Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Additional Information
Work Availability
Overview
Quote
Timeline
RegisteredNurse
Cynthia Balazs

Cynthia Balazs

RN
LOS RANCHOS,NM

Summary

Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist and Educational Specialist. Dynamic professional providing education and training to hospital staff, and specialized acute care to critical care patients. Diverse experience within multiple clinical and hospital settings. Skilled instructor and mentor with excellent interpersonal communication skills. Focused Clinical Instructor with over 20 years' success in developing and improving nursing programs, designing innovative curricula and creating highly engaging didactic and clinical lessons. Excited to bring talent to growing nursing program and developing highly knowledgeable and skilled practical and registered nurses. Knowledgeable administrative professional with expertise in medical records management, coding and data entry. Proven ability to review and document clinical data, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Well-versed in ICD-10, 3M 360, and Cerner systems.

Work History

HEART FAILURE PROGRAM INPATIENT EDUCATOR

University of New Mexico Hospital
07.2016 - Current
  • Educate patients regarding heart failure self-management
  • Participate in facility accreditation as advanced heart failure center
  • Provide and develop heart failure education for other healthcare professionals
  • Chart review for abstraction into American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines

CLINICAL EDUCATOR

Grand Canyon University
09.2016 - 09.2016
  • Assist and mentor 8 student nurses attending Grand Canyon University working in the Neurological ICU by creating and giving PowerPoint presentations, overseeing patient care, answering questions throughout the rotation, and grading care plans

CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST

University of New Mexico Hospital/Sandoval Regional Medical Center
10.2015 - 07.2016
  • Conducted hospital rounds with staff to observe and document comorbidities and major comorbidities of patients
  • Administer concurrent chart reviews of inpatients for entry into 3M 360
  • Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships
  • Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment
  • Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

University of New Mexico Hospital/Sandoval Regional Medical Center
04.2015 - 10.2015
  • Oversaw and managed group of CDIs and advanced coders, appointing one to manage quality cases and placing others into positions of rounding with physicians
  • Exemplary efforts helped program transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10
  • Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations
  • Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback

CLINICAL QUALITY DOCUMENTATION IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
04.2012 - 03.2015
  • Conducted hospital rounds with staff to observe and document comorbidities and major comorbidities of patients
  • Administer concurrent chart reviews of inpatients with specific teams
  • Corrected quality of care issues through collaboration with Quality Department staff

STAFF CRITICAL CARE RN

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, UNIT
08.1997 - 04.2012
  • Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies
  • Personalized bedside care and interactions based on cultural backgrounds of different patients
  • Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare team to deliver optimal patient outcomes
  • Utilized critical thinking skills to assess, plan and implement evidence-based patient care
  • Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions
  • Worked with intubated and ventilated patients, monitoring and reporting on conditions to maintain stats within optimal levels

CLINICAL EDUCATOR

Good Samaritan Hospital
03.2008 - 08.2008
  • Created PowerPoint presentations and led clinical orientations for new RNs and other employees
  • Instructed hospital RN and PCT staff regarding available educational opportunities under direction of the clinical consultant
  • Provided continuing education for PCT with co-development of PCT Enrichment Program (PEP).

MICU STAFF EDUCATOR

05.2001 - 01.2004
  • Arranged and scheduled required critical care courses for 75 to 90 RNs within 23 bed intensive care unit
  • Conducted in-service training on new equipment and drugs
  • Taught foundational critical care courses to all new RNs beginning work at one of five ICUs within hospital (Medical, Neurological/Neurosurgical, Surgical, Coronary Care, and Cardiovascular)
  • Developed and implemented RN ICU competencies to align with institutional regulations

STAFF RN

CORONARY CARE UNIT
08.1997 - 05.1999
  • Directed nursing care for critically ill patients
  • Instructor and mentor for new nursing staff within unit
  • Acted as relief resource coordinator
  • Acted as Clinical Research Coordinator for clinical trial CAPTIVATE.

Staff RN

University of New Mexico Hospital
01.1992 - 01.1997

Education

Master of Science - Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
2010

Bachelor of University Studies - Sociology

University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
1997

Associate of Science - Nursing

WEST GEORGIA COLLEGE
Carrollton, GA
1992

Skills

  • Maintaining Patient Safety Standards
  • Intervention Recommendations
  • Electronic Health Records Systems
  • Critical Care Nursing
  • Complex Information Interpretation
  • Disease Processes
  • Complex Problem-Solving
  • Team Goals and Development
  • Clinical Documentation Improvement Programs (CDIP)
  • Critical Thinking
  • Government Standards
  • Educational Programs
  • Heart Failure

Accomplishments

  • ACDIS-Approved CDI Apprentice
  • BLS Provider
  • Registered Professional Nurse (Current-Alabama)
  • Registered Professional Nurse (Current – New Mexico)

Affiliations

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses

American Association of Critical Care Nurses

Additional Information

  • Honors and Awards , Chapman Scholarship – Northwestern Memorial Hospital
  • Inducted – Phi Kappa Phi

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Overview

31
31
years of professional experience

Quote

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere
Chinese proverb

Timeline

CLINICAL EDUCATOR

Grand Canyon University
09.2016 - 09.2016

HEART FAILURE PROGRAM INPATIENT EDUCATOR

University of New Mexico Hospital
07.2016 - Current

CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST

University of New Mexico Hospital/Sandoval Regional Medical Center
10.2015 - 07.2016

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

University of New Mexico Hospital/Sandoval Regional Medical Center
04.2015 - 10.2015

CLINICAL QUALITY DOCUMENTATION IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
04.2012 - 03.2015

CLINICAL EDUCATOR

Good Samaritan Hospital
03.2008 - 08.2008

MICU STAFF EDUCATOR

05.2001 - 01.2004

STAFF CRITICAL CARE RN

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, UNIT
08.1997 - 04.2012

STAFF RN

CORONARY CARE UNIT
08.1997 - 05.1999

Staff RN

University of New Mexico Hospital
01.1992 - 01.1997

Master of Science - Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

Bachelor of University Studies - Sociology

University of New Mexico

Associate of Science - Nursing

WEST GEORGIA COLLEGE
Cynthia BalazsRN