Casey W. Kennedy
Levelland,TX
Summary
Compassionate and dedicated APRN committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care while prioritizing patient education and fostering open communication with patients and the healthcare team. Over 22 years of experience in diagnosing, evaluating, and treating acute and chronic medical conditions. Expertise includes obtaining comprehensive patient histories, conducting thorough physical examinations, and interpreting diverse diagnostic results. Demonstrates exceptional critical thinking and decision-making abilities, complemented by keen observational skills that enhance patient outcomes. A calm and understanding professional focused on building trust and rapport with patients to ensure their needs are effectively met.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Palliative Care and Hospice Nurse Practitioner
BeyondFaith Hospice
Lubbock, TX
12.2023 - Current
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses to ensure comfort and compliance with care plans.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate comprehensive hospice care for patients and families.
- Educated families on end-of-life processes, emotional support, and available resources during difficult times.
- Implemented pain management protocols, enhancing patient quality of life through tailored interventions.
- Documented patient assessments accurately to maintain continuity of care and facilitate communication among team members.
- Mentored junior nurses in hospice procedures, fostering a supportive learning environment for professional growth.
- Improved patient comfort by providing compassionate end-of-life care and symptom management.
- Coordinated with physicians to adjust medications as needed for optimal palliative care outcomes.
- Offered listening ear to both patients and loved ones to meet emotional and mental, as well as physical needs.
- Advocated for patients'' wishes regarding medical treatment options, respecting cultural beliefs and values throughout the decision-making process.
- Developed and implemented individualized care plan for each hospice patient while following physician instructions.
- Established and maintained successful relationships with patients, families and physicians by utilizing exemplary communication and active listening skills.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, PRN
Enhabit Home Health & Hospice
Lubbock, TX
01.2023 - 12.2023
- Conducts home visits for hospice patients as directed by Medicare guidelines and as warranted by patient condition.
- Oversight of RN, LVN, CNA, SW, chaplain care and assured compliance with company policy and procedures.
- Available for education and support to patients and family members as patients progress through stages of dying; continued GOC, EOL conversations.
- Communicates with intradisciplinary team at IDG meetings and PRN as indicated by patient condition or decline.
- Provides in-depth education to family members and to patients who have end-stage disease/s; managed acute exacerbations of these diseases.
- Conducts thorough assessments on each patient and adjusts POC as indicated.
- Orders diagnostics testing, provides interpretation and appropriate interventions.
- Adjusts scheduled visits to ensure urgent visits are seen in timely manner.
- Maintains patient records, ensures patient privacy and clinical compliance.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Aspire Health
Knoxville, TN
08.2017 - 09.2022
- Conducted home visits for palliative care patients; traveled by car to visit an average of 8 patients each day to perform physical exams or enroll new patients in Aspire's palliative care program.
- Adjusted scheduled visits to ensure urgent visits were seen in a timely manner, and to prevent hospitalizations for each patient on census.
- Maintained patient records and ensured patient privacy and clinical compliance.
- Evaluated patient progress and responses to various treatments.
- Coordinated care with patient's PCP and specialists for improved symptom management and patient outcomes.
- Explained side effects from medications and provided in-depth education to family members and to patients who have diabetes, COPD, CHF, Alzheimer's, Dementia, a variety of cancers, and other chronic diseases; manage acute exacerbations of these diseases.
- Ordered lab tests and interpreted test results and maintained patient records.
- Provided counseling to patients and families and referred patients to other specialties or hospice as appropriate.
- Counseled families on various plans for at-home treatment.
- Assessed patient conditions by performing thorough examinations and asking appropriate, disease-specific questions.
- Cooperated and communicated effectively with physicians to ensure client satisfaction and compliance with set standards.
- Provided on-call care at all times of day and night for Aspire patients who resided in the state of Tennessee.
Administrative Supervisor
Roane Medical Center
Harriman, TN
04.2013 - 08.2015
- Ensured adequate staffing, coordinated patient admission and placement, provided patient and staff education and assistance.
- Provided bedside nursing care on as-needed basis.
- Scheduled add-on surgeries and procedures, updated HICS and NIMS daily, assured team coordination and protocol compliance during respiratory or cardiovascular emergencies, processed all out-of-hospital deaths in county, and handled all in-hospital deaths that occurred on shift.
- Coordinated with state services for organ recovery, regional disasters, and local emergencies.
- Evaluated policies and procedures to improve staff work flow, increase favorable patient outcomes and nurse retention.
- Obtained and mixed medications for all hospital staff after pharmacy hours.
- Communicated with the DON, COO, and CEO on a regular basis regarding shift flow, patient satisfaction, patient acuity and nurse to patient ratio.
