- Passionate about balancing physical health with mental and emotional wellness
- Committed to improving personal fitness through regular participation in power lifting, speed walking, jogging, pilates
- Volunteer Work
- Interprofessional Healthy Aging
Cathy Downs Phoenix, MSN, RN, GERO-BC
Santa Rosa,CA
Summary
Healthcare professional with solid background in nursing supervision and patient care management. Proven ability to lead teams effectively and improve patient outcomes through strategic planning and resource management. Known for fostering collaborative team environments and adapting to evolving healthcare challenges while utilizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Full-Time Faculty
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA
06.2024 - Current
- NR75.1B Course Coordinator
- Achieved seamless integration of course syllabus and canvas schedule. Enhanced clinical placements and skills labs through effective coordination. Improved faculty team collaboration in grading and assessments.
- Theory lectures, student evaluations, coaching
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
Associate Nursing Faculty
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA
04.2022 - Current
- NR75.1A on-site Clinical Instructor for eight nursing students
- NR75.1A Skills Lab instructor
- NR75.1A Theory Lectures
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
Coordinator, Covid Vaccine Clinic
Petaluma Health Center
Petaluma, CA
03.2021 - 10.2021
- Coordinated scheduling and ensured safe delivery of over 13,000 COVID vaccines, prioritizing patient safety and clinic effectiveness.
- Designed and implemented urgent/emergent tool kits to enhance emergency response capabilities across clinics.
- Coordinated patient care initiatives to enhance service delivery and improve health outcomes.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations.
Director of Nursing
Sutter Fairfield Surgery Center
Fairfield, CA
12.2020 - 01.2021
- Directed clinical operations within a 6-room ambulatory surgery center, facilitating high-quality patient care in orthopedics, general surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, gynecology, pain management, urology, and endoscopy.
- Achieved improved collaboration through daily multi-disciplinary huddles. Delivered standardized workflows that significantly reduced room turnover times. Enhanced patient care by successfully transitioning to the Pyxis system with targeted training. Developed and revised infection prevention program policies and procedures to ensure compliance. Created a robust multi-discipline education program that elevated staff knowledge and skills.
- Led formation of quality committee to drive collaboration and innovation in multi-disciplinary QAPI initiatives.
- Achieved improved patient care outcomes by effectively managing a team of 47 full-time employees, including 22 registered nurses. Enhanced operational efficiency through strategic team collaboration and support.
Manager, Surgery & Cardiovascular Surgery
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
San Francisco, CA
01.2018 - 10.2019
- Achieved seamless operation of a 12-room facility, delivering comprehensive services in open heart, vascular, and joint programs. Enhanced service delivery for transgender, plastics, complex general, urology, gynecology, and oncology departments. Fostered collaboration among healthcare teams to improve patient outcomes.
- Oversaw comprehensive preparations and execution of first successful joint commission survey for department in nine years.
- Achieved a 30% increase in employee engagement scores through daily safety huddles. Reduced room turnover times by 30% via a collaborative multi-disciplinary team approach. Fostered constructive labor relations to enhance workplace harmony.
- Achieved high standards of patient care in a facility with over 200 beds through effective management of 96 full-time employees. Elevated nursing practices by guiding a team of 55 registered nurses. Fostered a collaborative environment that contributed to improved patient outcomes.
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance patient care delivery and operational efficiency.
- Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to improve service quality and patient satisfaction.
Manager, Surgery & PACU
St. Helena Hospital
St. Helena, CA
10.2016 - 11.2017
- Achieved efficient management of seven-room O. R. and two PACU units, resulting in streamlined operations. Delivered high-quality care for 25-30 open heart and VATS maze surgeries monthly, maintaining excellence in patient outcomes. Facilitated over 100 total joint surgeries each month with successful same-day discharges. Enhanced surgical outcomes in gynecology, vascular, plastics, and ENT procedures, contributing to improved patient recovery.
- Achieved significant reductions in surgical site infections by driving task force initiatives. Enhanced staff competencies through effective policy and procedure implementation. Improved team communication and safety culture through regular morning safety huddles. Fostered innovative problem-solving through design thinking training. Strengthened operational knowledge and skills through successful completion of peri-op 101 training.
- Implemented best practices to improve punctuality of first case starts (FCOT's) to 97% contributing to overall workflow effectiveness.
- Achieved optimal patient care outcomes with a skilled team of 45+ full-time employees and 22 registered nurses. Enhanced operational efficiency through effective team coordination and resource management. Delivered high-quality healthcare services through strategic oversight of nursing staff.
- Led operational strategies to enhance patient care quality and efficiency.
- Oversaw staff training programs to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations.
Director, Acute Care June-October
Sonoma West Medical Center
Sebastopol, CA
02.2016 - 10.2016
- Achieved seamless 24-hour operations in eight-bed emergency department, four-bed intensive care unit, and 20-bed medical-surgical department. Enhanced patient care in peri-operative department through effective team collaboration. Improved operational workflows to elevate service delivery standards.
- Achieved compliance with safety regulations by optimizing electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Prepared organization for Det Norske Veritas (DNV) surveys, resulting in improved readiness and operational efficiency.
- Achieved high standards of patient care by managing 25+ beds and a workforce of 75+ full-time employees. Elevated nursing performance through effective leadership of 50 registered nurses. Improved operational processes to enhance service delivery.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance patient care and operational efficiency across departments.
