Cory A. French
Fairlawn,OH
Summary
Compassionate and dependable Registered Nurse with ten years of Emergency Department experience and demonstrated leadership as Assistant Nurse Manager at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. Skilled in coordinating high-acuity clinical operations, supporting staff performance, and promoting a culture of safety and accountability. Strong commitment to delivering exceptional Veteran-centered care, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing departmental goals through effective team building and employee engagement. Experienced in developing, implementing, and evaluating quality improvement initiatives that result in measurable outcomes at both the departmental and facility levels. Dedicated to supporting the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs by improving care delivery, strengthening workforce development, and ensuring efficient, patient-focused operations.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Nurse Manager
Louis Stokes Medical Center
Cleveland, Ohio
09.2023 - Current
- Managed nursing staff operations to uphold adherence to established protocols and accurate documentation.
- Implement cost‑effective operational improvements within the Emergency Department to strengthen patient safety, standardization, organization, and workflow efficiency. These initiatives support the continuous advancement of the ED and the broader medical center in delivering high‑quality, Veteran‑centered care and achieving organizational performance goals.
- Engaged with management and staff to create effective procedures that successfully lowered left without being seen rates from 3% to 1.1%.
- Led the development and implementation of a new Emergency Department specimen‑labeling system that virtually eliminated lab specimen rejections due to mislabeling, significantly enhancing patient safety and satisfaction. This initiative removed the need for manual specimen accessioning by laboratory staff and reduced departmental paper usage, resulting in an annual cost savings of $16,000.
- Implemented quality improvement initiatives to elevate patient satisfaction and health outcomes including revision of the ED Documentation policy.
- Developed the standard operating procedure for the care of psychiatric patients, facilitating the seamless integration of psychiatric emergency services within the Emergency Department.
- Designed and implemented the ED decontamination program to ensure compliance with VA national standards.
- Oversaw operational coordination and facilitated successful launch of new 28-bed emergency department, as well as develop process mapping of patient assignments to coordinate care efficiently and effectively.
Registered Nurse II
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA)
Cleveland, OH
12.2021 - Current
- Full‑time Registered Nurse demonstrating expert‑level clinical knowledge and practice, committed to supporting the VA Medical Center’s mission and advancing the principles of a High Reliability Organization (HRO).
- Strived to utilize and improve upon the processes in place at the VA to ensure patient care is safe and effective and in line with current evidence-based practices.
- Administered medications and monitored vital signs to ensure optimal patient health outcomes.
- Ultrasound‑guided peripheral IV (UGPIV) superuser and educator, training multiple staff members in UGPIV insertion and advancing evidence‑based practice to improve patient safety, enhance patient satisfaction, and increase overall procedural success rates.
- Served as the Interim Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) ensuring effective leadership was available to our staff in the absence of former leadership, taking an active role in leadership discussions and workgroups, networking, and policy review.
- Developed a pediatric BLS kit to be utilized by nursing staff with items necessary for these emergency situations.
Registered Nurse
Cleveland Clinic, South Pointe
Warrensville, OH
09.2020 - Current
- Deliver rapid, comprehensive emergency and critical care to pediatric and adult patients, adapting to constantly changing clinical conditions in a high‑acuity environment.
- Perform triage, initial assessments, and continuous reassessments to determine patient acuity, prioritize interventions, and ensure timely care delivery.
- Insert and manage IV access, perform line placement, collect laboratory specimens, and apply expert knowledge of emergency equipment to support accurate and efficient diagnostics and treatment.
- Administer and titrate medications in accordance with evidence‑based protocols, ensuring safe delivery and accurate monitoring of patient responses.
- Manage all lines, drains, and airways, providing advanced support for patients requiring emergent interventions or life‑sustaining therapies.
- Coordinate admissions, transfers, and discharges promptly and effectively to support patient flow and optimize Emergency Department operations.
Clinical Nurse III, RN, BSN, Emergency Department
Memorial Care
Long Beach, CA
08.2016 - 06.2020
- Served as a full‑time Registered Nurse in a high‑acuity, 60‑bed Emergency Department, delivering acute care to geriatric, adult, and pediatric patients.
- Collaborated closely with an interdisciplinary medical and nursing team to provide evidence‑based, patient‑centered emergency care across a diverse community population.
