Dawn Merrill
Des Peres,MO
Summary
Resourceful nursing professional offering proven clinical knowledge in hospice admissions and case management. Knowledgeable about EMR charting, specifically homecare homebase, with extensive training in CMS LCD eligibility criteria. Medication administration and interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and support. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
RN, Admissions
Traditions Health (Palliative & Hospice Care)
08.2023 - Current
- Completes initial and ongoing assessments to identify the physical, psychosocial, and environmental needs of home health patients/clients
- Completes assessments at appropriate time points, including Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) or other assessments as appropriate to the patient
- Regularly re-evaluates the patient's/client's nursing needs and evaluates the outcomes of care
- Develops, initiates, and revises the plan of care as necessary to ensure quality and continuity of care
- Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures
- Refers to other services as needed
- Plans for the discharge of the patient/client from services
- Furnishes those services requiring substantial and specialized nursing skill
- Counsels the patient/client and their family in meeting nursing and related needs
- Uses infection control measures that protect both the staff and the patient (OSHA)
- Coordinates services
- Informs the physician and other personnel of changes in the patient's/client's condition and needs
- Monitors assigned cases to ensure compliance with requirements of third-party payors
- Prepares clinical and progress notes
- Completes appropriate documentation in a timely manner
- Demonstrates commitment and professional growth by participating in in-service programs and maintaining or improving competency
- Supervises, teaches and provides clinical direction to other nursing personnel
- Assigns home health aides to specific patients
- Supervises LPNs/LVNs and paraprofessionals providing services to patients/clients
- May only conduct aide competency evaluations if qualified with two years of clinical experience and one year of home health experience
- Promotes the Agency's philosophy and administrative policies
- Performs on-call responsibilities and provides on-call services to patients/clients and their families as assigned
- Provides effective communication to patients/clients, their family members, team members, and other health care professionals
- Provided physicians and other medical personnel with patient assessment details and answered patient care-related questions.
Admissions APN/Intake RN
Transitions Hospice Care- BSN, RN
01.2023 - 08.2023
- Completes initial and ongoing assessments to identify the physical, psychosocial, and environmental needs of home health patients/clients
- Completes assessments at appropriate time points, including Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) or other assessments as appropriate to the patient
- Regularly re-evaluates the patient's/client's nursing needs and evaluates the outcomes of care
- Develops, initiates, and revises the plan of care as necessary to ensure quality and continuity of care
- Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures
- Refers to other services as needed
- Plans for the discharge of the patient/client from services
- Furnishes those services requiring substantial and specialized nursing skill
- Counsels the patient/client and their family in meeting nursing and related needs
- Uses infection control measures that protect both the staff and the patient (OSHA)
- Coordinates services
- Informs the physician and other personnel of changes in the patient's/client's condition and needs
- Monitors assigned cases to ensure compliance with requirements of third-party payors
- Prepares clinical and progress notes
- Completes appropriate documentation in a timely manner
- Demonstrates commitment and professional growth by participating in in-service programs and maintaining or improving competency
- Supervises, teaches and provides clinical direction to other nursing personnel
- Assigns home health aides to specific patients
- Supervises LPNs/LVNs and paraprofessionals providing services to patients/clients
- May only conduct aide competency evaluations if qualified with two years of clinical experience and one year of home health experience
- Promotes the Agency's philosophy and administrative policies
- Performs on-call responsibilities and provides on-call services to patients/clients and their families as assigned
Case Manager
Transitions Hospice Care- BSN, RN
11.2021 - 01.2023
- Coordinates staffing assignments and schedules visits
- Develops individual patient plan of care
- Recognizes/responds to verbal and non-verbal cues
- Facilitates the QI process with problem-solving and pursuing resolutions to problems
- Educates patient/family/caregiver disease processes and self-care techniques
- Collaborates with patient care manager and general manager in the development of operational budget
