Cassie Sumers-Blanchard
Moorhead,MN
Summary
Compassionate LPN with extensive experience at St. Catherine North, excelling in medication administration and patient assessment. Proven ability to enhance patient care through effective teamwork and communication, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations. Adept at managing complex care plans and providing emotional support during critical times, fostering trust and collaboration among healthcare teams.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
LPN
St. Catherine North
Moorhead, MN
12.2013 - Current
- Educated staff members regarding infection control protocols or best practices when caring for a particular type of illness or injury.
- Evaluated effectiveness of interventions implemented based on patient responses or feedback from family members.
- Provided emotional support during difficult times such as end-of-life decisions or family disputes over treatment options.
- Participated in educational programs to keep up-to-date on new developments in nursing practice.
- Managed inventory levels of medical supplies within the unit ensuring adequate stock is always available.
- Provided direct physical and emotional support to patients and their families.
- Maintained accurate medical records of each patient's health condition.
- Administered medications orally, intravenously or intramuscularly depending on the prescription given by the doctor.
- Ensured that all medications were administered accurately and on time as prescribed by the physician.
- Performed wound care including changing dressings, cleaning wounds, applying ointments and medications and providing other necessary treatments.
- Assisted physicians with patient care by taking vital signs, administering injections and performing other nursing duties.
- Performed routine laboratory tests including urinalysis, blood glucose monitoring and others.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during difficult times.
- Coordinated with interdisciplinary team members such as doctors, nurses and social workers to ensure quality patient care was provided.
- Observed patients for any changes in their condition or behaviour, reported findings to the supervisor or physician in charge.
- Observed, charted, and reported developments in patient health conditions for nursing supervisor.
- Monitored patient's respiration activity, blood pressure and blood glucose levels in response to medical administration.
- Prevented drug interactions and contributed to correct diagnosis by recording patient health information, monitoring vitals and updating patient files.
- Followed rehabilitation and treatment care plans to accelerate patient recovery, minimize pain, and optimize patient outcomes.
- Collected and documented vital signs to track current patient conditions.
- Collected biological specimens and packaged for laboratory transport to complete diagnostic tests.
- Looked for physical, emotional, and symptomatic changes in patient condition and obtained necessary care for medical concerns.
- Communicated concerns regarding patients' status, care and environment to nursing supervisors, clinical care supervisors and case managers.
- Facilitated communication between patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
- Collaborated with healthcare team to develop and implement patient care plans.
- Communicated with patients with compassion while keeping medical information private.
- Collected blood, urine or sputum from patients to perform routine laboratory tests.
- Answered patient calls, identified issues, and determined how best to provide assistance within parameters established by facility and supervisor.
- Delivered high-quality direct and indirect nursing care to patients.
- Addressed patient care needs, collected vitals, dressed wounds, and managed catheters.
- Observed strict confidentiality and safeguarded all patient-related information.
- Guaranteed exceptional care quality by correctly administering medication, inserting and caring for catheters, dressing and changing wounds and assisting with personal hygiene.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Provided behavioral and emotional support and closely supervised patients suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's.
- Collaborated with healthcare team to develop individualized care plans for patients.
- Took temperatures or blood pressures, dressed wounds and provided other basic patient care or treatments.
- Administered medications and therapies in accordance with physicians orders.
- Charted changes in patient conditions and discussed concerns with supervising healthcare provider.
- Answered patients' calls to determine how to assist.
- Measured and recorded patient height, weight and other vital signs.
LPN
Manorcare
Fargo, ND
04.2011 - 08.2013
- Similar to current job
DSP
Solutions
Moorhead, MN
01.2006 - 12.2010
- Built strong and trusting rapport with clients and loved ones.
- Drove clients to doctors' appointments and social outings.
- Maintained cleanliness of clients' environment by cleaning surfaces and washing clothes or dishes.
- Assisted clients with maintaining good personal hygiene.
- Contributed to case reviews of client status and progress.
- Organized oral medications for clients following dosage and schedule requirements.
- Monitored clients' activity levels and helped prevent sedentary behavior.
- Planned and prepared healthy meals and snacks for clients and provided assistance with eating when necessary.
- Maintained detailed records of services performed on clients.
- Obtained sources of entertainment for clients to provide full and enjoyable daily activities.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
MSCTC
Moorhead, MNSkills
- Care plan coordination
- Emotional support
- Patient/Family communication
- Geriatric nursing
- End-of-life care
- Medical/patient documentation
- Diabetes monitoring
- Behavioral health
- Infection control
- Compassionate care
- Catheter care
- Lab specimen collection
- HIPAA compliance
- ADL assistance
- Wound care
- Clinical documentation
- Patient relationship building
- Tracking symptoms
- Caregiving skills
- Patient care
- Staff supervision
- Medication administration
- Time management
- Patient education
- Patient assessment
- Vital signs monitoring
- Team collaboration
- Multitasking
- Critical thinking
- Dependable and responsible
- Organizational skills
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
LPN
St. Catherine North
12.2013 - Current
LPN
Manorcare
04.2011 - 08.2013
DSP
Solutions
01.2006 - 12.2010
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
MSCTC