- Contributed to maintaining the organization’s Magnet designation and its recognition as an adult and pediatric Level II Trauma Center, cardiac receiving center, comprehensive stroke center, and teaching facility.
- Supported efficient and safe Emergency Department operations within a high‑volume setting that manages more than 80,000 acute patient visits annually.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
California State University
Long Beach, CA06-2016
Skills
- Patient and family centered care
- Emergency response
- Clinical leadership
- Staff development
- Quality improvement
- Performance improvement
- Performance monitoring
- Conflict management
- Care coordination
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Critical thinking
Certification
- Ohio RN License 471587: Current
- National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Certified
- U.S. Navy Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist
Timeline
Assistant Nurse Manager
Louis Stokes Medical Center
09.2023 - Current
Registered Nurse II
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA)
12.2021 - Current
Registered Nurse
Cleveland Clinic, South Pointe
09.2020 - Current
Clinical Nurse III, RN, BSN, Emergency Department
Memorial Care
08.2016 - 06.2020
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
California State University
Military Service
United States Navy – Pearl Harbor, HI
Afloat Training Group Middle Pacific – Type Commander Assessor and Evaluator
• Briefed Commanding Officers, senior leadership, and search‑and‑rescue (SAR) crews on training plans, assessment schedules, and mission‑oriented operational requirements.
• Trained and certified U.S. Naval warships in Search and Rescue operations, including all rescue swimmers, rescue crews, and associated shipboard equipment.
• Provided instruction to military and civilian personnel on in‑water survival tactics, emergency procedures, and operational readiness.
• Developed a proficiency‑tracking system adopted by Afloat Training Group San Diego and subsequently mandated for all training facilities across the U.S. Naval Fleet, streamlining SAR qualification processes and enhancing fleetwide deployment readiness.
• Achieved a 100% certification rate for all inspected ships’ Search and Rescue programs across three consecutive years, directly contributing to full mission readiness and deployment capability.
USS Paul Hamilton – Sonar Subsystem Level I Operator
• Performed equipment light‑off, operation, and shutdown of sonar subsystems including AN/SQQ‑28(V)9, AN/SQR‑19B(V)1/B(V)3 TACTAS, AN/UYK‑25B(V)1 (SIMAS II), and AN/SQS‑53C.
• Identified, tracked, and classified acoustic signatures, undersea targets, and potential submarine threats to safeguard ship and fleet operations.
• Conducted preventive and corrective maintenance on sonar equipment to ensure mission reliability and operational safety.
• Held Secret and Top‑Secret clearances to support sonar operations and strike missile team responsibilities.
USS Paul Hamilton – Surface Search and Rescue Swimmer
• Performed duties as SAR swimmer for recovery of personnel and equipment at sea under a range of environmental and operational conditions.
• Maintained, inspected, and prepared all SAR gear to ensure compliance with naval safety and operational standards.
USS Paul Hamilton – Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Team Member
• Conducted compliant and non‑compliant boarding of waterborne vessels as part of anti‑piracy, maritime interdiction, and intelligence‑gathering operations.
• Gathered intelligence on potential piracy activity to support fleet maritime security missions.
• Served as primary team breacher, responsible for safe and effective vessel entry to facilitate boarding operations and ensure team safety.
Projects and Achievements
- Implemented and standardized the use of SuperSani cloths as the primary sanitizing agent for hospital beds and equipment, promoting consistent disinfection practices and supporting improved infection‑control outcomes.
- Facilitated and provided education to the Intensive Care Unit on the Emergency Department specimen‑labeling project, ensuring standardized processes and improved accuracy across departments.
- Developed the Emergency Department Triage Standard Operating Procedure, which was subsequently adopted by VISN 10 as the standardized model for nurse triage across the network.
- Brittain, L., Glass, D., French, C., Attinato, D., Lawlor, M.A. (2025). Cleveland Clothing Closet; a nurse-led emergency department initiative. Northeast Ohio Veteran's Healthcare System. Cleveland, OH. (poster presentation, 2025 Nursing Research Conference).
- French, C., Vehovec, A., Glass, D. (2025). Emergency department specimen labeling: a performance initiative. VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System. Cleveland, OH. (poster presentation, 2025 Nursing Research Conference).
Awards/Honors
- Daisy in Training Award 2016
- California State University President’s Honor List 2014 – 2016
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
- Good Conduct Award for seven years of exceptional service in the U.S Navy