ASHLEY ZIMMERMAN MHA BSN RN
Springfield,MO
Summary
Masters prepared, driven and compassionate healthcare professional with 15 years of experience in acute and post acute care. Extensive knowledge and experience in nursing management dedicated to focusing on developing high standards of practice, evaluating patient care for effectiveness and implementing necessary changes to programs and policies. Along with extensive experience recruiting, developing and managing clinical staff. Have been able to build strong relationships between acute and post acute care facilities.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Nursing Officer
Mercy Rehab Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
02.2023 - Current
- Developed and implemented strategies to improve patient care quality and safety.
- Created policies, procedures and standards for nursing practice.
- Monitored nursing staff performance to ensure compliance with professional standards.
- Provided leadership in the development of clinical programs, including recruitment, retention and succession planning initiatives.
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to develop innovative approaches to deliver evidence-based care.
- Established a system of communication between nurses, physicians and administrators to ensure effective delivery of services.
- Oversaw the budgeting process for all nursing departments within the organization.
- Conducted regular meetings with team members to discuss challenges and opportunities related to patient care.
- Assessed current staffing levels against projected needs based on census data and made recommendations accordingly.
- Participated in organizational committees focused on improving nurse engagement, patient experience and overall quality of care.
- Investigated incidents involving patients or staff members according to established protocols.
Director of Nursing
Sunterra Springs
Springfield, MO
02.2020 - Current
- Oversight of nursing services maintaining quality standards of resident care and advising medical staff, department heads and administrator on nursing related matters.
- Assessed competency of clinical staff to promote quality, continuity and safety.
- Implemented changes needed to correct deficiencies found during state and federal inspections.
- Coordinated medical and health services in compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Budgeted, managed and scheduled staff of 50+ employees
- Infection Control Preventionist - completed CDC infection control program to maintain proper infection control within facility
- Implemented and directed clinical services and operations to deliver competent, quality care.
- Conducted recruitment and retention activities to develop highly skilled nursing team.
- Collaborated with multi-disciplinary staff to improve overall patient care and response times.
- Led discharge planning meetings
Director of Regional Admissions
Reliance Healthcare Inc.
Conway, Arkansas
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Nurse consultant for 3 different skilled nursing facilities in Springfield, MO.
- Establish positive relationships between hospitals, home health and hospice agencies.
- Built extensive relationships with case managers and social workers.
- Developed marketing plans to increase volume and market share in a highly competitive market.
- Provided direct line of communication among hospital and post acute care facilities.
- Communication and collaboration among interdisciplinary teams: case managers, social workers, physicians, therapist etc.
- Provided education to patients and families about skilled and long term care nursing services.
- Reviewed patients clinically and financially to ensure their needs would be able to be met.
- Developed and arranged continuing education opportunities for all staff to increase knowledge and skills.
- Interim Director Nursing.
Clinical Liaison
Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital
Springfield, MO
05.2015 - 01.2017
- Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital was a 60-bed freestanding hospital specializing in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, amputation, and various other neurological and neurosurgical disorders as well as various other debilitating diseases and injuries.
- As a clinical liaison, I assisted in the admission process of patients being admitted by working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary teams including case management, physicians, therapist, and administration between Mercy Rehab Hospital and Mercy Springfield Hospital.
- Provided patients and families education in regards to Inpatient Rehab.
- Provided education to patients and families in regards to insurance benefits and financial obligations.
Clinical Nurse Supervisor
Mercy Hospital Joplin
Joplin, MO
12.2014 - 05.2015
- Clinical nurse manager for the medical, ortho and renal units.
- Worked collaboratively with the administration and nursing team throughout the hospital.
- Helped assist with scheduling, patient placement, interview process, disciplinary actions.
- Evaluated employee performance, provided feedback and assisted with disciplinary actions when needed.
- Was Involved with daily GEMBA walks to improve daily flow and quality for patients and their families.