- Crisis intervention.
- Established and developed strong administrative team by delivering ongoing coaching and motivation and fostering career advancement.
- Established workflow processes, monitored daily productivity and implemented modifications to improve overall performance of personnel.
- Monitored and evaluated personnel performance to complete annual reviews, recommend advancement or address productivity concerns.
Staff Nurse
Methodist Medical Center
Oak Ridge, TN
1 2005 - 1 2013
- Bedside nurse in Intensive Care/Critical Care/Cardiovascular Intensive Care Units; responsible for total patient care.
- Provided services and therapies to patients suffering from acute and chronic diseases, assisted and coordinated with physicians or other members of interdisciplinary team; provided specialized care to patients who have undergone extensive, invasive procedures or other interventions, using evidence based practice.
- Managed complex medication and treatment regimens of critically ill patients, administered blood products, tracked and recorded vital signs, symptoms, and addressed concerns of patients and families.
- Insertion, access and maintenance of various IV catheters including PICC lines, PAC, midlines, Groshong, Hickman, TLC, Swan-Ganz, a-line and standard peripheral IV's.
- Served as charge nurse to both clinical and ancillary staff to ensure effective patient care and favorable outcomes.
- Advocated for patients and families to ensure individuals' goals of care were met and patient wishes were honored.
- Regularly volunteered to sit with dying patients to ensure he or she was not alone during dying process.
- Assisted in patient and family education regarding dying process.
- Accurately documented all elements of nursing assessment, treatments, medications, as well as discharge instructions.
- Followed infection control procedures.
- Ensured HIPAA compliance.
- Performed lab tests and communicated results; implemented corrective action as ordered by MD or provider.
- Rapid Response Team, Code Blue Team Leader.
- CRRT, hypothermia protocol, balloon pump, Vigileo specialized training.
Perioperative Registered Nurse
University Of Tennessee Medical Center
Knoxville, TN
06.2004 - 10.2004
- Planned, executed, directed and evaluated nursing care given to surgical patient through perioperative experience to promote highest quality care and patient safety.
- Admitted, assessed and prepared ambulatory care patients for surgery in accordance with surgery center policies and individual patient needs.
- Assisted with or initiated emergency measures for sudden adverse development in patients with cardiac arrest, respiratory distress and hemodynamic instability.
- Supplied education regarding nutrition, medication, pain, wound management and expected response to operative or invasive procedure and assessed knowledge level of patient or designated support person.
- Performed interventions to assist patient in returning to normothermia at conclusion of immediate postoperative period.
- Educated patients and loved ones regarding operating procedures, expectations, side effects and recovery process.
- Prepared, implemented, and evaluated nursing care for patients through each step of surgical procedure.
- Provided compassionate, individualized care for each patient while in operating room.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety and rights of patient.
- Ensured correct instrument, sponge, and needle count throughout intraoperative period.
Education
Masters of Science - Nursing
King University
Knoxville, TN04-2017
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
King College
Knoxville, TN10-2011
Associates of Applied Science - undefined
Roane State Community College
Harriman, TN05-2004
Skills
- Protocol compliance
- Prescribing medications
- Advanced level diagnoses
- Exceptional written and verbal communication
- Individualized Care Plans
- Family guidance and support
- Managing acute and chronic conditions
- Patient education
- Diagnostics
- Lab results interpretation
- Initiating and leading difficult conversations surrounding goals of care and wishes for end of life
- Therapeutic Interventions
- Integrating with interdisciplinary team
Accomplishments
- DEA certification (2017-present)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2017-Present)
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
- Quick Response Stabilization Team (QRST), Rapid Response Team (RRT)
- Hospital Incident Command System (HICS- 2013), National Incident Management System (NIMS- 2013)
- Covenant Crisis Intervention Training & De-Escalation Skills (2013).
Additional Information
- TX APRN License #1108817, TN APRN License #22866
- TX RN License #1108817, TN RN License #145335
- NPI #1356865372
Timeline
Palliative Care and Hospice Nurse Practitioner
BeyondFaith Hospice
12.2023 - Current
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, PRN
Enhabit Home Health & Hospice
01.2023 - 12.2023
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Aspire Health
08.2017 - 09.2022
Administrative Supervisor
Roane Medical Center
04.2013 - 08.2015
Perioperative Registered Nurse
University Of Tennessee Medical Center
06.2004 - 10.2004
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
King College
Associates of Applied Science - undefined
Roane State Community College
Staff Nurse
Methodist Medical Center
1 2005 - 1 2013
Masters of Science - Nursing
King University