Hi, I’m
DawnaLee Whitaker
CITRUS HEIGHTS,CA
There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.
Tony Robbins
Summary
My ambition is to make my healthcare team excel in all avenues of its potential. In my career I have been known for my visionary leadership style. I am always looking for better ways to improve processes and improve patient care. I am a very hands-on leader. In my current role as the Director of Respiratory and Case Management , I have worked with our staff to promote critical thinking by educating staff, including nurses, on what to look for and how to treat instead of immediately shipping out to the acute. My accomplishments thus far have been to bring in equipment that allows our care teams to take on more acute-on-chronic patients and decrease the re-admission rate. Increase quality care as well as standardize procedures for our subacute unit. Unify care teams to work together, as well as increase morale across the units. Communication is a key factor in being a positive asset to any team. It has been my experience that if the team understands why things are the way they are or what is spurring the need for change, it is an easier transition. As part of the multidisciplinary team at the bedside, one of my main focuses is on the patient experience. Patient-focused leader equipped with administrative and customer service expertise. Helps keep healthcare services proceeding smoothly by coordinating communications, referrals and policy enforcement. Talented in finding balanced solutions and resolving conflicts.
Overview
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Roseville Point Health & Wellness CenterRoseville, CA
Director of Respiratory and Case
08.2021 - Current
Job overview
- Duties included managing the respiratory team, making the schedule, hiring, rounding on all three floors, providing education and training to all staff and registry on the tracheostomy management and ventilator management
- Auditing charts for nursing and respiratory confirming they are being charted as policy states
- Making sure orders have been written properly and care plans are in place
- Daily meetings with the department heads to go over all issues such as the change in conditions and follow up with any concerns from the following day and night.
- Maintained records management system to process personnel information and produce reports.
- Maintained communication and transparency with governing boards, department heads and medical staff.
- Recruited, hired and trained new medical and facility staff.
- Established solid relations with leadership and staff by attending board meetings and coordinating interdepartmental information exchanges.
- Maintained awareness of government regulations, health insurance changes and financing options.
- Managed changes in integrated health care delivery systems and technological innovations while keeping focus on quality of care.
- Assessed need for additional staff, equipment and services based on historical data and seasonal trends.
- Monitored inpatient bed use, facilities and staff to provide optimal use of resources.
- Collaborated with multi-disciplinary staff to improve overall patient care and response times.
- Explained policies, procedures and services to patients.
- Communicated with patients with compassion while keeping medical information private.
Dignity HealthSacramento, CA
Respiratory Therapist II
01.2009 - 10.2022
Job overview
- Duties include but not limited to providing patient care under the supervision of a physician, assessing patients for the care and rehab of their pulmonary system, administering medication, providing treatment using respiratory equipment such as ventilators, cool mist systems, heated aerosol, nitric oxide, heliox, meta-nebs, IPPB, nebulizers, and Lucas 3 Resuscitator
- Performed shift lead for day shift and special procedures over the last 11 years
- Specialized areas of training that included educating fellow nurses and students on tracheostomy care
- Additionally, I am called upon to train patients and families on home trach care, asthma, and COPD education
- Perform multi-faceted audits and correct billing errors within the department
- While performing shift leader role supervisory duties entail - needs of the department, staffing, questions and concerns from staff, nurses, doctors, and families, training employees, clinical skills and assist in process and improvement to better our policies and procedure
- Primary areas worked are Cardiac Support, CSICU, ER, MSNICU, and Bronch Lab.
- Conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and airway maintenance.
- Set up and monitored mechanical ventilators and handled associated critical care duties.
- Conducted therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with treatment methods and equipment.
- Evaluated patients for deficiencies and abnormalities and made medical decisions based on assessments.
- Interacted with patients, family members and physicians to coordinate patient care.
- Adhered to standards of excellence for respiratory care and diagnostic services.
- Determined patient safety risks to identify medical intervention needs.
- Performed bronchopulmonary drainage and assisted patients with breathing exercises.
- Followed established guidelines to compliantly deliver services.
- Monitored patient's vital signs, arterial blood gases or blood chemistry changes, consulting with physician during adverse reactions.
- Educated patients and families about conditions and taught appropriate disease management techniques.