- Collaborates with the Interdisciplinary Team, Regional Director of Nursing and General Manager to develop agency goals and objectives
- Communicates effectively with family/patient/caregiver
- Develops interventions to address progressing patient disease process
- Symptom management
- Facilitate opportunities to teach the Philosophy of Hospice, and the principals of death/dying
Public Health Nurse
Vermilion County Health Department (VCHD)
04.2021 - 10.2021
- Implements required procedures used in the application of laws, policies and regulations pertaining to communicable disease (including HIV/STD surveillance), immunization and tuberculosis programs
- Collects information concerning the incidents and sources of communicable disease; applies investigative techniques and procedures used in tracing the sources of disease
- Facilitates cooperation with laboratories, clinics, hospitals and physicians' offices in disease detection reporting and immunization
- Assists in the research and compiling of statistics regarding the incidence of communicable disease and the prevailing immunization levels within a community or area
- Accepts progressively responsible assignments in the detection, isolation and control of various communicable diseases
- Conducts epidemiological investigations on cases and suspected cases of communicable diseases; locates and refers patients to appropriate diagnostic facilities for proper medical follow-up
- Assists in performing a variety of informational and educational activities involved in the control of communicable disease; assists in preparing and presenting lectures on communicable disease to school groups and the general public; also includes acting as a resource person for in-service education and training programs for VCHD staff
- Assists with maintaining agency requirements for OSHA, Safety Data Sheets and the Respiratory Protection program and assists with compliance training for staff for these areas
- Assists with the supervision of volunteer workers helping in communicable disease activities; may help supervise, train and guide subordinate personnel working in the same communicable disease control program or in a separate parallel program
- Assists in public health emergency planning, preparedness and response activities, including all hazard events, emergency medication distribution (SNS) and mass vaccination events
- Assists in organizing mass immunization clinics: encourages and coordinates participation of local medical personnel in endorsing and assisting clinic operations; gives inoculations as required under the standing or specific medical orders
- Maintains compliance with participation and reporting requirements with the Illinois National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (INEDSS), Cornerstone/V-Stone & ICARE State Reporting Systems
- Performs TB screenings; monitors medications ordered by the tuberculosis clinician; completes required programming reports
- Performs home visits as indicated, including but not limited to, client follow-up and Direct Observational Therapy (DOT)
- Facilitates effective working relationships with a variety of community and governmental agencies including professional individuals and associations
- Performs other duties as required or assigned
Outreach & Admissions Counselor
US Department of Labor- Adams & Associates- Job Corps
03.2020 - 04.2021
- Conducts comprehensive screening procedures to determine applicants' eligibility and suitability for the Job Corps Program
- Evaluates applicants' behavioral, medical and educational records
- Conducts thorough assessment activities and career counseling during the admissions process
- Ensures strict confidentiality of PII and HIPAA as well as the integrity of student data
- Reviews labor market information, career pathway demand, testing scores, and student commitment for the program
- Responsible for the recruitment and management of a team of Independent Contractors within the assigned geographical area
- Responsible for the development and implementation of the outreach/public education plan to achieve and maintain overall design capacity and describes public education and outreach methods, activities, events, and linkages
- Establishes working relationships and partnerships, including membership where appropriate, with One-Stop centers, state and local workforce investment boards, youth councils that operate as part of local boards, and other local employment and training programs for youth
- Develops, conducts and documents a comprehensive program of quality and program integrity control of student folders and all related information with emphasis on essential admissions requirements and admissions counselor assessment tool (ACAT) utilization for determining enrollment factors
- Develops, prepares, submits, and analyzes a variety of qualitative, quantitative and narrative studies in accordance with specified requirements and as prescribed
- Gathers, provides and analyzes data for regulatory reports (i.e
- Department of Labor, Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development)
RN
North Logan Healthcare
09.2019 - 01.2020
