05.1991