Carolyn Harbison
VANDALIA,IL
Summary
Seasoned nursing professional offering proven clinical knowledge, natural interpersonal strengths and technical abilities. Knowledgeable about EMR charting, medication administration and interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and support. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader. Skilled nursing professional with more than 40 years of experience and passion for providing highest quality of behavioral and medical care. Compassionate and empathetic advocate for patients and families. Skillfully assesses health status, develops diagnoses and manages care for patients with acute and chronic concerns. Experienced in structured and unstructured environments, smoothly coordinating multiple activities and competing priorities. Patient-oriented Nurse with 40 years of diverse experience in direct patient care, staff supervision and department operations. Skilled at multitasking and prioritizing patient needs and daily assignments. Offering expertise with geriatrics, medical, surgical and mental health specialty. To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
Work History
RN Staff Nurse
HSHS Holy Family Hospital
07.2007 - 08.2022
- Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel deliver safe and efficient care.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Verified patients had information necessary for ongoing care, providing guidance on diagnoses, management of medications and prevention methods.
- Vaccinated patients to protect individuals from measles, pneumonia, influenza and other illnesses of concern.
- Minimized hospital stays with recovery-centered approaches, reducing average in-patient stay length.
- Kept optimal supply levels in treatment rooms, triage and other areas to meet typical patient loads.
- Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring and specimen collection.
- 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.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
- Identified patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with patients and families.
- Managed elements of patient care from admission to discharge or transfer to other units.
- Gathered patient health data through interviews and observation, documenting data in electronic records.
- Collected blood, tissue and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing.
- Promoted patient independence by teaching self-care skills.
- Identified learning needs of patients and families and responded with advocacy and health education.
- Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures and nursing best practices.
- Coordinated with physicians to perform bedside procedures such as intravenous injections, vascular line insertions and bronchoscopies.
- Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence.
- Formulated plans for nursing measures to restore, maintain and promote patients' physical and mental health.
- Assessed medical status of patients pre- and post-operation by checking vital parameters and supervising food intake.
- Reported patients' status and delegated nurse assignments to achieve optimal outcomes.
- Ordered, interpreted and evaluated diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient condition.
- Assisted physicians in minor surgeries by keeping instruments sterilized and maintaining inventory.
RN
Bond County Health Department
Greenville, IL
10.2003 - 07.2007
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Evaluated healthcare needs, goals for treatment and available resources of each patient and connected to optimal providers and care.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence.
LPN
Fair Oaks Nursing Home
Greenville, IL
05.1998 - 11.2000
- Monitored, tracked and conveyed important patient information to healthcare staff to help optimize treatment planning and care delivery.
- Managed patient care through closely monitoring respiration, blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
- Cared for wounds, provided treatments and assisted with procedures.
- Adhered to treatment plan instructions when administering medications and treatments to patients.
- Accurately recorded interactions in medical charts, documenting accidents and interventions applied.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team of healthcare and social service providers to address patients' needs through effective intervention and care planning.
- Evaluated patients to identify and address wounds, behavioral concerns and medically relevant symptoms.
- Minimized staff and patient infection risk by cleaning and disinfecting equipment instruments.
- Documented accurate and complete patient information to address patient problems and expected outcomes.
Education
LPN - Nursing
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL07.1988
Diploma - General Studies
Vandalia Community High School
N 8th St. Vandalia, IL05.1980
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL 08.1998 - 12.2000
Skills
- EPIC EMR
- Confidentiality and HIPAA
- Chest Tubes
- Acute Illness
- Knee Surgery
- Building Rapport and Trust
- Taking Vital Signs
- Infection Control Measures
- Patient Education
- Medication Side Effect Knowledge
- PICC Lines
- Charting and Documentation
- Medical Evaluations
- Circulating Nursing
- Clinical Leadership and Supervision
- Intakes and Discharges
- Intravenous Injections
- Dispensing Medications
- Patient Care Assessment
- Care Plan Development
- Patient Management
- Medical Supply Management
- Inter-Disciplinary Collaboration
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Prioritizing Patients
- Acute Rehabilitation
- Diagnostic Test Ordering
- Therapy and Counseling
- Diagnostic Software
- Blood Draw and Sample Collection
- Healthcare Personnel Supervision
- Nursing Performance Assessment
- 12-Lead EKG Monitoring
- Medical Procedure Preparation
- Healthcare Program Planning
- Immunizations and Vaccinations
- Compassionate and Caring
- Withdrawal Symptoms
- Patient Admission
- Accurate Documentation
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- General Surgery
- Patient Intervention
- Psychiatric Evaluation
- Patient Care Oversight
- Routine Examinations
- Test Interpretations
- Community Program Referrals
- Update Electronic Charts
- Diet and Nutrition
- Clear Patient Communication
- Convalescent Care
- Mental and Physical Assessments
- Delegation and Motivation
- Treatment Plan Modification
Timeline
RN Staff Nurse
HSHS Holy Family Hospital
07.2007 - 08.2022
RN
Bond County Health Department
10.2003 - 07.2007
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Kaskaskia College
08.1998 - 12.2000
LPN
Fair Oaks Nursing Home
05.1998 - 11.2000
LPN - Nursing
Kaskaskia College
Diploma - General Studies
Vandalia Community High School
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