Courtney Cheaves
Dallas,GA
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate registered nurse with extensive experience in acute care, general surgery, and pediatric hospitals. Proven ability to deliver individualized and customized patient care in a fast-paced environment. Skilled in handling acute, emergent, and intensive care patients, both pre and post-operatively. Proficient in coordinating patient care among interprofessional teams to ensure optimal patient safety and prioritize quality care. Possessing a positive attitude and a strong desire to establish rapport with patients and their families while providing patient-focused care. Successfully adapted during the evolving pandemic, finding alternative solutions to combat hospital stock shortages of commonly used items like normal saline IV flushes and personal protective equipment. Committed to ongoing education to stay updated on new protocols, pathways, medical interventions, medical record databases, and technology advancements.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Circulating OR Nurse
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
05.2023 - Current
- Anticipated potential needs in the operating room environment by maintaining an organized workspace and replenishing supplies as needed for efficient workflow.
- Actively participated in continuing education opportunities to stay current on best practices in perioperative nursing care.
- Preserved patient dignity and privacy throughout the surgical experience by advocating for their rights as part of a holistic approach to nursing care.
- Contributed to the development of evidence-based practice guidelines for circulating nurses within the organization.
- Managed the care of surgical instruments throughout procedures, ensuring proper handling, cleaning, and sterilization to uphold patient safety standards.
- Maintained detailed documentation of surgical procedures and interventions for accurate medical records and billing purposes.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and refining OR processes for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.
- Promoted teamwork among OR staff by fostering a positive work environment based on mutual respect and shared goals.
- Streamlined communication between surgical team members, ensuring accurate sharing of critical information during procedures.
- Expedited patient recovery by promptly addressing postoperative complications or concerns through timely intervention and collaboration with other healthcare providers.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety, and rights of patient.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Managed surgical inventory, maintaining adequate levels of supplies for all scheduled surgeries.
- Assisted surgeons during operations, ensuring smooth transitions between steps and minimizing errors.
- Successfully managed multiple cases simultaneously, demonstrating adaptability under high-pressure situations.
- Maximized OR efficiency by implementing innovative strategies for time management and resource allocation.
- Continuously updated professional knowledge, participating in ongoing training opportunities and workshops.
- Coordinated effectively with other departments including pharmacy services, radiology technicians, lab personnel to provide seamless interdisciplinary care.
- Streamlined workflow by coordinating closely with the anesthesia team during induction and emergence phases.
- Supported new staff members through mentorship programs, sharing knowledge and developing policies to ensure optimal patient care and care.
- Improved operating room turnover times, by communicating effectively amongst all members of the surgical team to improve team satisfaction, while minimizing delays in on time case starts.
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Northside Hospital
Canton, Georgia
03.2021 - 03.2023
- Conducted preoperative and intraoperative assessments to determine patient needs.
- Ensured patient autonomy, dignity, and rights were upheld through unbiased care.
- Developed patient-specific care strategies in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
- Educated patient and family to facilitate discharge planning and continuum of care
- Safeguarded personal and professional data of patients, families, and staff according to HIPAA requirements.
- Tailored assessment approaches to each patient to prioritize urgent needs.
- Administered medication, IV therapy and treatments
- Demonstrated timely pain assessment and reassessment
- Developed and executed protocols for infection prevention among patients and personnel.