Registered Nurse - Rehab
Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital
Springfield, MO
03.2013 - 12.2014
- Team leader specialized in providing care to patients who were hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, strokes, amputation and various other neurological and neurosurgical disorders as well as various other debilitating diseases and injuries.
- Spent half of my shifts being the charge nurse for facility. Provided oversight to nursing care/staffing of all patients and staff. Assigned staffing, completed discharge/admission paperwork.
- Worked collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to establish care plans for patients with their primary goal or focus being to return to the community.
- Completed lab draws.
- EEG's
Nurse Manager- Medical Telemetry Unit
Mercy Hospital
Springfield, MO
10.2011 - 03.2014
- As a nurse manager was involved in the daily operations of what started to be a 15 bed medical telemetry unit, which eventually grew to a 29 bed unit.
- Effectively served as an advisory resource by providing patient/family experience expertise.
- Completed daily rounds of the nursing department to verify that all nursing service personnel were performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.
- Conducted probationary and annual performance evaluations of all nursing staff.
- Developed and arranged continuing education opportunities for all staff to increase knowledge and skills.
- Assigned staff to meet patient care needs and address productivity standards, while adjusting for census and skill mix.
- Direct supervisor for around 80 employees.
- I was involved in multiple committees including: code blue, tracer team, medication safety, safety officer of unit, leadership council for shared governance and Six Sigma/lean projects such as discharge/admission project and a new physician/nursing model to name a few.
Registered Nurse
Mercy Hospital
Springfield, MO
05.2008 - 11.2011
- Provided care to patient's on a medical telemetry unit and patient's who are critically ill in the ICU.
- Charge nurse.
- Trained new nurses and CNA's to meet patient service goals, champion standards of care and improve patient overall satisfaction.
- Common diagnosis: sepsis, respiratory failure, renal failure, GI disorders, UTI, heart failure etc.
- Assisted with vent management, drips, post code patients, bedside sedation procedures, peg tubes, dialysis, etc.
Education
Masters - Healthcare Administration
Missouri State University
2015
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Southwest Baptist University
2012
Associate of Science - Nursing
Southwest Baptist University
2008
Skills
- Quality Improvement implementation and supervision
- Staff Recruiting, Training and Development
- Relationship and Team Building
- Liaison between hospitals and post acute care facilities
- Knowledge of post acute care services, including financial management
- Project Management
- Developing and implementation of Marketing plans
- Policies and Procedures
- Providing patient/family/staff education
- Acute and Rehabilitative care
- Disease management
- Knowledge of Rehabilitation
- Strong relationship with SNF's, HHC and Hospice agencies in Springfield area
- Knowledge in EPIC and PCC EMR systems
Additional Information
- Missouri Nursing License.
- 2021 Received top 15% in Nursing care via Pinnacle Survey's for Skilled Nursing Facilities
- CMS 5 star rating for over 2 years in a row at Sunterra Springs
- Missouri Healthcare Association
- Served on Leadership Committee Shared Governance at Mercy Hospital
- Served on the Tracer committee which was a mock survey process
- Involved in many other different projects which included: discharge planning, geographical physician staffing, Coworker satisfaction, nursing retention.
Timeline
Chief Nursing Officer
Mercy Rehab Springfield
02.2023 - Current
Director of Nursing
Sunterra Springs
02.2020 - Current
Director of Regional Admissions
Reliance Healthcare Inc.
01.2017 - 01.2020
Clinical Liaison
Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital
05.2015 - 01.2017
Clinical Nurse Supervisor
Mercy Hospital Joplin
12.2014 - 05.2015
Registered Nurse - Rehab
Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital
03.2013 - 12.2014
Nurse Manager- Medical Telemetry Unit
Mercy Hospital
10.2011 - 03.2014
Registered Nurse
Mercy Hospital
05.2008 - 11.2011
Masters - Healthcare Administration
Missouri State University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Southwest Baptist University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Southwest Baptist University
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