Cheryl Kelsey
Registered Nurse
Fort Smith,AR
Summary
Compassionate and detail-oriented Registered Nurse with a strong foundation in clinical judgment and patient education. Ready to leverage extensive experience to enhance patient care and support positive health outcomes.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
Baptist Health Medical Center
Fort Smith, AR
03.2022 - Current
- Developed effective communication strategies to address patient concerns promptly.
- Update patient medical records, home medication list, Medical history, and determine if patient needs outpatient testing prior to surgical procedures based on medical history and type of surgical procedure planned. Schedule appointments for Pre-surgical testing. Obtain cardiac clearance for heart patients. Review lab results, EKG and chest xrays notify surgeon of any abnormal results.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
- Gathered patient health data through interviews and observation, documenting data in electronic records.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies, and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
Registered Nurse
Baptist Health Medical Center
Van Buren, AR
04.2012 - 03.2022
- Implemented infection control measures, contributing to hospital-wide initiatives that improved patient outcomes and safety standards.
- Mentored junior nursing staff in clinical procedures, fostering a collaborative learning environment within the unit.
- Participated in quality improvement projects, streamlining workflows that enhanced efficiency in patient care delivery processes.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Administered medications and treatments per physician orders in high-pressure emergency situations.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement patient care plans.
- Monitored vital signs and reported changes in patient conditions promptly to medical staff.
- Educated patients and families on discharge instructions and follow-up care effectively.
- Assisted physicians during invasive procedures such as central line insertions or intubations, ensuring safe and accurate completion of tasks.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Facilitated clear communication with patients, families, and colleagues, fostering a positive environment in a fast-paced setting.
- Deescalated tense situations involving agitated patients or family members through active listening skills and empathetic responses.
- Teamed on trauma and emergency interventions involving serious head injuries, gunshot wounds, and thoracic trauma.
- Prevented medication errors by diligently verifying drug orders against patient records before administering treatments.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during crisis situations, helping them cope more effectively with difficult circumstances.
- Administered appropriate medications and treatments, ensuring accurate dosage and timely delivery for improved patient health.
- Administered different therapies and medications in line with physician orders and treatment plan.
- Updated personal nursing knowledge through continuing education courses, staying current on best practices in emergency medicine.
- Enhanced patient care by conducting thorough assessments and promptly addressing critical needs.
- Ensured continuity of care by thoroughly documenting vital information in electronic health records systems for seamless transitions between healthcare providers.
- Delivered culturally competent care to diverse populations, adapting communication styles as needed for optimal understanding between parties involved.
- Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
Registered Nurse
Area Agency On Aging Of West Central Arkansas
Fort Smith, AR
07.2010 - 01.2012
- Supervised nursing staff to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and best practices.
- Developed and implemented patient care protocols, improving service delivery and patient satisfaction.
- Mentored new nurses, fostering professional growth and enhancing team performance.
- Coordinated interdisciplinary team meetings to streamline communication and improve patient outcomes.
- Analyzed patient care data to identify trends, driving continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Managed workflow processes, optimizing resource allocation for maximum efficiency in patient care delivery.
- Conducted performance evaluations for nursing staff, promoting accountability and professional development.
- Developed strong rapport with patients and families, providing emotional support during challenging situations.
- Addressed patient concerns promptly by investigating issues thoroughly and collaborating with appropriate personnel to resolve problems efficiently.
- Served as a liaison between administration, medical staff, and nursing team for seamless communication and coordination of care efforts.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Managed staffing schedules, ensuring adequate coverage for all shifts while minimizing overtime costs.
- Advocated for patient needs within the healthcare organization, working closely with multidisciplinary teams to optimize resource allocation and service delivery.
- Led successful team comprised of RNs, LPNs, and ancillary staff.
- Enhanced overall staff morale by recognizing individual achievements and fostering a collaborative, supportive work environment.
- Evaluated clinical competency of nursing staff through direct observation, feedback sessions, and periodic skills assessments.
- Streamlined patient care processes for increased efficiency and improved quality of care.
- Oversaw quality assurance initiatives to identify areas of improvement within the department and implement corrective action plans accordingly.
Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center
Fort Smith, AR
05.2003 - 07.2010
- Administered medications and treatments per physician orders, ensuring patient safety and compliance with protocols.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans for diverse patient populations.
- Monitored vital signs and assessed patient conditions, promptly reporting changes to physicians for timely interventions.
- Educated patients and families on disease management, medication adherence, and post-discharge care strategies.
- Led emergency response efforts during critical situations, coordinating actions among staff to ensure optimal patient care continuity.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in nursing care and emerging trends in healthcare delivery.
- Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
Education
Associate of Science - Registered Nurse
University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR05-2003
Associate of Science - Paramedic
Westark Community Collage
Fort Smith, AR12-2002
Skills
- Medication and IV administration
- Medication administration
- Direct patient care
- Patient assessments
- Documentation and charting
- Patient assessment
- Strong clinical judgment
- Patient education and counseling
- Clinical judgment
- Patient and family advocacy
- Infection control measures
- Wound care
- Compassion and empathy
- Patient monitoring
- IV setup
- Intravenous therapy
- Care planning
- Patient management
- Professional bedside manner
- Physical assessments
- Patient evaluation
- Telemetry monitoring
- Family education
- Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification
- Critical care
- Nursing staff leadership
- Medication distribution
- Patient discharge
- Lab result interpretation
- Team coordination
- EMR systems
- Performing ekgs
- Complex Problem-solving
- Proper catheter insertion/removal
- Emergency response
- Maintaining privacy
- Chart updating
- Vaccine administration
- Procedure preparations
- Medical assessment
- ADL assistance
- Chest pain management
- Emergency procedures
- HIPAA education
- Emergency care
- Acute care expertise
- Geriatric nursing
- Oxygen saturation standards
- Removing sutures
- Mental health nursing
- Medical records management
- Managing deadlines
- Seizure management
- Appointment scheduling
- Call triaging
- Home health care
- Supply restocking
- Evaluations
Certification
Emergency Nursing 2003-2022
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Baptist Health Medical Center
03.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse
Baptist Health Medical Center
04.2012 - 03.2022
Registered Nurse
Area Agency On Aging Of West Central Arkansas
07.2010 - 01.2012
Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center
05.2003 - 07.2010
Associate of Science - Registered Nurse
University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Associate of Science - Paramedic
Westark Community Collage