- Improved quality and safety scores on unit-based scorecard by reporting near misses and collaborating with interprofessional health care team on improvements
- Integrated and coordinated care across settings and disciplines
- Collaborated with patients, families and healthcare team to coordinate successful patient care
- Contributed towards meeting department financial targets on unit-based scorecard through decreasing length of stay and improving other areas based on to department specifications
- Used therapeutic communication, active listening and teaching to establish relationships with patients, families and interprofessional health care teams
- Assisted patients and families through pre- and post-operative teaching
- Initiated emergency resuscitative measures to stabilize patients
- Implemented, maintained and evaluated care plans based on knowledge of developmental needs of patient age groups
- Administered intramuscular, oral and intravenous medications to treat patients' conditions and symptoms
- Prioritized care given to each patient based on factors such as diagnoses and current medical needs
- Tracked vital signs, laboratory data and responses to determine need for emergency intervention
- Aided in activities of daily living, bathing, ambulation, toileting and turning and positioning
- Acted in emergency patient care situations by following established protocols, remaining calm, informing appropriate persons and documenting events
- Monitored and assessed patients' physiologic, psychosocial, cultural, spiritual and cognitive status and needs
- Inserted IVs, changed wound dressings and assisted with medical operations
- Trained student and newly-registered nurses in the correct nursing procedures and performance strategies
- Reported patient condition to personnel during shift change to maintain quality and consistency of care
Eyewear Consultant
MyEyeDr. (previously Tasman Eye Consultants)
Kennesaw, Georgia
04.2017 - 01.2021
- Completed basic ophthalmic testing procedures to assess patients' current ocular functionality
- Performed routine patient assessment; including obtaining blood pressure, medical and ocular health history; documenting and reporting out of range values to OD
- Assisted OD in determining refractive errors, diagnosing and treating ocular diseases and disorders
- Responded to patient's telephone calls related to ocular emergencies and triaged to coordinate responses
- Maintained accuracy of billing for clinics, labs, and other divisions through correct coding
- Assisted physicians and clinicians with examinations, procedures, preparation of patients, and ensuring efficient patient flow
- Remained calm and poised in emergencies by calmly interacting with patients to avoid stress and panic
- Worked with pharmacy staff to authorize drug refills and relay prescription information
- Contacted patient's insurance and completed prior authorization requests for procedures and medications
- Helped diagnose and treat ocular disease and recommended appropriate patient follow-up and care options
- Checked intraocular pressure with tonometry and tonography tests to determine patient's glaucoma risk level
- Performed specialty tests on patients; including visual fields, fluorescein angiograms, pachymetry, corneal topography, and retinal tomography
- Measured anatomic and functional aspects of patients' eyes and surrounding tissue as part of comprehensive checkups and diagnostic appointments
- Checked finished lenses carefully to verify their conformance to the client's prescription
- Calculated fittings by measuring facial features to achieve desired comfort level and best vision results
- Managed daily tasks and sought out opportunities to go beyond job requirements to support business targets
Patient Care Technician -4th floor
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
12.2011 - 05.2014
- Maintained accurate records of patient care, condition, progress, and concerns
- Monitored vital signs, such as blood pressure and pulse; reporting any out of range values to patient's assigned nurse
- Thoroughly researched newly identified diagnoses and/or medical procedures to expand skills and knowledge
- Maintained a clean, healthy and safe environment
- Tested and recorded blood glucose levels
- Assisted nurse in changing both clean and sterile dressings
- Provided pre-/post-operative care
- Assisted patients with bathing, oral hygiene, grooming, feeding, and elimination
- Helped patients move in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, and automobiles
- Meticulously identified and rectified inconsistencies, deficiencies, and discrepancies in medical documentation
- Maintained updated knowledge of medical coding requirements, through continuing education
- Entered orders into the EMR system efficiently and without errors
- Prepared patient charts, pre-admissions, and consent forms as necessary; within scope of practice
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University
Atlanta, Georgia05.2019
Skills
- Assisted during surgical procedures using clean, aseptic, and sterile processes
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Efficient and effective communication including escalation of care and advocating for patient's needs and increased level of care prioritization
- Thorough understanding of HIPPA and privacy policies
- Navigating sensitive situations with care and compassion
- Precepting and orienting nursing students and registered nurses
- Patient care in a decisive, composed, and respectful manner
- Patient and family education related to diagnosis and patient's plan of care
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with all levels of care
- Time management related to patient care, medication administration, charting, procedures, admissions and discharges
- Proficient at using multiple EHR and EMR systems, including EPIC and Cerner
- Wound care
- Policy and quality improvement team
- Tracheostomy care
Certification
- RN290741 - Registered Professional Nurse - Active - eNLC
- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
- Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification (ACLS)
Accomplishments
- Achieved improved surgical team retention through effectively helping with developing effective preference card management, emergency carts for trauma/emergency carts to improve patient care and safety.
Affiliations
- International Council of Nurses
- AORN
Timeline
Circulating OR Nurse
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
05.2023 - Current
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Northside Hospital
03.2021 - 03.2023
Eyewear Consultant
MyEyeDr. (previously Tasman Eye Consultants)
04.2017 - 01.2021
Patient Care Technician -4th floor
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
12.2011 - 05.2014
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University