Carrie Cook-Picus
Poulsbo,WA
Summary
Professional RN with 14+ years of experience, 2+ years of experience in Cardio-Vascular ICU and PACU, as well as 12+ years working in Labor/Delivery. Experienced in policy revision, staff development, training, and leadership. Patient-oriented Nurse with diverse experience in direct patient care, staff supervision and department operations. Skilled at multitasking and prioritizing patient needs and daily assignments. Offering expertise with Obstetric and PACU specialties.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
OB ED and Relief Charge Nurse
St Michael's Medical Center
06.2022 - Current
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
- Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
- Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
- Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.
Nurse Clinical Supervisor
Jefferson Healthcare
12.2021 - 06.2022
- Oversaw admissions and discharges and scheduling of nursing staff.
- Educated patients and families on treatment, expected outcomes and discharge instructions, serving as advisory resource to patients and families to facilitate recovery.
- Coordinated departmental operations according to administrative, legal and medical guidelines.
- Performed head-to-toe physical assessments, prioritizing treatment and delegating assignments to maintain patient flows.
- Sought opportunities to improve patient care, outcomes and nursing staff performance.
- Supervised professional and paraprofessional nursing staff and delegated tasks to maintain continuum of care.
- Supported patient self-advocacy within family relationships and during treatment plans.
- Collaborated with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to devise and manage individualized plans of care.
- Reviewed charts weekly to complete quality control checks.
- Motivated nursing staff to pursue advanced training and collaborated with unit leaders to identify skill needs.
- Conducted rounds with physicians, advising physicians on patients' conditions and assisting in coordinating diagnostic testing and follow up appointments to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
- Evaluated nursing staff's performance and developed education programs and professional development opportunities to improve individual and team competencies, clinical knowledge and delivery of care.
- Advocated for patients' physical, psychosocial, developmental, spiritual and emotional needs during planning.
- Fostered improvement in staff development, personnel training, and standards of patient care.
- Introduced initiatives based on staff education, infection control audits, safe medication administration and proper wound care to achieve unit and facility goals.
- Interacted effectively with department managers to promptly correct problems and improve services.
Staff Nurse/Charge Nurse
Olympic Medical Center
04.2020 - Current
- At Olympic Medical Center I serve as a member of the Obstetric Unit care team
- I participate as a member of the care team managing the treatment of women through the labor/delivery experience
- I performed labor/delivery care, obstetrical triage, postpartum couplet care, as well as those duties of charge nurse.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care, and discharge instructions.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures, and nursing best practices.
- Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance, and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
- Participated in hospital committees to recommend quality improvement initiatives.
- Coordinated patient discharge planning to provide post-discharge patient care, promoting healing and recovery.
- Developed and implemented individualized patient care plans for optimal outcomes.
- Collaborated with physicians, pharmacists and therapists to deliver quality, evidence-based care.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Sustained quality standards by performing routine medication audits and upholding internal and industry best practices.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
- Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
- Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Supervised and managed daily scheduling, tasking, and administration.
- 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.
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care.
- Conducted daily shift briefs to inform staff of changes in patient care assignments.
Nurse Clinical Supervisor
Jefferson Healthcare
01.2021 - 06.2022
- Oversaw admissions and discharges and scheduling of nursing staff.
- Educated patients and families on treatment, expected outcomes and discharge instructions, serving as advisory resource to patients and families to facilitate recovery.
- Coordinated departmental operations according to administrative, legal and medical guidelines.
- Performed head-to-toe physical assessments, prioritizing treatment and delegating assignments to maintain patient flows.
- Sought opportunities to improve patient care, outcomes and nursing staff performance.
- Supervised professional and paraprofessional nursing staff and delegated tasks to maintain continuum of care.
- Supported patient self-advocacy within family relationships and during treatment plans.
- Collaborated with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to devise and manage individualized plans of care.
- Reviewed charts weekly to complete quality control checks.
- Motivated nursing staff to pursue advanced training and collaborated with unit leaders to identify skill needs.
- Conducted rounds with physicians, advising physicians on patients' conditions and assisting in coordinating diagnostic testing and follow up appointments to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
- Counseled families to improve communication.
- Evaluated nursing staff's performance and developed education programs and professional development opportunities to improve individual and team competencies, clinical knowledge and delivery of care.
