Christine Valadez
Elk Grove,CA
Summary
Transformational nursing leader with 18 years in surgical services, including 13 years as an Operating Room Registered Nurse. Expertise in outpatient operating room launch, ambulatory surgery operations, policy development, staffing optimization, and accreditation readiness. Focused on building high-performing teams, enhancing clinical workflows, and achieving operational efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance and superior patient outcomes.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Administrative Nurse II- 48X
UC Davis Medical Center
03.2025 - Current
- Played key leadership role in planning, developing, and launching new 48x outpatient operating room, ensuring operational readiness and compliance with state regulations.
- Led implementation of comprehensive emergency preparedness programs, establishing protocols for malignant hyperthermia, code blue, rapid response, fire evacuation, and active shooter incidents.
- Collaborated with fire department, EMS, anesthesia teams, and multidisciplinary stakeholders on emergency simulations to improve team readiness and patient safety.
- Directed provider credentialing support and regulatory documentation, including policies and emergency preparedness records for CDPH licensing repository.
- Developed standardized perioperative policies and workflows to enhance staffing efficiency, patient flow, and supply management.
- Coordinated procurement of surgical equipment with surgeons, vendors, and executive leadership, ensuring timely operational readiness for new operating room.
- Provided operational leadership for daily perioperative services through staffing support, resource allocation, quality improvement, and performance monitoring.
- Fostered culture of safety and continuous improvement, maintaining regulatory compliance and enhancing survey readiness.
Administrative Nurse I – Urology
UC Davis Medical Center
07.2022 - 03.2025
- Acted as perioperative clinical expert for urologic services, providing consultation and support to nursing staff and surgeons.
- Coordinated surgical readiness by managing preference cards and onboarding new surgeons, ensuring seamless integration of surgical teams.
- Developed standardized workflows for cystoscopy cart, expanding procedural capabilities outside operating room to improve patient care.
- Mentored new staff as primary preceptor, delivering simulation-based education and developing OR code blue training.
- Supported daily staffing and patient flow in charge nurse and assistant roles, optimizing operational coordination.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives to advance patient safety and evidence-based practice.
- Collaborated with sterile processing and interdisciplinary partners to improve instrument availability and streamline workflow efficiency.
- Authored and implemented chemotherapy instillation policy, ensuring regulatory compliance through staff education.
Interim OR Nurse Educator III
UC Davis Medical Center
11.2023 - 05.2024
- Developed tailored orientation plans for staff training, improving engagement and learning outcomes.
- Created instructional content for new graduate program and scrub training, consisting of 12 standardized lesson plans to streamline training process.
- Onboarded 25 new career and contract staff to perioperative unit through comprehensive orientation education.
- Conducted staff evaluations based on educational and training needs to identify growth opportunities.
- Led debriefs with new graduate nurses in OR training program, offering constructive feedback to foster professional development.
- Reviewed and revised consent for sterilization policy #1420, securing approval from policy committee.
- Established a new policy for OR specimen handling of evidentiary products of conception.
- Participated in root cause analysis events and PSEC initiatives to improve patient safety standards.
Clinical Nurse II
UC Davis Medical Center
08.2013 - 07.2022
- Delivered expert perioperative nursing care as circulator and scrub nurse across multiple surgical specialties.
- Served as clinical resource for complex urologic procedures, delivering intraoperative expertise and consultation to optimize patient outcomes.
- Collaborated with surgeons and leadership to standardize workflows, resulting in enhanced procedural efficiency.
- Precepted nursing students and new staff, developed educational resources and competency checklists to support onboarding and skill development.
- Received the 2017 Team Dean's Award for contributions to UC Davis Medical Center's first fetal surgery.
Operating Room Assistant
UC Davis Medical Center
08.2008 - 08.2013
- Ensured surgical cases were ready on time through suite management and strict adherence to sterilization protocols.
- Streamlined perioperative operations by preparing and turning over surgical suites per infection prevention standards.
- Coordinated safe transport of patients, specimens, blood products, and equipment, facilitating seamless continuity of care.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing- Educator
Chamberlain University
Addison, IL05-2023
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain University
Addison, IL04-2021
Associate - Nursing
Yuba College
Yuba City, CA05-2013
Skills
- Perioperative services leadership
- Clinical operations management
- Ambulatory surgery center operations
- Emergency preparedness and disaster planning
- Regulatory compliance and accreditation
- Quality improvement and patient safety
- Performance improvement initiatives
- Evidence-based practice implementation
- Strategic planning and program development
- Policy and procedure development
- Operational efficiency
- Staffing and workforce planning
- Surgical supply management
- Budget and resource management
- Physician collaboration
- Interdisciplinary leadership skills
- Staff development and mentoring
- Lean workflow optimization
- Team collaboration
- Patient safety protocols
Certifications And Licensure
- California RN License, #843937, California Board of Nursing
- Certification as an Operating Room Nurse (CNOR)
- CPR/BLS
- Primary Preceptor
Core Leadership Competencies
- Ambulatory Surgery Center Operations
- Perioperative Services Leadership
- Clinical Operations Management
- Strategic Planning & Program Development
- Regulatory Compliance (CDPH, CMS, Joint Commission)
- Accreditation Readiness
- Policy & Procedure Development
- Quality Improvement & Patient Safety
- Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Planning
- Staffing & Workforce Planning
- Budget & Resource Management
- Supply Chain & Capital Equipment Procurement
- Change Management
- Physician & Executive Collaboration
- Staff Development, Coaching & Mentoring
- Performance Improvement
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Interdisciplinary Leadership
- Lean Workflow Optimization
Timeline
Administrative Nurse II- 48X
UC Davis Medical Center
03.2025 - Current
Interim OR Nurse Educator III
UC Davis Medical Center
11.2023 - 05.2024
Administrative Nurse I – Urology
UC Davis Medical Center
07.2022 - 03.2025
Clinical Nurse II
UC Davis Medical Center
08.2013 - 07.2022
Operating Room Assistant
UC Davis Medical Center
08.2008 - 08.2013
Master of Science - Nursing- Educator
Chamberlain University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain University
Associate - Nursing
Yuba College