- Administering and monitoring medications
- Developing a plan of care for each patient
- Proper assessment and management of all patient populations with appropriate intervention
- Admitting and discharging a patient safely and appropriately
- Administered cardiac drips and injections
- Managed pain for chronic, palliative and hospice patients
- Collaborate with physicians regarding resident change of condition
- Supervised floor staff (licensed and non-licensed)
- Ensured integrity of gastric feeding tubes, and other assistive devices
- Wound care
- Infection Control
- Take vital signs, recognize and address abnormalities
- Accurate documentation
- Implements provider's written orders and verbal orders, follow up to ensure verbal orders are properly documented
Licensed Practical Nurse
Danville Care Center
10.2018 - 10.2019
- Dispense of PRN medications after assessment
- Monitoring basic patient health such as vital signs and overall condition
- Changing dressings or inserting catheters
- Taking patient histories and maintaining documentation
- Assisting with tests or procedures
- Providing personal care, such as helping with bathing and toileting
- Consulting with RNs on care plans
- Dispensing of daily medications, including glucose monitoring and insulin injections
- Compliance with all laws regarding patient bill of rights
- Ensuring end of life decisions for care were respected
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Oakmont of Folsom
11.2017 - 06.2018
- Compliance with all laws regarding patient bill of rights
- Accuracy of resident medication records, follow up with Physicians regarding inaccuracies, or vagueness
- Dispense of PRN medications after assessment
- Collaborated with members of the Oakmont team regarding patient care and outcomes
- Monitored vitals, triage, assessments, monitored change of conditions, supervised floor staff
- MARS accuracy, dispensing of daily maintenance medications, including glucose checks as well as insulin injections
- Documentation of all changes, orders and progresses
Owner Operator
09.2013 - 05.2017
- Owned and operated a home care business
- Intake assessment
- Medication supervision
- Collaborated with doctors and other members of healthcare staff
- Assured accuracy of client records, as well as maintaining Federal guidelines regarding HIPAA
Home Care Aide
Help At Home
09.2008 - 09.2013
- Assisted with ADL's
- Coordinated care services with other members of the healthcare team
- Transportation
- Medication supervision
- Documentation of care received
Home Health Aide
Nurse Care, Inc.
08.2007 - 05.2008
- Assisted with ADL's
- Monitored vital signs
- Documentation
Home Health Care Aide (Hospice)
Wabash County Hospice
08.2007 - 01.2008
- Assisted with ADL's
- Family Support
Education
MSN Nursing - Global Population Health & Research
University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth
South Dartmouth, United States05.2024
BSN - Nursing
Purdue Northwest
Hammond, IN05.2021
AS -
Danville Area Community College
Danville, IL05.2019
ADN -
Danville Area Community College
Danville, IL 05.2017
High School Diploma -
Zweibrucken American High School
Zweibrucken Germany06.1988
Skills
- End of life care
- Clinical judgment
- Direct Patient Care
- Patient consultation
- Infection Control
- Wound Care
- Patient Examination
- Needs Assessment
- Case Management
- Care Coordination
- Documentation
- Nursing Consultation
- Chronic Disease Management
- EMR / EHR
Certification
- Registered Nurse- Illinois
- Infection Control- John Hopkins
- COVID Contract Tracer- John Hopkins
- Epidemiology in Public Practice- John Hopkins
- Wound Care/Wound Debridement Nurse
- Certified Hospice & Palliative Care Nurse
- CNA Instructor
Timeline
RN, Admissions
Traditions Health (Palliative & Hospice Care)
08.2023 - Current
Admissions APN/Intake RN
Transitions Hospice Care- BSN, RN
01.2023 - 08.2023
Case Manager
Transitions Hospice Care- BSN, RN
11.2021 - 01.2023
Public Health Nurse
Vermilion County Health Department (VCHD)
04.2021 - 10.2021
Outreach & Admissions Counselor
US Department of Labor- Adams & Associates- Job Corps
03.2020 - 04.2021
RN
North Logan Healthcare
09.2019 - 01.2020
Licensed Practical Nurse
Danville Care Center
10.2018 - 10.2019
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Oakmont of Folsom
11.2017 - 06.2018
Owner Operator
09.2013 - 05.2017
Home Care Aide
Help At Home
09.2008 - 09.2013
Home Health Aide
Nurse Care, Inc.
08.2007 - 05.2008
Home Health Care Aide (Hospice)
Wabash County Hospice
08.2007 - 01.2008
MSN Nursing - Global Population Health & Research
University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth
BSN - Nursing
Purdue Northwest
AS -
Danville Area Community College
ADN -
Danville Area Community College
High School Diploma -
Zweibrucken American High School
- Registered Nurse- Illinois
- Infection Control- John Hopkins
- COVID Contract Tracer- John Hopkins
- Epidemiology in Public Practice- John Hopkins
- Wound Care/Wound Debridement Nurse
- Certified Hospice & Palliative Care Nurse
- CNA Instructor
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