- Advocated for patients' physical, psychosocial, developmental, spiritual and emotional needs during planning.
- Administered performance evaluations and probationary reviews to assess nursing personnel.
- Documented all aspects of care following facility and Medicare standards, creating accurate patient records of all interactions and interventions to sustain continuity of care.
- Introduced initiatives based on staff education, infection control audits, safe medication administration and proper wound care to achieve unit and facility goals.
- Interacted effectively with department managers to promptly correct problems and improve services.
Staff Nurse
Evergreen Health Medical Center
08.2019 - 04.2020
- Evergreen Health is a 318-bed hospital where I served as a member of the Family Maternity Center team
- I participated as a member of the care team managing the care of women through the labor/delivery experience
- I also cared for women in the anti-partum and postpartum phases of care
- I trained to the OB ED where we triaged patients and worked with providers to determine and initiate the care that is needed.
Staff Nurse
Advocate Aurora Health
10.2018 - 08.2019
- Aurora Health Grafton facility is a 127-bed hospital where I served as a member of the PACU team
- I monitored patients in the immediate post-op period and ensure patients were safe and stable to be released to their hospital room or to phase II PACU
- I monitored vital signs, treated symptoms as they occurred according to patient needs and treatment plan
- I educated patients regarding their new incisions and the care I am providing
- I documented care and provided updates as needed to providers, following guidelines from ASPAN
- I also cross trained to float to the LDRP unit as needed.
Travel Nurse
Southeastern Regional Medical Center
03.2018 - 04.2018
- Southeastern Regional Medical Center is a 452-bed hospital where I served as a Travel Nurse on an 8-bed Labor/Delivery unit
- I worked alongside the labor/delivery team in the care of women throughout the birth process
- This care includes care through the triage phase, labor/delivery phase, in cesarean sections, and in recovery
- As a part of this team, I participated in the management of obstetrical emergencies related to the relatively large population of high-risk patients.
Travel Nurse
Western Wisconsin Health
11.2017 - 02.2018
- Western Wisconsin Health is a 15-bed critical access hospital where I served as an interim Staff Nurse on a 4-bed Labor/Delivery and postpartum unit
- I worked alongside the care team in performing each phase of care from triage to postpartum care
- I participated in a mother centered model of care
- Patients were able to choose their method of pain control from a variety of options, which included the use of Nitrous and the option of a waterbirth
- I also participated in the management of obstetrical emergencies including stat cesarean sections and postpartum hemorrhage
- I also cared for infants following the postpartum period, including the stabilization of neonates for transport.
Staff Nurse/Clinical Supervisor
St Charles Medical Center
06.2016 - 11.2017
- St Charles Medical Center is a 250-bed hospital that is part of St Charles Health System where I moved from a position as a Staff Nurse to the role of Clinical Supervisor on a Labor/Delivery-Mother/Baby and NICU Unit
- Following my arrival to the unit in June of 2016, I worked towards learning the processes in place
- I participated in labor/delivery care, obstetrical triage, postpartum couplet care, as well as orienting, when the opportunity arose, to the relief charge role
- In these roles, I had the privilege to care for a number of women in the Antepartum phase of care, during labor, at delivery, in cesarean section, and throughout the postpartum period
- I have also had the opportunity to join my team in managing the changes of shift dynamics
- After moving to the Clinical Supervisor role, I worked towards educating staff by writing drills, creating FM strip reviews, and creating skills day stations
- I also participated in patient research and process evaluations, with the objective being to align the unit with AWHONN standards.
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care, and discharge instructions.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
- Collaborated with physicians, pharmacists and therapists to deliver quality, evidence-based care.
- Coordinated patient discharge planning to provide post-discharge patient care, promoting healing and recovery.
- Participated in hospital committees to recommend quality improvement initiatives.
- Investigated and resolved issues affecting hospital operations and patient care.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Facilitate hiring of qualified Obstetrical personnel by interview applicants and making recommendations for employment.
- Lead and directed team of 120 clinical personnel and support staff.
