Dawn Hilliard
Swisher,IA
Summary
Highly skilled and enthusiatic professional Registered Nurse and Operating Room Manager with more than 25 years of experience in nursing and over 8 years of experience in management. Perform professional nursing and team leadership objectives that include quality patient care, OR team management, and comprehensive background knowledge of policies and procedures. Solid credentials and diversely experienced with budgeting, supply management and equipment operations and maintenance. Develop and lead productive and efficient OR staff. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operating Room Manager
Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center
03.2018 - Current
- Carefully select, develop and retain qualified teammates. Review the whole Operating Room team's performance objectives and goals annually.
- Evaluate the current policies and procedures for the Operating Room and revise as needed.
- Performance improvement projects throughout the department. Assist in budget planning and cost savings initiatives during the year.
- Manage the entire surgery schedule and Operating Room team schedule to ensure quality care and efficiency throughout the day.
- Started up new service lines for the department that include Plastics, Total Joints, and Retina.
- Assisted In the completion of 2 AAAHC surveys with excellent results.
- Contribute to and participate in committees to increase the development of the surgery center such Clinical Operations, Process Improvement, Clinical Ladder and Wellness.
- Assist in obtaining preference cards for new physicians. Obtain the supplies and instruments needed for their first case and build new preference cards and procedures.
- Lead huddles for the OR team to communicate effectively as well as participate in team meetings.
- Ensured the availability of advanced surgical technology, staying informed about industry innovations and advocating for the acquisition of appropriate tools to enhance patient care.
- Enhanced surgical team performance through regular training sessions and skill assessments.
- Assessed staff performance regularly, providing constructive feedback and opportunities for professional growth.
- Supported quality improvement initiatives within the department, tracking progress towards goals and adjusting strategies as necessary based on results achieved.
- Developed strong relationships with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and nursing staff to foster a collaborative work environment.
- Maintained compliance with regulatory standards by staying current on industry best practices and updating policies accordingly.
- Assists with inventory management, ensuring timely availability of necessary supplies and equipment for surgical procedures. Created purchase orders, received invoices and depleted inventory daily, paying strong attention to implants being billed correctly.
- Managed all equipment inventory, repairs and maintenance. Assuring all preventative maintenance follows AAAHC standards and manufacture guidelines.
- Improved patient care by implementing efficient operating room processes and procedures.
- Implemented safety protocols to reduce the risk of infections and complications during surgery.
- Reduced operational costs by negotiating contracts with vendors for the procurement of medical supplies and equipment at competitive prices.
- Coordinated interdisciplinary communication between departments to improve overall patient care in the perioperative setting.
- Kept practices, techniques, policies and procedures consistent with professional standards and regulatory agencies.
- Developed and updated policies and procedures, maintaining compliance with guidelines relating to AAAHC, benefits administration and general liability.
- Assists with ordering all pharmacy supplies and kept check on inventory levels.
- Spearheaded and implemented Clinical Ladder to expand scope of engagement of staff.
- Fostered an inclusive workplace culture that valued diversity among employees, promoting respect, open communication, and teamwork.
Operating Room Charge Nurse
Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center
03.2016 - 04.2018
- Circulated all surgical specialties in the hospital including orthopedics, spine, general, GYN, opthalmology, ENT, podiatry, hand, maxillofacial, endoscopy, urology and pain management.
- Provided IV sedation for endoscopy and pain procedures. Scrubbed in on a variety of surgical specialties.
- Streamlined workflow processes within the operating room suite resulting in reduced downtime between surgeries.
- Mentored new nurses through orientation, providing guidance on operation room protocols and nursing responsibilities.
- Assisted physicians in operating room by providing necessary supplies and equipment.
- Coordinated with surgeons and staff to deliver safe patient care during operations.
- Provided direct support to surgical team during procedures.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Utilized strong assessment skills to determine necessary patient care.
Circulating OR Nurse
Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center
02.2010 - 03.2016
- Streamlined communication between surgical team members, ensuring accurate sharing of critical information during procedures.
