Catherine Thomas
Orlando
Summary
Exceptional leader with strong communication and collaborative skills, looking to utilize 16 years of Spinal Cord Injury nursing experience, including supervisory experience. MSN degree in Leadership and Administration. Knowledgeable of management, financial planning, and staffing methodology.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Nurse Manager
Orlando VA Medical Center
Orlando
08.2025 - Current
- Supervision of RNs, LPNs, and CNAs to ensure that licensed personnel execute accurate documentation of patient findings, assessments, and care provided.
- Supervises licensed personnel to ensure that medications are administered in accordance with established procedures/policies.
- Provides oversight to the management of leave, counseling if needed, and disciplinary action as indicated.
- Manages Acustaf and employee scheduling.
- Screens and interviews potential nursing candidates. Responsible for completing reference checks.
- Manages and collaborates with the nurse manager and the nursing recruitment team to identify staffing issues and workforce trends.
- Works in partnership with educators to address the educational requirements of the unit.
- In charge of ANM schedule rotations on weekends and WHEN hours to ensure adequate support to our clinical team.
- Acts as manager on duty during rotations on weekends and WHEN hours and collaborates with Nurse on Duty (NOD) to manage the clinical and staffing needs of the CLC.
- Collaborates with Nurse on Duty (NOD) to manage the clinical and staffing needs of the unit daily.
Assistant Nurse Manager
Orlando VA Medical Center
Orlando
03.2020 - Current
- Management Duties: supervises, educates and evaluates both nursing care and nursing personnel on Spinal Cord Long Term Care and Short Stay Rehabilitation Unit
- Administrative Duties; scheduling and staffing
- Participates and guide the delivery of patient care, serving as relief for the nurse managers during absences
- Designated as a leave granting official
Nursing Instructor
Bryant and Stratton College
Wauwatosa
05.2019 - Current
- Med/Surg Clinical Instructor
- Supervised 3 clinical groups (24) students
RN Spinal Cord Injury Unit
VA Hospital
Milwaukee
08.2017 - Current
- RN Team Leader
- Chair person for the Medication Events Committee
- Hand Hygiene Champion
- Bedside Report Ambassador
- Safety Huddle Ambassador
- BCMA trainer
- Preceptor for nurses
- Spinal cord anatomy and the Autonomic Dysreflexia module instructor for nurses in the Transition to Practice program
- Neurogenic bowel module instructor for the spinal cord injury core class
Acting Nurse Manager
Orlando VA Medical Center
Orlando
12.2020 - 08.2022
- Management Duties: supervises, educates and evaluates both nursing care and nursing personnel on Spinal Cord Long Term Care and Short Stay Rehabilitation Unit
- Participates and guide the delivery of patient care
- Administrative Duties; scheduling and staffing
- Leave granting official
- Payroll: Certify timecards
- Conducts staff meetings and in-services
RN Wellness Director/Director of Nursing
Heritage Assisted Living
Pewaukee
08.2017 - 05.2019
- Direct oversight of delivery of care to Assisted Living and Memory Care residents at both Pewaukee and Port Washington locations
- Supervised LPN’s and PCA’s
- Updated all Plans of Care (68)
- Changed ratio of care givers by encouraging RA’s to complete CNA training.
- Coached the RA’s during CNA training program
- Initiated and trained medication administration; outcome of markedly reduced med errors
- Liaison to act as mediator between residents/families and staff to resolve issues and change Plans of Care
- CBRF instructor (Standard Precautions, First Aid-Choking, Medication Administration)
LPN Spinal Cord Injury Unit
VA Hospital
Milwaukee
01.2009 - 08.2017
Telemetry LPN
VA Hospital
Nashville
12.2005 - 01.2009
LPN
VA Hospital
Milwaukee
05.2005 - 12.2005
Education
Post Master Certificate - FNP
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN11.2024
MSN -
Herzing University
Brookfield, WI12.2019
BSN -
Herzing University
Brookfield, WI01.2017
LPN - Vocational diploma
MATC
Milwaukee, WI01.2003
Assoc Degree - Funeral Director
MATC
Milwaukee, WI01.1996
Skills
- Nursing management
- Patient care delivery
- Medication administration
- Staff scheduling
- Recruitment and onboarding
- Crisis management
Capstone Project
Formal hospital-based Nursing Assistant orientation, Completed literature review., Created the Voice of the Customer Questionnaire., Formed Nursing Assistant Task Force., Project is implemented into new employee hospital orientation.
Timeline
Acting Nurse Manager
Orlando VA Medical Center
08.2025 - Current
Acting Nurse Manager
Orlando VA Medical Center
12.2020 - 08.2022
Assistant Nurse Manager
Orlando VA Medical Center
03.2020 - Current
Nursing Instructor
Bryant and Stratton College
05.2019 - Current
RN Spinal Cord Injury Unit
VA Hospital
08.2017 - Current
RN Wellness Director/Director of Nursing
Heritage Assisted Living
08.2017 - 05.2019
LPN Spinal Cord Injury Unit
VA Hospital
01.2009 - 08.2017
Telemetry LPN
VA Hospital
12.2005 - 01.2009
LPN
VA Hospital
05.2005 - 12.2005
Post Master Certificate - FNP
Walden University
MSN -
Herzing University
BSN -
Herzing University
LPN - Vocational diploma
MATC
Assoc Degree - Funeral Director
MATC