- Monitored and inspected staff processes to eliminate hazards posed for both residents and staff while ensuring continuous compliance with regulations.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
Charge Nurse
North Hawaii Community Hospital
03.2015 - 12.2015
- North Hawaii Community Hospital is a 35 bed Level III Trauma hospital where I served as a Staff Nurse and Charge Nurse on a five bed Labor/Delivery, three bed post-partum unit
- I performed labor/delivery care, obstetrical triage, and postpartum couplet care
- With my first employment at North Hawaii, I was promoted to Charge Nurse within 4 months of initial hire and led the development of staff through training opportunities including facilitating obstetrical emergency drills, coordinating OR/OB cross training, and building a mentorship program for new team members
- I worked on revising out of date policies and created new ones to better support the unit
- Additionally, as Charge Nurse, I oversaw the staffing and management of the unit’s shift operations.
Staff Nurse
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children
07.2014 - 03.2015
- Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children is a 225 bed Level III Trauma hospital and the only hospital in the Pacific Region that receives Maternal High-Risk patients
- I served as a Staff Nurse on a 26 bed Labor/Delivery and Maternal High-Risk Unit
- I participated as a part of the care team managing high risk antepartum including pre-term, pre-eclamptic, PPROM, and multiple gestation patients
- In addition, I worked in one of the state’s highest volume unit of laboring and postpartum patients, where we delivered approximately 700 infants per month
- I partnered with residents to develop plans of care, identified discharge needs and established support resources for patients.
Travel Nurse
Hilo Medical Center
03.2014 - 07.2014
- Hilo Medical Center is a 275 bed Level III Trauma center where I served as an interim Staff Nurse on a Labor/Delivery and postpartum unit
- I worked alongside the care team in performing each phase of care from triage to postpartum care
- I participated in the management of obstetrical emergencies including stat cesarean sections and postpartum hemorrhage.
Travel Nurse
Sullivan County Community Hospital
04.2013 - 03.2014
- Sullivan County Community Hospital is a 25 bed Critical Access facility in rural Indiana
- In this facility I served as an interim Staff Nurse on a 3- bed labor/delivery/postpartum unit
- I managed each phase of the labor process and obstetrical emergencies as they occurred, including postpartum hemorrhage and precipitous deliveries
- I co-coordinated the education and training of a predominately new obstetrical staff
- Additionally, to enhance the professional development opportunities for the entire unit, including both veteran and new professionals, I created training materials and assessment tools to ensure successful completion of annual competencies
- I took an active role in the review and revision of hospital policies
- During unit down time, under the direction of the House Supervisor, I assisted in the ICU, ER, and Med-Surg units.
Staff Nurse
Community Hospital East
10.2012 - 03.2013
- Community Hospital East is a 233 bed Level III Trauma facility where I was employed by surgical services as a Staff Nurse in the pre-op clinic, pre-op holding, and PACU unit
- I assisted in preparing patients for surgery, and recovered patients following anesthesia per ASPAN recommendations
- I established pain control and supported patients prior to and following operative procedures
- I continuously maintained open lines of communication between patients, their families, and medical practitioners
- I managed the unit in the evening hours, determining staffing needs and coordinating patient flow.
Associate Partner RN
IU Health Methodist Hospital
08.2010 - 02.2013
- IU Methodist Hospital is a 1500 bed Level I Trauma Center where I was hired as a new graduate nurse on the Cardio-Vascular Surgical ICU floor
- I successfully completed the expanded educational requirements as part of the new graduate Orientation process for ICU nurses
- As a Staff Nurse I cared for critically ill and unstable patients prior to and following surgical interventions
- As a part of the Care Team I took an active role in the in the management of patients following heart or lung transplants, major cardio-vascular surgical procedures including AAA repair, cardiac bypass, and valve repair, as well as lung debridement, lobectomies, and wedge resections
- I performed hemodynamic monitoring including the use of CVP monitors, arterial lines, and Swan-Ganz catheter monitors
- I obtained clinical data using I-stat machines, and cardiac monitoring systems
- I performed autonomously using unit protocols for the management of the patients and performed ACLS in the event of codes
- In June of 2012, I transferred from CVICU to Labor/Delivery/Maternal High-Risk Unit, while maintaining a PRN schedule of 1-2 shifts per week on CVICU
- I cared for Obstetrical High-Risk patients including gravid patients with arterial lines and cardiac conditions
- I also participated in the operating of a 6-bed obstetrical triage, the care of laboring patients and those requiring cesarean section
- When staffing numbers allowed, I also worked on the post-partum unit, providing couplet care.