- Ensured proper positioning of patients during surgeries, minimizing risk of injury or discomfort.
- Expedited patient recovery by promptly addressing postoperative complications or concerns through timely intervention and collaboration with other healthcare providers.
- Safeguarded patients from harm by accurately identifying and verifying surgical sites, protecting against wrong-site surgeries.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and refining OR processes for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.
- Anticipated potential needs in the operating room environment by maintaining an organized workspace and replenishing supplies as needed for efficient workflow.
- Collaborated closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and other healthcare professionals to deliver optimal patient care in the operating room.
- Reduced surgery delays by efficiently preparing the operating room with necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies.
- Promoted teamwork among OR staff by fostering a positive work environment based on mutual respect and shared goals.
- Enhanced patient safety by strictly adhering to aseptic techniques and infection control protocols during surgeries.
- Actively participated in continuing education opportunities to stay current on best practices in perioperative nursing care.
- Maintained detailed documentation of surgical procedures and interventions for accurate medical records and billing purposes.
- Managed the care of surgical instruments throughout procedures, ensuring proper handling, cleaning, and sterilization to uphold patient safety standards.
- Utilized sterile techniques and infection-control guidelines to maintain clean and safe environment.
- Assisted physicians in operating room by providing necessary supplies and equipment.
- 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.
- Collaborated with members of patients' healthcare team to deliver appropriate level of care.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Performed as the surgical scrub for basic cases for all service lines. Set up the sterile back table and Mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, and medications/solutions needed for the procedure.
Anesthesia Assistant
Mercy Hospital
03.2005 - 02.2010
- Managed pharmaceutical inventory for anesthesia cart, ensuring medications were properly stored and readily available when needed during surgery.
- Consistently adhered to established protocols for infection control, minimizing risks to both patients and healthcare providers alike.
- Maintained updated knowledge of anesthesia techniques and best practices through continuous professional development activities.
- Enhanced patient safety by closely monitoring anesthesia delivery and patient vital signs during procedures.
- Contributed to efficient surgical workflows by setting up anesthesia equipment and maintaining organized workstations.
- Responded effectively to emergency situations, administering life-saving interventions under pressure.
- Prepared patients for surgery by positioning them properly, applying monitors, and establishing intravenous access.
- Assisted anesthesiologists in the preparation and administration of anesthesia for surgical procedures, ensuring timely and accurate delivery.
- Assisted with transports of invasively monitored O.R. and I.C.U. patients.
- Maintained and cleaned anesthesia machines by changing soda-lime, refilling vaporizers with anesthetic agents and replacing nitrous, oxygen and air cylinders.
- Assisted anesthesia personnel with insertion and setup of temporary pacemakers, catheters, invasive monitoring lines and central lines for hemodynamic monitoring.
- Improved operating room efficiency by assisting and troubleshooting difficult airways.
- Achieved enhanced teamwork within the OR team through active collaboration on surgical cases that involved complex or specialized anesthesia plans.
- Improved operating room efficiency by working with all operating room team members to provide safe and efficient care to all patients based on their individual needs.
Operating Room Registered Nurse
St. Mary Hospital
03.2003 - 03.2005
- Assisted physicians in operating room by providing necessary supplies and equipment.
- Coordinated with surgeons and staff to deliver safe patient care during operations.
- Prepped operating rooms to comply with environmental asepsis standards.
- Sanitized, selected and organizing instruments, equipment and supplies according to surgeon preferences.
- Collected, labeled and transported specimens and delivered to lab for testing.
- Collaborated with members of patients' healthcare team to deliver appropriate level of care.
- Prepared equipment and supplies necessary for each surgical procedure, ensuring availability when needed by surgeons.
- Provided high-quality care for diverse patient populations, addressing individual needs and concerns.
- Coordinated with anesthesia providers to ensure proper administration of anesthesia during procedures.
- Promoted a culture of teamwork within the surgical suite by fostering open communication and collaboration among colleagues.