- Managed care of patients with diverse conditions alongside physicians, nurses and support team members.
- Collaborated with physicians, nurses or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- Set up and operated mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- Operated mechanical ventilators following specified parameters of treatment.
- Administered medication and ventilatory support.
- Explained treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
- Demonstrated respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
- Maintained charts containing patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
- Maintained patient airways with endotracheal intubation.
- Inspected and cleaned respiratory therapy equipment to maintain functionality.
- Conducted EKGs, stress testing or lung capacity tests to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
- Tracked changes in blood chemistry, vital signs and other markers of improvement or decompensation in critically ill patients.
- Enforced physicians' orders for specific treatment protocols and durations.
- Read prescription information and laboratory results to assess patients' needs and conditions.
Select Respiratory ServicesOrangevale, CA
Respiratory Therapist and Case
11.2021 - 08.2022
Job overview
- Conducted therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with treatment methods and equipment.
- Evaluated patients for deficiencies and abnormalities and made medical decisions based on assessments.
- Interacted with patients, family members and physicians to coordinate patient care.
- Adhered to standards of excellence for respiratory care and diagnostic services.
- Determined patient safety risks to identify medical intervention needs.
- Performed bronchopulmonary drainage and assisted patients with breathing exercises.
- Performed services on-site, at outpatient clinics and in patient homes.
- Followed established guidelines to compliantly deliver services.
- Educated patients and families about conditions and taught appropriate disease management techniques.
- Managed care of patients with diverse conditions alongside physicians, nurses and support team members.
- Collaborated with physicians, nurses or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- Explained treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
- Demonstrated respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
- Maintained charts containing patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
San Joaquin Valley CollegeRancho Cordova, CA
Faculty Instructor
01.2022 - 07.2022
Job overview
- Educating new Respiratory Care students for their new career as Respiratory Care Practitioners
- I taught RCP 110 Introductory to Respiratory Care
- In this class it was all about teaching the basics of respiratory care and patient assessment
- RCP 120 class was about all the respiratory equipment like HHN, Oxygen Masks, Thera-Vest, Airvo, IPV, IPPB, and nasal cannulas how to use them and what were the indications for their use
- RCP 160 this was all the special procedures a respiratory therapist would encounter and be expected to know
- Educated in bronchoscopies, TEEs, Artline placement, defibrillators, etc.
- Presented training information via role playing, simulations and team exercises.
- Evaluated operations to identify training needs and foster effective implementation and communication.
- Illustrated continuous improvement and organizational effectiveness through training program outcomes.
- Created lesson plans and chose supporting materials to promote positive learning experiences.
- Planned and implemented lessons using various teaching strategies to meet diverse student needs.
- Remained calm and patient in student interactions to support individual growth and development.
- Engaged students through lecture and discussion, increasing classroom interaction to build inclusive learning environment.
- Created and enforced child-based, hands-on curriculum to promote student interest and receptive learning.
- Prepared and graded subject tests for students.
- Tutored students requiring extra help and gave additional practice work to help improve concept understanding.
- Tested students' comprehension of subject matter through quizzes, tests and projects.
- Used videos, lectures and moderated discussions to engage students during class.
Marshall Medical CenterPlacerville, CA
Respiratory Therapist II
08.2014 - 03.2016
Job overview
- Duties include but not limited to providing patient care under the supervision of a physician, assessing patients for the care and rehab of their pulmonary system, administering medication, providing treatment using respiratory equipment such as ventilators, cool mist systems, heated aerosol, meta-nebs, and nebulizers
- Specialized areas of training that included maternal child
- Assisted postpartum mother incentive spirometry instruction, C-sections, high-risk deliveries, newborn resuscitation, bubble cpap, as well as infant intubation
- Conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and airway maintenance.
- Set up and monitored mechanical ventilators and handled associated critical care duties.
- Conducted therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with treatment methods and equipment.
- Evaluated patients for deficiencies and abnormalities and made medical decisions based on assessments.
- Interacted with patients, family members and physicians to coordinate patient care.
- Adhered to standards of excellence for respiratory care and diagnostic services.
- Determined patient safety risks to identify medical intervention needs.
- Performed bronchopulmonary drainage and assisted patients with breathing exercises.
- Followed established guidelines to compliantly deliver services.
