Christina Arriaga

Provides competency-based training guidance and support on advanced telehealth technology for patients, staff, and providers. Delivers standardized telehealth training and leads interactive simulations for clinical staff in telehealth programs. Conducted quality control checks on equipment and products while keeping accurate records for quality control and workload reporting. Manages daily operations for clinical video telehealth, training, and store-and-forward telehealth clinics. Maintains inventory, tracks equipment issues, and records updates accordingly. Coordinates information between facilities to speed access to telehealth modalities and support continuity of care. Serves as lead point of contact for outpatient and inpatient referrals requiring telehealth services. Coordinates telehealth modalities with medical staff, patients, facilities, telehealth services, and emergency services. Reviews each planned telehealth encounter for required resources, including video conferencing, clinical peripherals, telepresenters, scheduling, medical equipment, and telehealth environment, supporting safe and appropriate patient encounters.

Administered medications and monitored patient responses, maintaining accurate clinical documentation in electronic health records.

Assessed vital signs, pain levels, and symptoms, promptly reporting changes to registered nurses and providers.

Coordinated patient care plans with interdisciplinary teams, supporting continuity across inpatient and outpatient settings.

• Contributed to the Evidence-Based Practice Committee, provided direct patient care, implemented staffing methodology, served as designated preceptor for department new hires, championed hand hygiene, advocated for AES and flu vaccine initiatives, and collaborated with Team Lead RNs and Veteran’s care team in care coordination. Assisted Nurse Manager in department new hire selections by assisting in scheduling interviews and sitting on interview panels. Department party planning committee member for events and team building activities.
• Performed vitals and clinical reminders for scheduled and unscheduled patients and policy changes. Identified potential urgent or emergent patient care situations, promptly activating Rapid Response Treatment (RRT) or Code Blue as necessary to ensure patient safety.
• Dermatology skills: Executed daily clinic opening procedures to ensure readiness for patient care. and closing duties, prepare trays for surgery/biopsies, prepare specimen containers for use during the upcoming shift, collect lidocaine syringes and add needle, temperature checks for surgery suites, fill liquid nitrogen containers, collect all lab specimens, verify accuracy of all specimens prior to taking to the lab Take all specimens to the pathology section of the laboratory, print Path log, verify all specimens are correct (including patient identifiers, site, date, initials present), paste syringes in appropriate container at end of clinic, print appointment list for next day and store in locked cabinet for next day, print labels for planned procedures for next day. Demonstrates the knowledge, skills and ability to set up, prep trays to ensure a sterile experience during procedures, and break down the equipment/room for: Mohs surgeries, excisional biopsies, patch testing, biopsy procedures, surgery, and timeout procedures. The use and reprocessing of the associated high-risk and low-risk reusable medical equipment, skillfully perform, provide order with valid consent: UV lights for full body light machine, hand and foot light machine and DUSA UV-B light machine. Per provider orders, nurse to provide wound care and or suture or staple removal during nurse's visits. Participated in Dermatology Clinic multidisciplinary team meetings, assisting with Timeout process for inpatient Dermatology patients by utilizing mobile technology to maintain continuity and accuracy from outpatient to inpatient procedures.
• Applied allergy skills to provide comprehensive patient care in allergy treatments.: Administers Allergy Immunotherapy (AIT) and Venom Immunotherapy (VIT) as ordered by the provider, completing patient clinical reminders, tracking of allergy patients for current week of testing, organize and clean trays approximately as directed by Allergy RN. Allergen and Allergy Immunotherapy (AIT) Fridge temperature check (note this is checked twice per day).
• Educated patients on telehealth opportunities and facilitated the process for interested patients, including access to VA Video Connect (VVC).

• Maintains the laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies, determines compliance with safety requirements, and establishes inventory and equipment maintenance. Maintained laboratory stock and ordered materials. Functions as primary point of contact for implementation of safety regulations and safe working conditions and is accountable to supervisor to report conditions and progress on eliminating discrepancies. Performs specimen Collection in accordance with facility and laboratory policies and procedures. Assures all test tubes are labeled accurately when collecting specimens and using facility and laboratory-designated patient identifiers. Wears proper PPE when collecting specimens. Collects specimens according to the Covid-19 Specimen Collection process. Ensures disinfection of all equipment in between each specimen collection and changes gloves. Collaborates with EMS to maintain disinfection of specimen rooms by the completion of the business day.
• Verified patient identification, handled and labeled specimens, accessioned specimens, and ensured lab test requests aligned with physician orders. Generated labels and sorted specimens for distribution to laboratory sections. Worked with facility and laboratory computer systems, CPRS and Vista, to accession specimens and retrieve results. Employed safe, non-traumatic processes, prioritizing donor care and specimen quality while adhering to standard aseptic procedures. Controls contaminated or potentially dangerous specimens in accordance with agency requirements.
• Unit lead leadership responsibilities include acclimation of new nursing staff and training of new Registered and Licensed Vocational Nurses, scheduling, and delegation of unit nursing staff within three clinics, point of contact for infectious disease and employee health concerns.

• Seated and dismissed patients. Developed standard dental radiographs, including periapical and panoramic images. Reviewed patient medical histories and took vital signs by manual and mechanical methods. Assisted during surgeries by keeping work field dry, passing instruments, and handling sharps safely. Prepared IV anesthetic medication, assisted with IV placement, passed IV medications, and supported airway management with precordial stethoscope monitoring, vital sign checks, and EKG review during general anesthesia procedures. Reviewed pre- and post-operative instructions, managed recovery area, and called patients after visits. Took impressions for study models and TMJ appliances, poured and trimmed study models, maintained calm pace in high-volume setting, communicated between office assistants and doctor, completed sterilization, tray setup, and emergency protocol training.

• Led dental assistant instruction for a class of 25 students in classroom and clinical settings.
• Developed dental assisting curriculum aligned with chairside, radiography, and sterilization standards.
• Instructed students in infection control, instrument setup, and patient preparation procedures.
• Demonstrated clinical techniques for restorative, preventive, and assisting lab workflows.

• Supported oral surgeons during complex medical procedures, including tooth extractions and jaw reconstruction.
• Prepared treatment rooms, sterilized instruments, and maintained infection-control compliance.
• Assisting chairside during restorative, surgical, and preventive procedures with precise instrument handoffs.
• Captured digital and traditional dental X-rays following radiation-safety protocols.
• Recorded patient histories, updated charts, and verified treatment documentation for accuracy.
• Educated patients on oral hygiene, post-op care, and appointment preparation.
• Supported front-office scheduling, insurance processing, and treatment-plan communication.
• Cleaned and sanitized dental tools and equipment, straightened treatment rooms, and restocked supplies to prep for next patient and maintain health and safety practices.

• Deans List
• GPA: 4.0 GPA

• Lamplighter, Florence Nightingale Award Recipient, President’s List
• GPA: 4.0 GPA

• GPA: 4.0 GPA