Director, Peri-Operative Services
Sonoma West Medical Center
Sebastopol, CA
02.2016 - 10.2016
- Responsible for two OR’s, PACU, Pre-/Post Phase II, Sterile Processing, Endoscopy
- Initiatives: stabilized staffing, standardized work flow, daily safety huddles, 50% increased case load
- Directed multidisciplinary teams to implement best practices in healthcare delivery.
- Developed and executed policies to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and quality assurance.
Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Sonoma West Medical Center
Sebastopol, CA
04.2016 - 06.2016
- Initiatives: hospital-wide safety huddles and shift change huddles, created staffing department
- Introduced multi-disciplinary, strategic planning sessions for service-line growth, physician recruitment, RN retention, regulatory compliance
- Directed nursing operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and best practices.
Nurse Manager Infusion Center, Spine Center, Clinical Decision Unit
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, WA
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Streamlined work processes by integrating evidence-based practices for improved consistency and quality.
- Conducted extensive research and coordinated with project team to establish a clinical decision unit (CDU) focused on evidence-based care delivery.
- 408-beds, 23 FTE’s, 18 RN’s
- Implemented evidence-based practices to enhance patient care quality and safety standards.
Clinical Supervisor, Pre/Post-Operative & Same Day Surgery
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, WA
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Coordinated activities and resources within 40-bed pre/post-operative Phase II unit to ensure optimal patient recovery.
- Initiatives: increased NDNQI participation from 22% to 95%, increased ACLS and PALS certified RN’s from 12% to 100%, managed team with multiple unions
- Supervised clinical staff, ensuring adherence to best practices and regulatory compliance.
- Developed training programs to enhance team competencies and improve patient care delivery.
Director, Spine Health Institute
Florida Hospital
Orlando, FL
2013 - 01.2014
- Directed operations of a specialty outpatient center with comprehensive services for spinal patients that included: pain clinic, rehabilitation & sports medicine center, physician practices, marketing & business development
- Consulted with medical, business, and community groups to coordinate activities and promote health programs in the tri-county area
- 1000-bed Teaching Hospital
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
Faculty Member
Florida Hospital Innovation Lab Faculty
Orlando, FL
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Managed cross-functional team initiatives aimed at optimizing operational efficiency within hospital and system-wide frameworks.
- Developed and delivered instructional sessions on design thinking methodologies to enhance team-based approaches in addressing persistent healthcare issues.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to design research initiatives addressing healthcare challenges.
Administrative Nurse Manager, Fracture Care Center
Florida Hospital
Orlando, FL
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Managed orthopedic surgical unit performing over 5000 procedures per year, including: limb salvage, joint revisions, trauma, bone infections, non-union, limb-lengthening, deformity correction, total joint program
- Initiatives: streamlined FTE’s, 30% increase in number of yearly surgeries, 100% on-time first case starts, 0.1% surgical site infection rate, increased employee engagement scores from 3.7 to 4.5 (best-practice), grassroots leadership facilitator
- Developed and implemented staff training programs to enhance clinical skills and patient care quality.
Education
Master of Science in Nursing - Innovation in Healthcare and Intra/Entrepreneurship, Post Graduate Creative Studies
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA06.2013
Bachelor of Science -
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL06.2009
Associate of Science - Nursing
Daytona College
Daytona Beach, FLSkills
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
Certification
- ACLS, BLS
- Gerontological Nurse, GERO-BC
- Design Thinking, Lean/CAP training, TeamStepps, Stop the Line, ARCC
- Studer Leadership & Rounding
- DNV ISO 9001
- AORN, ASPAN, APIC, ANA
- Infection Prevention & Control Essentials for Ambulatory Care
- Leadership & Management in Infection Prevention
Interests
Timeline
Full-Time Faculty
Santa Rosa Junior College
06.2024 - Current
Associate Nursing Faculty
Santa Rosa Junior College
04.2022 - Current
Coordinator, Covid Vaccine Clinic
Petaluma Health Center
03.2021 - 10.2021
Director of Nursing
Sutter Fairfield Surgery Center
12.2020 - 01.2021
Manager, Surgery & Cardiovascular Surgery
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
01.2018 - 10.2019
Manager, Surgery & PACU
St. Helena Hospital
10.2016 - 11.2017
Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Sonoma West Medical Center
04.2016 - 06.2016
Director, Acute Care June-October
Sonoma West Medical Center
02.2016 - 10.2016
Director, Peri-Operative Services
Sonoma West Medical Center
02.2016 - 10.2016
Nurse Manager Infusion Center, Spine Center, Clinical Decision Unit
Swedish Medical Center
01.2014 - 01.2016
Clinical Supervisor, Pre/Post-Operative & Same Day Surgery
Swedish Medical Center
01.2014 - 01.2016
Faculty Member
Florida Hospital Innovation Lab Faculty
01.2011 - 01.2014
Administrative Nurse Manager, Fracture Care Center
Florida Hospital
01.2009 - 01.2013
Director, Spine Health Institute
Florida Hospital
2013 - 01.2014
Master of Science in Nursing - Innovation in Healthcare and Intra/Entrepreneurship, Post Graduate Creative Studies
Drexel University
Bachelor of Science -
Florida Southern College
Associate of Science - Nursing
Daytona College
Current Licensure
California, 95080970
Personal Information
- ID Type: California RN license
- ID Number: 95080970
Awards
- Model of Excellence
- Selected for Florida Hospital Innovation Lab Founding Faculty
- Selected as hospital-wide facilitator for Grassroots Leadership