- Monitored patient's vital signs, arterial blood gases or blood chemistry changes, consulting with physician during adverse reactions.
- Educated patients and families about conditions and taught appropriate disease management techniques.
- Managed care of patients with diverse conditions alongside physicians, nurses and support team members.
- Collaborated with physicians, nurses or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- Set up and operated mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- Operated mechanical ventilators following specified parameters of treatment.
- Explained treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
- Maintained charts containing patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
- Conducted EKGs, stress testing or lung capacity tests to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
- Performed bronchopulmonary drainage and instructed patients in breathing exercises.
- Enforced physicians' orders for specific treatment protocols and durations.
- Additionally, I am called upon to train patients and families on home trach care, asthma, and COPD education
- Primary areas worked were emergency department, labor and delivery, and ICU.
Sutter Roseville Medical CenterRoseville, CA
Respiratory Therapist
09.2008 - 08.2012
Job overview
- Seeing patients in long-term care settings
- In this line of work, I would analyze if the patients would benefit from other therapy or the need for higher levels of care
- Additionally, I am called upon to train patients and families on home trach care, asthma, and COPD education
- I worked in pediatrics handling cystic fibrosis patients, RSV, medical and trauma intensive care unit.
- Conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and airway maintenance.
- Set up and monitored mechanical ventilators and handled associated critical care duties.
- Conducted therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with treatment methods and equipment.
- Evaluated patients for deficiencies and abnormalities and made medical decisions based on assessments.
- Interacted with patients, family members and physicians to coordinate patient care.
- Adhered to standards of excellence for respiratory care and diagnostic services.
- Determined patient safety risks to identify medical intervention needs.
- Performed bronchopulmonary drainage and assisted patients with breathing exercises.
- Monitored patient's vital signs, arterial blood gases or blood chemistry changes, consulting with physician during adverse reactions.
- Followed established guidelines to compliantly deliver services.
- Educated patients and families about conditions and taught appropriate disease management techniques.
- Managed care of patients with diverse conditions alongside physicians, nurses and support team members.
- Collaborated with physicians, nurses or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
- Operated mechanical ventilators following specified parameters of treatment.
- Set up and operated mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
Education
Ashford UniversitySan Diego, CA
Bachelor of Arts from Healthcare Administration
01.2022
San Joaquin Valley CollegeRancho Cordova, CA
Associate of Science from Respiratory Therapy
09.2008
Institute of TechnologyMather, CA
Certification in Computerized Accounting from Computerized Accounting
04.2004
Plaza Robles High SchoolStockton
High School Diploma
06.1994
University of Arizona Global CampusChandler, AZ
Master of Arts from Healthcare Administration
Skills
- Skills & Abilities
- Audits (Data analysis)
- BLS and PALS certified
- Accounting / Budgeting
- Billing
- Post-Operative Cardiac Resuscitation
- Multidisciplinary Communication
- Electronic Health Records
- Leadership Skills
- Microsoft Office 365
- Hiring and Recruitment
- Clinical Quality Program Standards
- Facility Oversight
- Employee Retention Strategies
- Electronic Medical Record Software
- Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
- Employee Performance Evaluations
- Policy and Program Development
- Goal Attainment
- Employee Recruitment and Hiring
- Patient Education
- Personnel Management
- Personnel Recruitment
- Records Management
- Employee Work Scheduling
- Medication Dispensing
- Staff Scheduling
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Faculty Instructor
San Joaquin Valley College
01.2022 - 07.2022
Respiratory Therapist and Case
Select Respiratory Services
11.2021 - 08.2022
Director of Respiratory and Case
Roseville Point Health & Wellness Center
08.2021 - Current
Respiratory Therapist II
Marshall Medical Center
08.2014 - 03.2016
Respiratory Therapist II
Dignity Health
01.2009 - 10.2022
Respiratory Therapist
Sutter Roseville Medical Center
09.2008 - 08.2012
Ashford University
Bachelor of Arts from Healthcare Administration
San Joaquin Valley College
Associate of Science from Respiratory Therapy
Institute of Technology
Certification in Computerized Accounting from Computerized Accounting
Plaza Robles High School
High School Diploma
University of Arizona Global Campus
Master of Arts from Healthcare Administration