Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Accomplishments
Certification
Committee Involvement
Professional Organizations
Timeline
Generic

Cara Smelcer

Smithville,MO

Summary

Compassionate and dedicated Registered Nurse with 20+ years of nursing experience in provided great patient care. Experience includes critical care, med/surg, telemetry, GI Lab, orthopedics, hospice and palliative care. Detail-oriented, highly organized with a strong desire to learn and grow. Recognized by peers and supervisors for excellent team-work and strong nursing skills.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

GI Lab

North Kansas City Hospital
10.2019 - Current
  • Observe and monitor patients prior, during, and following procedures.
  • Assist physician with procedures and use of equipment for biopsies and/or other therapeutic measures.
  • Check in patients prior to procedures. Obtain history, perform assessments and start IV's.
  • Recover patients following monitored anesthesia care and general anesthesia cases.
  • Administer medications as ordered and complete necessary documentation.
  • Preparing scopes, cleaning and reprocessing for storage and reuse.
  • Utilize strong assessment skills to maintain patient safety.

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

North Kansas City Hospital
11.2021 - 10.2022
  • Care for 1:1 or 1:2 acutely ill patients in critical care setting.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to provide care to patients.
  • Conducted thorough patient assessments to recognize early signs of clinical deterioration, initiating lifesaving interventions when necessary.
  • Collaborated with families to provide emotional support during difficult decisions regarding end-of-life care or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments.
  • Maintained safe and therapeutic environment in ICU by adhering to established policies and procedures for medication administration, documentation, equipment use, and other aspects of patient care.

Orthopedics

North Kansas City Hospital
09.2016 - 10.2019
  • Observe and provide care for orthopedic and med/surg patients.
  • Monitor for changes in condition, adverse reactions to treatment and/or medications and complete documentation in a timely manner.
  • Collaborate daily with physicians and other members of interdisciplinary team to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
  • Establish relationships with physicians based on trust and knowledge of patient care.
  • Serve as mentor and preceptor for inexperienced licensed and unlicensed staff.
  • Provide education to patients regarding discharge, medications, procedures and treatments, as well as preoperative and postoperative care.

Registered Nurse Case Manager

NorthCare Hospice And Palliative Care
03.2008 - 09.2016
  • End of life symptom management and education.
  • Create and implement care plans.
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary care team.
  • Assess for appropriateness of services under Medicare Hospice Benefit.
  • Provide education to patients and families regarding medication, disease process, hospice and palliative care philosophy and management of symptoms in home setting.
  • Attend urgent patient visits to assist with symptom,management and/or provide support to family and friends at time of death.
  • ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for patient chart.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
12.2018

Associate of Science - Nursing

Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
12.2015

No Degree - Practical Nursing

Northland Career Center
Platte City, MO
08.2002

High School Diploma -

Winnetonka High School
Kansas City, MO
05.2001

Accomplishments

Honors Graduate

University of Missouri, Kansas City

2018


Dean's List Recipient

University of Missouri, Kansas City

2016, 2017, and 2018


High Honors Graduate

Metropolitan Community College

2015


Presidential Scholarship Recipient

Metropolitan Community College

2013-2015


Dean's Honor Roll

Metropolitan Community College

2013 - 2015



Certification

Registered Nurse - Missouri compact state licensed

February 2016 to current


RQI: ACLS and BLS

Status is current


Licensed Practical Nurse - Missouri and Kansas

2002 - 2016

Committee Involvement

Standards of Practice Committee

North Kansas City Hospital

2022 - current


UBC Co-chair

North Kansas City Hospital

2023 - current


Kindness Committee

GI Lab - North Kansas City Hospital

2022 - current


Professional Organizations

ANA - American Nurses Association

Member since 2018


American Society of Registered Nurses

Member since 2023


AACN - American Association of Critical Care Nurses

Member since 2022


Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society - Upsilon Xi Chapter

Member since 2014




Timeline

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

North Kansas City Hospital
11.2021 - 10.2022

GI Lab

North Kansas City Hospital
10.2019 - Current

Orthopedics

North Kansas City Hospital
09.2016 - 10.2019

Registered Nurse Case Manager

NorthCare Hospice And Palliative Care
03.2008 - 09.2016

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Associate of Science - Nursing

Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City

No Degree - Practical Nursing

Northland Career Center

High School Diploma -

Winnetonka High School

Registered Nurse - Missouri compact state licensed

February 2016 to current


RQI: ACLS and BLS

Status is current


Licensed Practical Nurse - Missouri and Kansas

2002 - 2016

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Cara Smelcer