Charity Dempsey
McCleary,WA
Summary
I have worked as a bedside nurse in acute oncology, float pool, cardiac progressive care, and most recently as a heart failure navigator for Providence St Peter’s Hospital and Centralia Hospital! I am passionate about patient advocacy, patient and family education, preventative care, and supporting and advocating for my fellow nurses. My previous background in international teaching, humanitarian aid, and volunteer work provided me with a unique perspective and exceptional communication and teamwork skills. My experiences in over 40 countries, learning multiple languages and working collaboratively with people from all walks of life, have given me empathy, compassion, and cultural competence, that I believe greatly enhance my nursing and professional skills. I am adaptable, flexible, and care deeply about making a difference every day. As a Heart Failure Navigator, I experienced greater autonomy, opportunity for growth, initiative, and expansion of my sphere of influence. However, I missed the hands-on care of patients and saw many missed opportunities for prevention upstream. This led to a decision to pursue a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner degree in family practice with the hope that I will be able to provide primary care where I have seen a great need. I am currently in my 4th year of the DNP/FNP program (part time) at WSU and am also working for DSHS at an inpatient mental health facility in a per diem position which provides flexibility for my studies and clinical rotations. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from you!
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
RN2
Washington State Department Of Social And Health Services
05.2023 - Current
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Work well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrate respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Develop and maintain courteous and effective working relationships.
Heart Failure Navigator
Providence Southwest Washington Region
09.2019 - 02.2022
· Performance and documentation of thorough and ongoing patient assessments, creating and contributing to focused care and treatment plans including management of ongoing care
· Collaborating and communicating with the multidisciplinary team to facilitate and carry out all ordered treatments, procedures, diagnostic tests, and follow up
· Utilizing strong written and verbal communication skills, to provide accurate documentation and record management
· Provide compassionate, multilingual, and culturally competent care
· Administration of medications, treatments, and therapies per physician orders and per policy, including and in conjunction with monitoring and documentation of patient response, progress, and status
· Management of Intravenous and central lines
· Administration of blood and blood products, IVIG, and TPN
· Administration of chemotherapy, patient surveillance, and interventions for adverse reactions. Excellent patient and family education on chemotherapy treatment, prevention of infection, and management of side effects
· Work in collaboration with providers and Palliative Care Team to provide excellent palliative and end-of-life care and planning, including pain management and comfort care
Registered Nurse
Providence St Peter Hospital
08.2011 - 09.2019
- Identify hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients at high risk for readmission and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop guideline-directed disease management plans
- Weekly rounding with the HF team on the most complex patients to ensure treatment is optimized and in collaboration with the cardiology team, make recommendations to hospitalists and providers as needed
- Provide education to patients and families about heart failure, including prevention, management, and surveillance of heart failure symptoms
- Communicate with primary care providers in the community to ensure continuity of care at discharge
- Facilitate follow-up with primary care and cardiology, including warm handoff at discharge and follow-up calls as needed
- Work closely with transitions of care pharmacists to ensure accurate medication reconciliation and guideline-directed therapy at discharge
- Provide ongoing support and education to nurses and staff regarding heart failure management, newly available guideline-directed therapies, and interventions pertaining to advanced heart failure
- Worked closely with the heart failure program coordinator to oversee quality improvement measures and data collection
- Provide ongoing education and support to bedside nurses caring for heart failure patients.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Providence Centralia Hospital
08.2010 - 08.2011
- Administered care to Long Term and Transitional Care patients by initiating preventative and rehabilitative interventions, assisting patients with activities of daily living, positioning, mobilization, and personal hygiene support
- Examined and addressed lacerations, contusions, and other physical symptoms in need of further attention providing wound care as needed, including complex dressing changes and wound vacs for deep pressure injuries
- Managed care of urinary catheters and ostomies along with colostomies
- Administered medications, respiratory treatments and helped RN with non-invasive procedures
- Responded to patient alarms and needs-assessment requests to identify course of treatment
- Documented patient intake and dietary requirements and assisted with feeding.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Nursing
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WADoctor of Nurse Practitioner in Family Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner
Washington State University
Vancouver, WA05.2025
Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Troubleshooting
- PPE use
- Clerical Support
- Critical Thinking
- Excellent Communication
- Organization and Time Management
- Relationship Building
- Problem-Solving
- Self-Directed
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Customer Relations
Certification
- Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board, Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Nursing
- American Association of Heart Failure Nurses Certification Board, Certified Heart Failure Nurse
- American Heart Association, Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Accomplishments
- I lived in Asia from 1989-2005 where I taught English as a Second Language, doing mission, humanitarian aid and volunteer work in Japan, China, Siberia, and Korea.
- Local Volunteer Work:
- Washington Hispanic festival Centralia College 2008-2009
- Foster Youth to College Centralia College 2009
- Read and Romp NW Pediatric Center Centralia, WA 2010
- Olympia Free Clinic Olympia Free Clinic 2013-2014
- Thurston County Health Dep. Olympia, WA 2013
- GRUB Olympia, WA 2013
- Elma High School Career Fair, WA 2022
- Summit Pacific Information Booth at the McCleary Bear Festival, WA 2022
Activities
- International Scholar Laureate Program: Traveled with Nursing Delegation to South Africa May-June 2009 visiting hospitals, clinics, NGOs, and orphanages with a learning focus on HIV/AIDS, and the nursing challenges faced by a new democracy recovering from Apartheid and overwhelmed with the ravages of AIDS. Also studied and presented cultural findings on end of life and grieving traditions
- Created research-based poster with presentation to hospital leadership, on the risks associated with overuse and over prescription of Proton Pump Inhibitors in the hospitalized adult population
- Created Evidence Based Presentation about need for availability of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for oncology nurses administering chemotherapy. Presented my findings to leadership at unit-based council. My continued advocacy resulted in provision of disposable gowns for nurses administering IV chemo, increased training of auxiliary staff as well as signage to inform staff of patients on chemo precautions. I have contributed to further education throughout the hospital to inform protection of staff who are pregnant or breast feeding, as well as safe disposal bins for chemo throughout the hospital, for patients receiving oral chemo on non-oncology units
- In 2013, Collaborated with the Thurston County Health Department Nurse-Family Partnership Program to develop a training module for nurses teaching them how to present the ACES (Adverse Childhood Experience Score) program and questionnaire to at-risk mothers in the community. Developed tool to assess pre and post training knowledge and comfort levels around trauma informed care
- In 2014 Developed evidence-based presentation on compassion fatigue and self-care for Providence St Peter's Hospital nurses. This presentation has since been incorporated into the Nurse Residency Curriculum.
- Served on advisory team for Caregiver Formation and Wellness Program, a pilot program begun October 2016 to support nurses experiencing compassion fatigue, secondary post-traumatic stress, and burnout
- AHEC Scholar Jan 2024-May 2025
Languages
Spanish
Professional Working
German
Professional Working
Timeline
RN2
Washington State Department Of Social And Health Services
05.2023 - Current
Heart Failure Navigator
Providence Southwest Washington Region
09.2019 - 02.2022
Registered Nurse
Providence St Peter Hospital
08.2011 - 09.2019
Licensed Practical Nurse
Providence Centralia Hospital
08.2010 - 08.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Nursing
Saint Martin's University
Doctor of Nurse Practitioner in Family Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner
Washington State University
- Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board, Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Nursing
- American Association of Heart Failure Nurses Certification Board, Certified Heart Failure Nurse
- American Heart Association, Advanced Cardiac Life Support
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