Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Presentations
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

CAREY L. WALTERS

Olathe

Summary

Clinical Nurse Specialist with a proven track record at AdventHealth, focused on quality improvement and team performance enhancement. Led successful Joint Commission certification, significantly improving patient outcomes in cardiovascular care. Developed and implemented best practices through strong critical thinking skills. Contributed to the Cardiac Care Unit achieving ANCC's Beacon Award at Silver designation.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Clinical Nurse Specialist

AdventHealth
Merriam
10.2019 - Current
  • Led the successful Joint Commission Comprehensive Cardiac Certification, achieving a designation held by only 20 other facilities at the time along with maintaining continual certification readiness.
  • Coordinate quality improvement and process implementation for Cardiovascular Services - meeting quality metrics of NCDR, AHA's Get With the Guidelines and STS registries.
  • Lead multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, fostering collaborative and patient-centered approach to care delivery.
  • Develop and implement strategic initiatives to improve quality, safety, and efficiency in healthcare operations, resulting in improved quality metrics.
  • Establish and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including physicians, staff, patients, and community partners, to enhance engagement and drive positive outcomes.
  • Implement performance improvement programs, utilizing data-driven approaches and metrics to identify areas for enhancement and facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
  • Act as change agent, leading successful organizational change initiatives, including employee retention initiatives and process improvement initiatives meeting industry standards.
  • Mentor and develop staff members, fostering culture of professional growth, teamwork, and continuous learning.

Cardiovascular Registered Nurse

AdventHealth
Merriam
01.2010 - 10.2019
  • Coordinate pre- and post-procedure care for patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures in 8 bed unit with rapid turnover serving 3 Cardiovascular Labs.
  • Administered nursing care to cardiac patients undergoing diagnostic, therapeutic or emergency services.
  • Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
  • Liaised with health teams to support patient access to tests and procedures to prevent heart disease, promote health, address acute and episodic interventions and offer rehabilitative and palliative care referrals.
  • Improved nursing care by identifying and targeting procedural gaps.

Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit

AdventHealth
Merriam
10.2008 - 12.2010
  • Provided direct patient care while administering medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
  • Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
  • Evaluated healthcare needs, goals for treatment, and available resources of each patient and connected to optimal providers and care.
  • Maintained respectful treatment environment that honored patients' and families' cultural and religious traditions and preferences.

Charge Nurse, Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit

North Kansas City Hospital
North Kansas City
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Coordinated care of 20-bed cardiovascular step-down unit.
  • Participated in hospital shared governess councils and collected monthly data for national quality indicators.
  • Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
  • Coordinated nursing care on unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring patient orders, and communicating with ancillary departments.
  • Conducted daily shift briefs to inform staff of changes in patient care assignments.
  • Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care.
  • Monitored nursing care, patient assessment processes, and treatment implementations.

Education

Master's - Nursing Leadership Management

Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ
01.2019

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Avila University
Kansas City, MO
01.2006

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology, Criminology, Women's Studies

Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
01.1998

Skills

  • Nurse leadership
  • Team development
  • Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
  • Basic life support (BLS)
  • Critical thinking
  • Resource allocation
  • Chronic disease management
  • Clinical understanding
  • Quality improvement
  • Electronic charting

Presentations

  • Magnetizing KC, 08/20/24, Co Speaker
  • KCAN – Spring Leadership Series, 04/2024, Co-Speaker, Peer Partners: Nurse Mentor Program
  • American Heart Association's Scientific Session, 11/2022, Co-Author, SGLT2 Model Share
  • Magnet National Conference, 10/13/23, Concurrent Co-Speaker, Peer Partners: A Cardiac Care Unit New RN Mentor Program
  • Magnetizing KC, 08/29/23, Co-Author, Poster Presentation: How to gain patient compliance for difficult medications
  • Magnetizing KC, 08/29/23, Co-Presenter, Peer Partners – Changing the Culture

Accomplishments

  • AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Outstanding Associate - 2023
  • Above and Beyond Award – 2021 and 2023
  • Nominated for the Daisy Nurse Leader Award – 2022 & 2023
  • Caring Collaborator

Timeline

Clinical Nurse Specialist

AdventHealth
10.2019 - Current

Cardiovascular Registered Nurse

AdventHealth
01.2010 - 10.2019

Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit

AdventHealth
10.2008 - 12.2010

Charge Nurse, Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit

North Kansas City Hospital
01.2006 - 01.2008

Master's - Nursing Leadership Management

Grand Canyon University

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Avila University

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology, Criminology, Women's Studies

Kansas State University

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE