Ciby Karottu
Elgin,IL
Summary
Dynamic Operating Room Nurse Manager at St. Joseph Hospital with expertise in staff management and operational efficiency. Achieved significant improvements in surgical coordination and vendor management, while fostering a collaborative team environment. Implemented quality improvement initiatives that enhanced clinical leadership and ensured strict adherence to asepsis standards, prioritizing patient advocacy.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Operating Room Nurse Manager
St. Joseph Hospital And Medical Center
Elgin, IL
02.2025 - Current
- Conducted interviews with prospective candidates for positions within the OR department.
- Assessed need for additional staff, equipment and services based on historical data and seasonal trends.
- Reviewed non-contracted instrumentation for spine surgeries, and initiated vendor contract evaluations in conjunction with the operations staff of each service.
- Collaborated with hospital leadership to develop strategies that improve efficiency of operations in the OR setting.
- Maintained communication and transparency with governing boards, department heads and medical staff.
- Facilitated communication between all members of the healthcare team involved in providing patient care in the operating room.
- Prepared operating rooms to uphold strict asepsis standards.
- Oversaw surgery team assignments and staffing levels during shifts.
- Monitored staff performance and provided coaching and formal counseling to staff.
- Trained other nurses on patient care and daily tasks, supporting growth and professional development.
- Coordinated care with charge nurse and other staff through daily communication.
- Maintained records management system to process personnel information and produce reports.
- Applied clinical judgment and comprehensive knowledge of facility policies to assist floor nurses with patient care decisions.
- Received and investigated complaints from families, patients and clinical staff, devising solutions to multifaceted challenges.
- Functioned as charge nurse and assumed patient care in absence of nurses ending or arriving for shifts.
- Assisted with recruitment efforts by interviewing potential candidates for open positions within the department.
- Reviews and approved time cards.
- Coordinated with other departments to ensure proper scheduling of surgeries.
- Attended weekly meetings with physicians, administrators, and other stakeholders regarding operational matters pertaining to the OR department.
- Provided guidance to medical staff members concerning OR procedures and protocol changes.
- Managed changes in integrated health care delivery systems when a new acquisition occurred.
Charge Nurse Surgery
St. Joseph Hospital And Medical Center
Elgin, IL
10.2023 - 02.2025
- Ensured compliance with hospital policies and procedures.
- Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
- Coordinated communication between physicians, anesthesia staff, pre-op, post-op, central processing, and other healthcare professionals is essential to ensure cases go as scheduled.
- Managed staff and time effectively to leverage available resources, and reduce costs.
- Anticipate and identify issues, and take action for resolution in non-routine situations.
- Provide conflict resolution as needed, and seek assistance to resolve complex issues.
- Ensure lunches are provided in a timely manner, while not compromising the skill level needed in cases.
- Coordinate with vendors to ensure appropriate equipment and implants are available for cases.
- Schedule add-on cases.
- Look at the schedule weeks in advance to make sure proper equipment and supplies are available.
- Schedule cases to make sure the flow of cases is efficient.
- Approve or deny vacation and PTO requests.
- Record humidity and temperatures, and make sure they fall within the appropriate range.
- Record the temperature of blanket warmers and fluid warmers, ensuring it stays within range.
- Check all crash carts, and do Pyxis checks as outlined in the policy.
- Troubleshoot any problems that may arise during cases, communicate with the team, and solve problems in a timely fashion.
- Communicate effectively with surgeons on all issues concerning their cases.
- Partner with sterile processing to order needed supplies and instrumentation.
- Be a resource to all staff on during off shifts.
- Give lunches, open rooms, scrub/circulate cases as needed.
- Leverage PRN staff as needed to fill in staffing holes as necessary.
Agency Nurse Surgery
St. Joseph Hospital And Medical Center
Elgin, IL
11.2021 - 10.2023
- Conducted pre-operative assessments, making sure the patient was ready for surgery.
- Assisted surgeons during operations by providing sterile items as needed or requested.
- Stocked clinical workstations and procedure rooms with necessary supplies.
- Ensured that all hospital policies and procedures related to surgery were followed correctly.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Promoted safe and calm environment for complex patients by keeping services, supplies and necessary equipment on hand.
Nurse Clinician II
Northwestern Hospital
Huntley, IL
04.2021 - 11.2021
- Conducted pre-operative assessments, making sure the patient was ready for surgery.
- Assisted surgeons during operations by providing sterile items as needed or requested.
- Stocked clinical workstations and procedure rooms with necessary supplies.
- Ensured that all hospital policies and procedures related to surgery were followed correctly.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Promoted safe and calm environment for complex patients by keeping services, supplies and necessary equipment on hand.
- Provided support to the surgical team by preparing the operating room specific to the case at hand and the surgeon's preference.
- Responded promptly to any changes in patient's condition or emergency situations.
- Advocated for the patient in a most vulnerable environment, making sure all standards were upheld.
- Helped position patients to ensure that the patient is properly aligned and that bony prominences are padded.
- Delivered medication to the sterile field, making sure the correct dose, medication, and expirations are checked.
- Participated in educational activities for medical staff members on topics related to perioperative nursing care.
- Adhered strictly to infection control protocols while performing duties in the operating room environment.
- Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills, resolving issues efficiently and effectively.
- Operated equipment and machinery according to safety guidelines.
- Maintained updated knowledge through continuing education and advanced training.
Charge Nurse, Surgical Floor
Lutheran General Hospital
Park Ridge, IL
11.2005 - 03.2021
- Ensured compliance with hospital policies and procedures.
- Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
- Coordinated communication between physicians, anesthesia staff, pre-op, post-op, central processing, and other healthcare professionals is essential to ensure cases go as scheduled.
- Managed staff and time effectively to leverage available resources, and reduce costs.
- Anticipate and identify issues, and take action for resolution in non-routine situations.
- Provide conflict resolution as needed, and seek assistance to resolve complex issues.
- Ensure lunches are provided in a timely manner, while not compromising the skill level needed in cases.
Nurse Clinician II
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Park Ridge, IL
09.2005 - 03.2021
- Engaged in professional development opportunities to stay current with advancements in surgical nursing practices.
- Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary team members to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Assisted with nursing duties in short-staffed areas.
- Collaborated with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical technologists to facilitate efficient surgical procedures.
- Observed strict safety measures, including checking medication dosages before administration to patients.
- Stocked clinical workstations and procedure rooms with necessary supplies.
- Observed universal precautions at all times while performing duties within the operating room setting.
- I was able to scrub general, urology, gynecology, plastics, PV, second scrub ortho/spine cases and robotic Velys total knees.
Assistant Manager
Lutheran General Hospital
Park Ridge, IL
02.2011 - 07.2013
- Ensured compliance with safety regulations and company policies.
- Help recruit and interview new hires.
- Assist in staffing issues.
- Conduct performance reviews.
- Work with the clinical coordinator to resolve areas of conflict.
- Keep policies and procedures up to date.
- Ensure high-quality and cost-effective care to patients.
- Plan, coordinate, and manage associates and resources.
- Responsible for personal, professional growth, and job satisfaction.
- Assist with day-to-day operations.
- Provide a positive work environment to staff.
- Coordinated with other departments to ensure smooth flow of operations.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
North Park University
Chicago, IL08-2005
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL06-2001
Skills
- Staff management
- Operational efficiency
- Asepsis standards
- Surgical coordination
- Vendor management
- Interdepartmental communication
- Collaborative
- Resourceful
- Quick Learner
- Clinical assessment
- Performance evaluation
- Surgical expertise
- Clinical leadership
- Quality improvement
- Hiring and terminations
- Conflict resolution
Accomplishments
- St. Joseph's Nurse of the Year 2024
Languages
Malayalam
Native/ Bilingual
References
REFERENCES:
Jennifer Wolinski, Assistant VP Perioperative Services, Endeavor Healthcare
(773) 844-5843
Tommy Oliver- Director of Perioperative Services, Prime Resurrection Hospital
(224) 520-4395
Dorothy Starostecki- Associate Chief Clinical Operations OFficer Surgical Services, UIC
(847) 644-5902
Diana Hausermann- Clinical Manger Out Patient Surgery- Sherman Hospital
(815) 641-7105
Timeline
Operating Room Nurse Manager
St. Joseph Hospital And Medical Center
02.2025 - Current
Charge Nurse Surgery
St. Joseph Hospital And Medical Center
10.2023 - 02.2025
Agency Nurse Surgery
St. Joseph Hospital And Medical Center
11.2021 - 10.2023
Nurse Clinician II
Northwestern Hospital
04.2021 - 11.2021
Assistant Manager
Lutheran General Hospital
02.2011 - 07.2013
Charge Nurse, Surgical Floor
Lutheran General Hospital
11.2005 - 03.2021
Nurse Clinician II
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
09.2005 - 03.2021
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
North Park University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Northern Illinois University
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