Chera Brewer
Registered Nurse
Union City,IN
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) with progressive career history in direct patient care, triage and care coordination in fast-paced environment. Proven ability to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle difficult patients and high-stress situations. Consistently developing strong relationships with patients and families through empathetic communication, respectful attitude and excellent customer service.
Overview
2
2
Certifications
2
2
years of post-secondary education
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse
Reid Health
Richmond, Indiana
06.2018 - 05.2021
- Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections, and monitored responses.
- Managed care from admission to discharge, including patient assessments, care planning, health educations and discharge support.
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
- Managed quality care for patients with heart failure, end-stage renal disease and coronary artery disease.
- Oversaw delivery of care for patients on medical-surgical unit, providing direct care, delegating nursing assignments, and supervising team comprised of nurses, LPNs, technicians and unit clerks.
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
- Evaluated healthcare needs, goals for treatment and available resources of each patient and connected to optimal providers and care.
- Monitored patient condition, including interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
- Provided didactic and clinical instructions to orient new nurses and potential student nurses to achieve training outcomes.
- Implemented interventions, including medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence.
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use and disease management.
- Provided exceptional care to high-acute patients needing complex care such as ventilator management, extensive wound care and rehabilitation.
- Kept optimal supply levels in treatment rooms, triage and other areas to meet typical patient loads.
- Collected blood, tissue and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing.
- Maintained quality care and comfort for patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and other conditions.
- Minimized hospital stays with recovery-centered approaches, reducing average in-patient stay length.
- Secured controlled narcotics and distributed medication on schedule to meet patient needs and minimize misuse opportunities.
- Participated in nursing simulation activities, evidence-based practice project implementation and competency development to further nursing education.
- Performed arterial cut-downs, inserted central lines and inserted endotracheal tubes as part of trauma team.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols to optimize performance and safety.
- Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to highest standards of care.
- Led successful team comprised of RNs, LPNs and ancillary staff.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Reviewed post-operative orders and continuously monitored patients' post-operative vitals, set up PCA and fluids and oriented patients to unit.
- Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions met treatment goals and identifying insurance coverage limitations.
- Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Reid Health
Richmond, Indiana
10.2011 - 06.2018
- Cared for wounds, provided treatments and assisted with procedures.
- Managed patient care through closely monitoring respiration, blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
- Monitored, tracked and conveyed important patient information to healthcare staff to help optimize treatment planning and care delivery.
- Monitored and tracked patient vitals in Sorian and Epic to keep team informed of changing conditions.
- Cared for over 10 Progressive Care and Medical-Surgical patients each day with quality-driven support.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team of healthcare and social service providers to address patients' needs through effective intervention and care planning.
- Made valuable contributions to care-plan development and patient education processes backed by thorough research into client diagnoses.
- Obtained patient vital signs and input/output measurements from inpatients.
- Collaborated with multiple registered nurses to assess patient needs, plan and modify care and implement interventions.
- Minimized staff and patient infection risk by cleaning and disinfecting equipment instruments.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Offered immediate assistance in emergency and routine paging situations to evaluate needs and deliver care.
- Documented accurate and complete patient information to address patient problems and expected outcomes.
- Performed functional assessments for admission and discharge.
- Supported physicians during examinations and scans to assist with diagnostic procedures.
- Comforted and counseled patients and families throughout care process.
- Answered incoming phone calls from patients to provide basic assistance and triage medical concerns.
- Assisted with admissions, appointments, transfers and discharges.
- Used aseptic techniques to provide sterilized wound care and dressing applications.
- Evaluated patients to identify and address wounds, behavioral concerns and medically relevant symptoms.
- Delivered updates in patient status to charge nurse, recording all changes in medical records.
- Administered controlled narcotics, inserted IVs and performed catheterizations.
- Educated patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
- Managed appointment calendar for scans, lab tests, and evaluations.
- Gathered lab specimens, ordered testing and interpreted results to diagnose patients.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Richmond, IN 05.2017 - 05.2018
No Degree - Practical Nursing
Upper Valley Career Center
Troy, Ohio 07.2010 - 09.2011
Skills
Writing reports
Indirect Patient Care
Documenting intake
Caregiving skills
Inpatient care
Shared governance
Direct Patient Care
Maintaining nutrition
Good telephone etiquette
Chronic disease management
Intravenous therapy
Patient and family advocacy
Preventative health
Physical assessments
Removing sutures
Patient Management
Relationship building
Hospice philosophy understanding
Medication distribution
Acute care expertise
Oxygen saturation standards
Chest pain management
Feeding assistance
Hospice and palliative care
Insulin medication assistance
Patient discharge
Infection control measures
HIPAA education
Diabetes and nutrition education
Proper catheter insertion/removal
Setting up referrals
Resource Allocation
Gastrostomy buttons experience
Procedure preparations
Neurology awareness
Medication Administration
Emotional intelligence
Vaccine administration
Data Collection
At-risk patient care
Collecting vitals
Sanitation
Tracheostomy Care
Lab result interpretation
Medical laboratory procedures
Personal care needs
Patient Assessments
Medical evaluation
Palliative care awareness
Supply restocking
IV setup
Feeding pumps understanding
Patient counseling
Patient evaluation
OSHA safety expert
Medical recordkeeping
Precepting
Administering immunizations
Professional bedside manner
Evaluations
Strong clinical judgment
Certification
ACLS certified
Timeline
ACLS certified
06-2021
BLS certified
06-2021
Registered Nurse
Reid Health
06.2018 - 05.2021
Associate of Science - Nursing
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
05.2017 - 05.2018
Licensed Practical Nurse
Reid Health
10.2011 - 06.2018
No Degree - Practical Nursing
Upper Valley Career Center
07.2010 - 09.2011