Education
Master of Science - Bioethics
Creighton University
Omaha, NE12.2021
Continuing education - undefined
Indiana University/Purdue University
05.2016
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - undefined
Indiana University East
Richmond, IN05.2010
Skills
- Patient Advocacy
- Care Plan Development
- Intravenous Therapy
- Phlebotomy
- Labor Management
- Medication Administration
- Staff Development
- Neonatal Care
- Cardiac Rhythm Interpretation
- Hemodynamic Monitoring
- Blood Administration
- Pain Management
- Drain Management
- External/Internal Fetal Monitoring
- Maternal Assessment
- High Risk Obstetrical Care
- Patient Teaching
- Postpartum Couplet Care
- Neonatal Transitional Management
- Lactation Support
- Proficient in EPIC, OBIX, Meditech, and Paragon Electronic Charting Systems
- Airway Management
- Wound Assessment
- Aldrete Scoring
- ISTAT Operation/Testing
- Proficient in Kronos, Kronos Extensions
- Discharge Planning
- Care Coordination
- HIPAA Compliance
- Physical Examinations
- Clinical judgment
- Infection Control
- Quality Improvement
- Documentation
- Direct Patient Care
- Medical Recordkeeping
- Patient Examination
- Student Precepting
- Patient consultation
- Vitals monitoring
- Patient Condition Monitoring
- Nursing Consultation
- Needs Assessment
- Time Management
- Procedure Assistance
- Test Interpretations
- Collecting vitals
- Patient Education
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Reliability
- Intravenous therapy
- Critical Thinking
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Preventive Healthcare
- Task Prioritization
- Medical Procedure Preparation
- Multitasking
- Diagnostic Test Evaluations
- Patient Care Oversight
- Analytical Thinking
- Clear Patient Communication
- Organizational Skills
- Accurate Documentation
- Blood Draw and Sample Collection
- Continuous Improvement
- Preventive health
- Professional Demeanor
- Compassionate and Caring
- Excellent Communication
- Training staff
- Delegation and Motivation
- Patient and family advocacy
- Cardiac monitors
- Professionalism
- Interpersonal Skills
- Women's health exams
- Strong Clinical Judgment
- Microsoft Office
Certification
- BLS
- AWHONN Intermediate Fetal Monitoring Certification
- AWHONN Advanced Fetal Monitoring Certification
- NRP Certification
- S.T.A.B.L.E.Certification
- Licensed as RN in Washington, Oregon, Indiana, and Hawaii
- PALS
References
References are available upon request.
Additional Information
Certification's
NRP
ACLS
BLS
STABLE
Affiliations
- Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics & Neonatal Nurses
- American Society of Bioethics & Humanities
- National Environmental Health ASsociation
- Nurse Climate Challenge
Timeline
OB ED and Relief Charge Nurse
St Michael's Medical Center
06.2022 - Current
Nurse Clinical Supervisor
Jefferson Healthcare
12.2021 - 06.2022
Nurse Clinical Supervisor
Jefferson Healthcare
01.2021 - 06.2022
Staff Nurse/Charge Nurse
Olympic Medical Center
04.2020 - Current
Staff Nurse
Evergreen Health Medical Center
08.2019 - 04.2020
Staff Nurse
Advocate Aurora Health
10.2018 - 08.2019
Travel Nurse
Southeastern Regional Medical Center
03.2018 - 04.2018
Travel Nurse
Western Wisconsin Health
11.2017 - 02.2018
Staff Nurse/Clinical Supervisor
St Charles Medical Center
06.2016 - 11.2017
Charge Nurse
North Hawaii Community Hospital
03.2015 - 12.2015
Staff Nurse
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children
07.2014 - 03.2015
Travel Nurse
Hilo Medical Center
03.2014 - 07.2014
Travel Nurse
Sullivan County Community Hospital
04.2013 - 03.2014
Staff Nurse
Community Hospital East
10.2012 - 03.2013
Associate Partner RN
IU Health Methodist Hospital
08.2010 - 02.2013
Master of Science - Bioethics
Creighton University
Continuing education - undefined
Indiana University/Purdue University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - undefined
Indiana University East
- BLS
- AWHONN Intermediate Fetal Monitoring Certification
- AWHONN Advanced Fetal Monitoring Certification
- NRP Certification
- S.T.A.B.L.E.Certification
- Licensed as RN in Washington, Oregon, Indiana, and Hawaii
- PALS
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