- Adapted quickly to changing situations in the operating room, utilizing problem-solving skills under pressure.
- Enhanced patient safety by implementing strict adherence to surgical protocols and guidelines.
- Managed efficient use of operating room resources, streamlining procedures and minimizing waste.
- Streamlined communication among surgical team members, facilitating efficient flow of information during critical moments in surgery.
- Served as a liaison between the surgical team and family members, providing timely updates on patient progress.
- Maintained a sterile environment within the operating room, reducing the risk of infection.
- Implemented time-out protocols before starting surgeries, verifying correct patient identification and procedural details.
Registered Nurse, Labor and Delivery
Cottage Hospital
05.1999 - 03.2003
- Assisted physician during delivery, examination and surgical procedures by anticipating needs, encouraging patient, and attending to baby after birth.
- Aided with induction of labor for women suffering from complications such as preeclampsia.
- Supported physicians in both planned and emergency Cesarean section procedures.
- Coached new mothers with breastfeeding techniques, postpartum self-care and infant care to promote easier transition into motherhood.
- Responded to emergency situations such as pre-eclampsia, early labor, and fetal distress.
- Assessed infant health directly after birth using APGAR and monitored health for specified amount of time for any changes in status.
- Assisted obstetricians and midwives with deliveries and cared for newborns directly after birth.
- Developed and implemented strategies to improve labor and delivery processes and patient outcomes.
- Conducted comprehensive physical assessments and assisted with pain management.
- Maintained a safe and sterile environment, ensuring optimal conditions for successful deliveries.
- Coordinated care of low and high-risk laboring women of childbearing age and immediate stabilization of newborn following delivery.
- Reduced complications during childbirth by closely monitoring patients and providing timely interventions.
- Provided emotional support and guidance to new mothers and families during labor, delivery and postpartum.
- Managed epidural analgesia infusions and monitored vital signs during labor and delivery.
- Performed vital signs checks and administered vaccinations to infants following birth.
- Anticipated potential complications early in the labor process through vigilant assessment of both mother and fetus vital signs data.
- Increased patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, individualized care throughout the labor and delivery process.
- Participated in regular departmental meetings, providing valuable insight and suggestions for improvement.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
Education
Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, IL05.1998
Skills
- Critical thinking proficiency
- Sound decision making
- Process Improvement and Implimentation
- Personal and professional integrity
- Conflict resolution
- Able to adapt to stressful situations
- Profitability Strategies
- Cultural competence and sensitivity
- Regulatory Compliance Knowledge
- Surgical expertise
- Organizational skills and attention to detail
- Task Prioritization
- Patient Advocacy
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration of all departments
Certification
- Basic Life Support (BLS)- 2022-2024
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)- 2022-2024
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)- 2022-2024
- Registered Nurse IA # 112285-2026
- AORN
- CNOR
- Iowa Notary
Accomplishments
- Maximized high physician satisfaction by providing excellent patient care in the operating room and encouraging full physician participation.
- Maintain high quality metrics in the operating room with minimal or no variances.
- Collaborated with Physicians, Anesthesiologists, clinics and scheduling departments in the development of overall efficiency.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop spreadsheets for Operating Room Utilization, Block Utilization and Case Cost Vs. Revenue.
- Received the CNOR Strong Award for the Last 6 years by supporting and assisting staff to become CNOR Certified.
- Maintained high staff retention by promoting career development and growth opportunities. Treating staff with respect, dignity and fair compensation. Promoting a strong cooperate culture improves productivity, performance and accountability.
Timeline
Operating Room Manager
Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center
03.2018 - Current
Operating Room Charge Nurse
Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center
03.2016 - 04.2018
Circulating OR Nurse
Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center
02.2010 - 03.2016
Anesthesia Assistant
Mercy Hospital
03.2005 - 02.2010
Operating Room Registered Nurse
St. Mary Hospital
03.2003 - 03.2005
Registered Nurse, Labor and Delivery
Cottage Hospital
05.1999 - 03.2003
Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing
Carl Sandburg College
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