Darla Retzlaff
Oakhurst,CA
Summary
Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills, anxious to obtain an entry-level Lead LVN position to help launch career while achieving company goals.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead LVN
Adventist Health Clinic
Oakhurst, CA
10.2023 - Current
- Providing direct patient care by taking vital signs, administering medications and treatments, and providing wound care.
- Conduct physical assessments of patients on a regular basis.
- Actively participating in continuing education activities in order to stay abreast of latest developments in nursing practices, procedures, techniques.
- Administering medications and therapies in accordance with physicians' orders.
- Ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures related to health care.
- Assisting in resolving conflicts that arise among team members.
- Biweekly Dock and Download in compliance with VFC temperature controls, ensuring temperatures were maintained within regulation, including reporting to Patty Loyd any excursions that may arise.
- Maintain accurate medication inventory in books, both upstairs and downstairs monthly, ensuring no expired medications or vaccines are shelved and properly adding the inventory onto shelves and into refrigerators compliant with temperature regulations, also recording on CAIR all vaccines administered and delivered.
- Keeping close watch for medication shortages and reporting vaccine needs, both private and VFC, for ordering if I cannot order myself.
- Scheduling of team members ensuring providers remain covered to the best of my ability, filling in when unexpected circumstances arise and/or PTO is requested.
- Properly handling and shipping out of tools that providers use for proper disinfecting and ensuring all tools are returned in a timely manner for provider use.
- Basic assessment of patients that walk in seeking emergency care.
- Monthly inventory and evaluation of items in emergency cart.
LVN
Adventist Health System
Oakhurst, CA
10.2022 - 10.2023
- Maintained accurate medical records for each patient utilizing electronic health record systems.
- Providing direct patient care by taking vital signs, administering medications and treatments, and providing wound care.
- Responded quickly to potential life threatening situations using appropriate interventions based on established protocols.
- Conduct physical assessments of patients on a regular basis.
- Perform routine diagnostic tests such as EKG's, urinalysis and capillary tests, such as glucose and hemoglobin monitoring.
- Assess patient needs for additional services such as social work or home health aides.
- Use sterile techniques to prepare patients for procedures.
- Interviewed patients to obtain medical history.
- Collected biological specimens and packaged for laboratory transport to complete diagnostic tests.
- Administered medications and therapies in accordance with physicians orders.
- Observed strict confidentiality and safeguarded all patient-related information.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
Care Provider
Madera County In Home Supportive Services
Oakhurst, CA
08.2011 - 01.2021
- Assisted with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and meal preparation.
- Helped clients maintain a clean and safe living environment by performing household tasks such as laundry and light housekeeping.
- Maintained daily living standards by assisting clients with personal hygiene needs.
- Prepared healthy meals for to meet unique nutrition needs.
- Transported clients to medical appointments or other errands as needed.
- Provided assistance with mobility issues by helping patients walk or transfer from one position to another safely.
- Provided personal care and companionship to elderly clients in their homes.
- Developed trusting relationships with clients through active listening skills and compassionate understanding of individual needs.
- Adhered strictly to HIPAA guidelines when handling confidential information about patients.
- Ensured that all safety protocols were followed while working with clients in their home environment.
- Arrange medication and reminded patients to take each according to correct schedule.
- Supported bathing, dressing and personal care needs.
- Improved patient outlook and daily living through compassionate care.
- Observed patients for changes in physical, emotional, mental or behavioral condition and injuries.
- Created safe and positive living situations for clients by communicating with family and other staff about concerns or challenges.
- Helped clients get in and out of beds and wheelchairs.
Hospice Caregiver
Personal Employer
Oakhurst, CA
02.2015 - 02.2020
- Provided companionship, emotional support, and comfort to patients and families.
- Promoted a positive environment that was conducive to healing and recovery.
- Assisted terminally ill patients with bathing, grooming and dressing.
- Recognized signs of distress in patients and acted appropriately according to protocol.
- Assisted with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
- Moved patients carefully into different positions to promote better body alignment and comfort.
- Utilized therapeutic communication methods to establish trust and rapport with patients.
- Assisted with transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs or other mobility devices when necessary.
- Helped patients maintain dignity during difficult times.
- Supported daily living activities by serving meals, feeding, ambulating and turning over and positioning patients.
- Answered patient call signals and signal lights to determine patients' needs.
- Reminded patients to take prescribed medications or nutritional supplements.
Education
Associate of Science - LVN
Madera Community College
Madera, CA05-2022
Skills
- Vital Signs Monitoring
- Clinical Documentation
- Elderly Care
- Physical Assessment
- Samples Collection
- Wound Care
- Patient Intake
- ADL Assistance
- Home Health Care
- Multi-Tasking and Prioritization
- Patient Evaluations
- CA Licensed Practical Nurse
- Immunization Administration
- Direct Patient Care
- Empathetic and Compassionate
- Medication Dispensing
- Documenting Incidents
- Vital Signs
- HIPAA Compliance
Affiliations
Colleges attended achieving my mandatory prerequisites required prior to attending Madera Community College LVN course, while maintaining employment.
- Oakhurst Community College
- Madera Community College
Certification
BLS Certification (CPR and AED) Program
Timeline
Lead LVN
Adventist Health Clinic
10.2023 - Current
LVN
Adventist Health System
10.2022 - 10.2023
Hospice Caregiver
Personal Employer
02.2015 - 02.2020
Care Provider
Madera County In Home Supportive Services
08.2011 - 01.2021
Associate of Science - LVN
Madera Community College