Courtney Chessa
Hampden,ME
Summary
Patient-focused registered nurse with 13+ years experience. Expert in all elements of patient care and successful in working as part of a team to treat a wide range of medical conditions. Skilled in prioritizing patients’ needs within high-stress environments.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
4
4
Certifications
Work History
Registered Nurse - PACU
Downeast Surgery Center
Bangor, ME
02.2019 - Current
- Kept meticulous charting notes regarding patient assessments and medications.
- Took vitals and assessed patients in pre-operative an recovery room before and following surgical procedures.
- Assessed and identified individual patient educational needs, removing barriers to learning and supporting comprehensive progress.
- Promoted quality of care by adhering to industry standards and measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and benchmarks.
- Collaborated with patients and healthcare teams to assess, plan, implement and evaluate custom care plans for each individual.
- Provided individualized care and dedicated oversight to patients in pre and post-operative room.
- Evaluated patients' pain levels, implementing correct dosage of medication to alleviate discomfort.
- Evaluated cardio-respiratory systems for deviations, providing appropriate treatment as necessary.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Supported healthy working environment.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Administered medications to patients and monitored response to medications.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety and rights of patient.
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
- Administered different therapies and medications in line with physician orders and treatment plan.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Accurately documented treatment, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions and follow-up care.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from surgery..
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Monitored patients before, during and after surgical operations to evaluate patient care.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- IV insertion.
Registered Nurse PACU
NLEMMC
Bangor, ME
07.2014 - 03.2019
- IV insertion
- Monitor vital signs
- Ability to multi-task and prepare/recover multiple patients
- Review and interpreted telemetry readings
- Help patients feel comfortable with procedures
- Monitored fluid intake and output levels
- Addressed disruptions in patient care, including delays in discharge, postponed procedures and discharge equipment unavailability
- Prepared patients for surgery, educating patients and family members on surgical procedures
- Distribute medications and perform pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions
- Partner with attending physicians, nurses, techs and nursing assistants to create and coordinate plans of care, including imaging, labs, surgery, intensive care and medications
- Manage care for post-operative patients through discharge.
- Performed physical assessments, and chart all interactions
- Care for ventilated patients
- Wound care
Register Nurse Grant 5 (ortho/neuro)
EMMC
Bangor, ME
07.2008 - 07.2014
- Accurately documented all elements of nursing assessment, treatments, medications, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Developed and implemented nursing care plans.
- Answered call lights and aided in patient comfort and safety by adjusting beds, lights, bed rails, pillows, patients’ clothing and bedside tables/equipment
- Provided care to patients throughout lifespan with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and culture
- Instructed patients and family members on proper discharge care
- Supervised students when administering medications to ensure patient safety
- Helped patients with bathing, dressing, feeding, lifting and transferring
- Cooperated and communicated effectively with physicians to ensure patient satisfaction
- Responsible for primary care, and medication management
- Provided behavioral/emotional support and supervision for those with dementia and Alzheimer's
- Performed vitals/glucose testing and assisted in administering injections and urinalysis
- Wound care/dressing changes
- Provided care to ortho patients after surgery
Nursing Assistant Grant 5 (ortho/neuro)
EMMC
Bangor, ME
08.2007 - 07.2008
- Answered call lights and aided in patient comfort and safety by adjusting beds, lights, bed rails, pillows, patients’ clothing and bedside tables/equipment.
- Obtained medical information, weight and height measurements and vital signs.
- Monitored fluid intake and output levels.
- Ensured safety and well-being of patients.
- Helped patients with bathing, dressing, feeding, lifting and transferring.
Medical Secretary
EMMC
Bangor, ME
06.2005 - 08.2007
- Coordinated with nursing staff to process and direct patients to the appropriate departments
- Managed various general office duties such as answering multiple telephone lines, faxing paperwork, answering patient call bells, and entering physician orders
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Husson College
Bangor, ME2007
Skills
- ACLS
- PALS
- CPR/BLS
- Pre- and post-surgical care
- Ortho nursing
- Acute/critical care nursing
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Neurology awareness
- Proper catheter insertion/removal
- Physical assessments
- Intravenous insertion
- NG tube insertion and removal
- Foley catheter insertion/removal
- Professional bedside manner
Certification
- Registered Nurse in ME, License number 55449, exp 06/02/2024
- CPR certified through American Heart Association exp 05/2023
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification, exp 01/2024
- PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support, exp 07/2022
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Registered Nurse - PACU
Downeast Surgery Center
02.2019 - Current
Registered Nurse PACU
NLEMMC
07.2014 - 03.2019
Register Nurse Grant 5 (ortho/neuro)
EMMC
07.2008 - 07.2014
Nursing Assistant Grant 5 (ortho/neuro)
EMMC
08.2007 - 07.2008
Medical Secretary
EMMC
06.2005 - 08.2007
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Husson College
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