Christina Islas
Summary
Seasoned Nurse Leader with a proven track record in various roles at Saint Agnes Medical Center, excelling in quality improvement and enhanced patient outcomes through effective care coordination with multidisciplinary teams, commitment to staff development, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Experienced with overseeing surgical floor operations, ensuring high standards of patient care, safety, and team efficiency. Utilizes critical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills to address challenges and improve outcomes in an ever evolving healthcare environment.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Charge Nurse, Surgical Floor
Saint Agnes Medical Center
05.2004 - Current
- Supervised and managed daily scheduling, tasking, and administration.
- Implemented quality improvement initiatives, analyzing data trends to identify areas of improvement within the department.
- Improved patient outcomes through efficient management of patient care plans through interdisciplinary team collaboration.
- Maintained departmental budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to support staff needs and uphold quality patient care standards.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations for nursing staff members, recognizing individual strengths while providing constructive feedback for ongoing professional development.
- Promoted a culture of safety, implementing protocols to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections on the surgical floor.
- Optimized resource utilization by effectively assigning staff to appropriate patient ratios according to acuity levels.
- Mentored new nurses, facilitating smooth transition into their roles while fostering teamwork and professional growth.
- Implemented patient-centered care initiatives, fostering positive relationships with patients and their families during the hospitalization process on the surgical floor.
- Participated in regular audits of nursing practice, identifying areas requiring corrective action or further education for continuous quality improvement efforts on the surgical floor.
- Increased staff retention with implementation of professional development opportunities and supportive work environment initiatives.
- Served as a liaison between physicians, patients, and families for effective communication of treatment plans and progress updates.
- Facilitated timely discharges by closely monitoring patients'' progress and coordinating with physicians for prompt order execution.
- Fostered an inclusive working environment, promoting open communication channels among staff members to address concerns or suggestions promptly.
- Contributed to facility accreditation, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and best practices in nursing care provision.
- Created warm, supportive atmosphere to keep patients feeling safe and comfortable immediately before and after surgery.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
- Sustained quality standards by performing routine medication audits and upholding internal and industry best practices.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
Clinical Instructor
Fresno State University
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Supervised students when administering medications to maintain patient safety.
- Fostered a culture of safety within the learning environment by emphasizing proper use of equipment, infection control measures, and patient privacy guidelines.
- Provided immediate and constructive feedback to students individually and as group.
- Supervised students during clinical rotations, providing immediate feedback on their performance and suggesting areas for improvement when necessary.
- Instructed students on how to perform head-to-toe assessments on patients and how to intervene in medical emergencies.
- Evaluated student progress through written work, skill demonstrations, and clinical rotations, ensuring they met program requirements.
- Provided nursing skill demonstrations for medication administration, dressing changes and clinical logs.
- Promoted critical thinking among nursing students by introducing complex case studies during lectures.
- Enhanced student understanding of the nursing profession by sharing personal experiences, insights, and challenges faced within various healthcare settings.
- Assigned students to patients based on students' learning objectives and patient needs.
- Collaborated with fellow instructors to ensure consistency in teaching methods and curriculum content.
- Served as a mentor for new Clinical Instructors, sharing expertise on effective teaching strategies and classroom management techniques.
Interim Nurse Manager
Saint Agnes Medical Center
11.2016 - 11.2017
- Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to support professional growth of nursing staff members.
- Managed budgets and controlled costs, achieving financial targets without compromising patient care quality.
- Managed staff scheduling and time off to adequately staff nursing floors and allow nurses earned time off.
- Fostered open communication among nurses through regular team meetings, promoting collaboration and shared decisionmaking.
- Developed and implemented quality improvement initiatives to provide best possible patient care and identify and address areas of concern.
- Improved patient satisfaction scores by fostering a team-oriented environment among nursing staff.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the department, conducting regular risk assessments and addressing potential hazards promptly.
- Monitored clinical outcomes closely, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.
- Coordinated staffing resources during times of high patient acuity or census fluctuations to maintain optimal nurse-to-patient ratios.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by maintaining accurate records and staying up-to-date on industry standards.
Staff Nurse
O'Connor Hospital
01.2000 - 04.2004
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
- Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance, and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Practice
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, OH12-2015
Associate of Science - Nursing
Evergreen Valley College of Nursing
San Jose, CA06-2001
Skills
- Clinical leadership
- Compassionate care
- Pre and postoperative care
- Quality improvement
- Staff development
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Medication and IV administration
- Strong clinical judgement and critical thinking
- Excellent communication
- Creative problem solving
- Attention to detail
- Care coordination
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with various hospital councils in the development of numerous projects to improve safety, staff satisfaction, and patient care outcomes
Affiliations
- Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses-National Member
- AMSN Local Chapter Founding Member and Past President
- National Leadership Council-Former Member
- Saint Agnes Medical Center Professional Practice Committee Member
Certification
- California Board of Registered Nursing
- CMSRN
- BLS
- Basic Arrythmia Interpretation
- LEAN Management Training
- Trinity Health Leadership Training
- Just Culture Training
- Relationship Based Care
- EPIC Superuser
- Proficient in Microsoft and Google Programs
Nurse of the Year Nomination 2020
Nominee for Nurse of the Year for Saint Agnes Medical Center in the category of Clinical Practice
Timeline
Clinical Instructor
Fresno State University
01.2019 - 01.2021
Interim Nurse Manager
Saint Agnes Medical Center
11.2016 - 11.2017
Charge Nurse, Surgical Floor
Saint Agnes Medical Center
05.2004 - Current
Staff Nurse
O'Connor Hospital
01.2000 - 04.2004
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Practice
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Associate of Science - Nursing
Evergreen Valley College of Nursing
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