DEBORAH YONCE
Broomfield
Summary
Dedicated and accomplished Registered Nurse with over 28 years of progressive clinical and leadership experience in perioperative services, trauma care, forensic nursing, and healthcare operations. Proven ability to adapt quickly to change while fostering open communication and team collaboration. Recognized for driving quality improvement initiatives, developing educational programs, and implementing evidence-based practices that enhance patient outcomes and organizational performance. Seeking a new professional capacity in Labor and Delivery to leverage extensive clinical expertise and leadership.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse – Operating Room
CommonSpirit Health
Broomfield, CO
07.2024 - Current
- Deliver high-quality perioperative care by circulating and scrubbing complex surgical cases in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborate effectively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient safety and outcomes.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives and maintain accurate documentation in electronic health records.
Home Health Registered Nurse Case Manager
Banner Health
Greeley, CO
10.2024 - 07.2024
- Conducted comprehensive physical assessments and developed individualized care plans for patients in home settings.
- Educated patients and families on disease management, treatment adherence, and post-acute recovery.
- Provided emotional support and coordinated care to promote resilience and continuity across healthcare settings.
Registered Nurse – Operating Room
North Colorado Medical Center
Greeley, CO
09.2023 - 07.2024
- Coordinated and executed surgical procedures, circulating and scrubbing across all case types while managing emergencies effectively.
- Administered medications, performed resuscitative measures, and documented care per regulatory standards.
- Educated patients and families on postoperative care to improve compliance and recovery outcomes.
Registered Nurse – Operating Room
Saint Alphonsus Medical Center
Nampa, ID
04.2019 - 08.2023
- Circulated and scrubbed surgical cases while performing thorough patient assessments and care plan development.
- Member of the GYN surgical team with advanced ability to scrub and circulate C-Sections and perform pelvic exams.
- Consulted clinical resources to integrate emerging procedures and select appropriate equipment.
- Ensured regulatory compliance and high standards of patient safety and rights.
Pediatric Trauma Operating Room Registered Nurse
Saint Luke’s Medical Center
Boise, ID
08.2018 - 04.2019
- Provided expert emergency trauma care in high-pressure pediatric environments.
- Designed and delivered training programs for new nursing staff on trauma protocols and best practices.
- Maintained surgical efficiency through organization, sterile technique, and ongoing professional development.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) – Forensic Nurse
01.2007 - 08.2018
- Conducted comprehensive forensic examinations, including detailed history and physical assessments of sexual assault patients to ensure accurate, court-admissible documentation.
- Proficient in performing pelvic exams as part of forensic sexual assault evaluations.
- Gathered, preserved, and meticulously documented all physical evidence while maintaining strict chain-of-custody protocols to support both patient care and legal proceedings.
- Served as expert witness, presenting detailed analysis and testimony in court to assist legal proceedings.
- Provided compassionate crisis intervention, emotional support, and facilitated timely referrals to counseling and support services to promote patient recovery and resilience.
Registered Nurse – Operating Room (Charge Nurse & Perioperative Nurse Educator)
University of Colorado Health
Fort Collins, CO
01.1997 - 08.2018
- Served as Charge Nurse, coordinating daily OR operations, staffing assignments, resource allocation, and emergency response for a high-volume peri-operative department.
- Acted as Peri-operative Nurse Educator, developing, implementing, and tracking mandatory education programs and competency training for a staff of over 60 nurses and surgical technicians.
- Member of the GYN surgical team with advanced ability to scrub and circulate C-Sections and perform pelvic exams.
- Delivered comprehensive perioperative nursing care, maintaining sterile technique and adjusting care plans based on patient response.
- Facilitated communication between surgical teams and families, offering updates and emotional support.
- Continuously updated departmental programs to reflect evidence-based practice and accreditation standards.
- Pursued continuous professional development to advance surgical nursing expertise.
- Provided expert care across Pre-Op, Intra-operative, and PACU phases:
- Conducted thorough pre-operative assessments, patient education, consent verification, IV access, and anxiety management to optimize surgical readiness.
- Delivered comprehensive intra-operative care, maintaining sterile technique, circulating, and scrubbing for diverse surgical procedures.
- Managed PACU recovery, including close monitoring of vital signs, pain control, emergence from anesthesia, airway management, and discharge readiness education for patients and families.
Revenue Recovery Specialist RN
01.2016 - 03.2017
- Conducted comprehensive clinical reviews of denied, underpaid, and audited claims in prepayment, post-payment, and audit capacities to recover lost revenue and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Collaborated with physician advisors to perform peer reviews, validating clinical documentation supported appropriate coding, medical necessity, and optimal reimbursement.
- Performed root-cause analysis of billing discrepancies, identified documentation gaps, and recommended process improvements to strengthen charge capture and reduce future denials.
- Responded professionally to internal and external stakeholders via written and telephonic communications while strictly maintaining HIPAA compliance and patient confidentiality.
- Utilized clinical expertise to analyze complex medical records, support appeals, and align claims with payer contracts, Medicare/Medicaid guidelines, and organizational policies.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Eastern New Mexico University
NM08-2026
Certificate - Forensic Nursing SANE
University of Colorado Health
02-2007
Associate of Science - Nursing
Front Range Community College
01-2003
Skills
- Patient Assessment & Critical Care
- Operating Room Circulating & Scrubbing (including GYN/C-Section cases)
- Pelvic Exams & Gynecologic Surgical Support
- Forensic Pelvic Examinations (SANE)
- ACLS & PALS Certified
- Infection Control & Sterile Technique
- Evidence-Based Practice & Quality Improvement
- Documentation & Electronic Health Records Expertise
- Risk Management & HIPAA Compliance
- Project Planning & Implementation
- Critical Incident Debriefing Team Lead
- Staff Education & Training Program Development
- Leadership & Team Collaboration
- Conflict Resolution & Change Management
- Time Management & Prioritization
- Stakeholder Relationship Building
Timeline
Home Health Registered Nurse Case Manager
Banner Health
10.2024 - 07.2024
Registered Nurse – Operating Room
CommonSpirit Health
07.2024 - Current
Registered Nurse – Operating Room
North Colorado Medical Center
09.2023 - 07.2024
Registered Nurse – Operating Room
Saint Alphonsus Medical Center
04.2019 - 08.2023
Pediatric Trauma Operating Room Registered Nurse
Saint Luke’s Medical Center
08.2018 - 04.2019
Revenue Recovery Specialist RN
01.2016 - 03.2017
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) – Forensic Nurse
01.2007 - 08.2018
Registered Nurse – Operating Room (Charge Nurse & Perioperative Nurse Educator)
University of Colorado Health
01.1997 - 08.2018
Certificate - Forensic Nursing SANE
University of Colorado Health
Associate of Science - Nursing
Front Range Community College
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Eastern New Mexico University
LEADERSHIP & QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
- Continuously updated departmental programs to align with evidence-based practice and accreditation standards for perioperative services.
- Designed, implemented, and tracked mandatory education programs for teams of 60+ staff members.
- Created and led Surgical Care Improvement Project and audit protocols.
- Authored professional articles and presentations, including “Bridging the Generational Gap Amongst Nurses,” “Make Nurse Bullying Extinct,” and “Implementing a Nurse Liaison Program.”
- Served as Critical Incident Debriefing Team Lead and Nurse Liaison.
- Secured multiple grant awards and presented at the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) Yearly Gala.
- Conducted research and education on topics including rural cardiac arrest disparities, cannabis/CBD considerations in anesthesia, and workplace violence prevention.