Deborah Schaeffer
Maple Shade
Summary
- Focused professional with a proven track record at Virtua Hospital, adept at reducing accident rates through proactive hazard identification and fostering a culture of safety. Strong clinical judgment and excellent communication skills drive collaboration and effective crisis intervention, ensuring high-quality patient care and safety across all levels of the organization.
- Experienced with leadership and managing nursing teams to enhance patient care. Utilizes effective healthcare protocols to drive positive patient outcomes. Knowledge of staff training, development, and problem-solving in dynamic healthcare environments.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Risk Safety Manager
Virtua Hospital
09.2023 - Current
- Conducted thorough accident investigations to identify root causes and prevent future occurrences.
- Collaborated with management to develop company-wide safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Reduced accident rates through proactive hazard identification, analysis, and mitigation strategies.
- Implemented corrective actions following incidents to minimize risks and improve overall safety performance.
- Facilitated meetings with upper management and executives to discuss ways that safety could be improved.
- Fostered culture of safety, encouraging employees to report unsafe conditions without fear of retribution.
Nursing Supervisor
Hampton Behavioral Health Center
09.2021 - Current
- Responsible for management of staff, overseeing patient care and ensuring adherence to established policies and procedures on all units.
- Assesses patient care requirements on each unit and assigning staff.
- Act as resource in identifying and solving clinical/administrative/operations issues.
- Serve as an interface between staff, patients, and the patient’s family, as well as between staff and physicians.
- Assist with admissions, including assessing admission criteria.
- Completion and review of commitment paperwork.
Advanced Nurse Clinician
Virtua Hospital
09.2018 - 09.2023
- Advanced Nurse Clinician on 36 bed medical surgical unit with a focus on oncology and infusion.
- Advanced Nurse Clinician on a 22 bed voluntary behavioral health unit Mt. Holly campus and 48 voluntary/involuntary beds at Willingboro campus.
- Interprets clinical, technical, and patient data to improve clinical quality and patient outcomes for the population of patients in the unit.
- Redesigns care modality for patient management and resolve clinical quality issues that involve members on the IDC team.
- Provides real time counseling and coaching to the IDC team.
- Assess competency assessment plans and subsequent education plans for the staff of the unit.
- Evaluates efficacy of case studies, rounds, research and develops education to introduce standards of care practice.
- Implements Evidence based best practices across the system.
Assistant Nurse Manager
Virtua Hospital
05.2015 - 09.2018
- Assistant Nurse Manager on a 36 bed medical/surgical unit with a focus on orthopedics and neurology and a 12-bed unit with a focus on post-operative spine and neurology patients.
- Lead interdisciplinary rounds and assist in coordination of care plans.
- Administrative responsibilities including staffing, payroll, and employee evaluation and education for 50 nurses, 19 nursing assistants and 4 unit secretaries.
- Actively pursuing professional development and committee involvement.
- Oversee unit population care and coordinate with health care team.
- Demonstrates ability to lead and motivate outstanding healthcare teams.
- Responsible for the continuity of nursing management policies, principles and procedures.
Registered Nurse
Virtua Hospital
07.2006 - 05.2015
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
Education
DNP - Nursing Practice
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE12-2020
Master of Science - Education
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE05-2018
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Science
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE05-2015
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Rowan College At Burlington County
Pemberton, NJ05-2006
Skills
- Strong clinical judgement and experience
- Prioritizing quality and safety
- Politically astute
- Adept at prioritizing/managing deadlines
- Balancing authenticity and performance expectations
- Collaborative and team building skills
- Excellent communication skills
- De-escalation techniques
- Suicide prevention
- Crisis intervention
- Empathy development
Accomplishments
- Wilmington University Graduation 2015- Delta Epsilon Rho Honor Society
- Nursing Excellence Award 2012 – Outstanding Patient Experience
- Nursing Excellence Award 2020 –New Knowledge and Innovation
- Presentation: “Using a medication Side Effect to improve HCAHPS scores related to Communication about Medication in post-operative spine patients” presented at AANN convention in San Diego, CA – March 17-19, 2018
- Presentation: “Predicting the likelihood of participation in bedside handoff” presented at the 8th Annual Penn Nursing Research Conference in Philadelphia, PA – December 5, 2019
Certification
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse, Certified 2022
- Crisis Prevention Institute, Certified Instructor 2022
- Citi Training: Human Subjects Research
- FEMA- Introduction to Incident Command
Timeline
Risk Safety Manager
Virtua Hospital
09.2023 - Current
Nursing Supervisor
Hampton Behavioral Health Center
09.2021 - Current
Advanced Nurse Clinician
Virtua Hospital
09.2018 - 09.2023
Assistant Nurse Manager
Virtua Hospital
05.2015 - 09.2018
Registered Nurse
Virtua Hospital
07.2006 - 05.2015
DNP - Nursing Practice
Wilmington University
Master of Science - Education
Wilmington University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Science
Wilmington University
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Rowan College At Burlington County
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