Deborah L. Nicholson MSN RN CCM CHPN
Sinking Spring,PA
Summary
I am a motivated goal-oriented nursing professional who enjoys implementing innovative ideas.. I have a range of clinical expertise holding certifications in Case Management, Hospice and Palliative Care, and an ACDIS Apprenticeship. I have vast experience in acute care, skilled nursing, population health, and have expertise in a variety of illnesses. I have Supervisory and team building experience. I am seeking an environment to utilize my various skills in a Lead Role.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Nurse Navigator
Tower Health- Reading
12.2017 - 04.2023
- Experienced in CMS regulations, authorization processes, discharge planning, family advanced care planning meetings, policy writing, managed care, and value-based contracts.
- Increased percentage achieved for financial HEDIS incentive goals within Value Based Contracts for the health system through collaboration with physician practices and patient engagement utilizing motivational interviewing and health coaching.
- With successful patient engagement there were decreased ER and hospital utilization and increased patient adherence to medical regimens.
- Support and education of HEDIS requirements and resources to Tower Health Providers, Independent Practice Providers, and their staff.
- Coordinated appropriate and efficient delivery of healthcare services to promote optimal outcomes by assessing and matching unmet needs with referrals and support services.
- Facilitated timely scheduling of appointments, diagnostic testing and procedures to advocate for patients, expedite plan of care and promote continuity.
- Data monitoring and reporting as per guidelines utilizing Microsoft Office and insurer specific software and recommended changes for process improvement.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Proficiency navigating and documenting ( when required) within multiple EHR's and Healthcare Exchange accounts.
- Attended community education events for hospital and insurance specific services.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Palliative Care education to teams and individual patients.
- Resource to colleagues related to quality measures, Medicare, Medicaid, SDOH, disease specific guidelines/norms and community resources of all types.
Last Title Palliative Care Navigator
Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center
04.1987 - 11.2017
- From 1987 until 1999 Progressive Care Staff Nurse expertly caring for Cardiac medical and surgical persons.
- Quality Team Member
- Care Pathway Team
- 1999 Transition to Care Management, providing exceptional comprehensive and complex discharge planning for Medical Surgical Population.
- Continued roles on Quality and Care Pathway Teams.
- 2006-2011 Oncology and Palliative Care Management, transitioning to Palliative Care Navigator job description in 2011 thru 2017.
- Inaugural part of Palliative Care Program development and Steering Committee.
- Made the case for the importance of a Palliative Care team through consults, documentation, education and symptom management assistance in simple and complex situations.
- Provided caring compassionate discharge planning and coordination, utilizing industry best practices.
- Chair and coordination of monthly Palliative Care Team and Steering Committee meetings to oversee and direct quality, education, policy, mortality, and volunteer components.
- Active participation in hiring of Palliative Care staff including Providers. Involved with evaluation processes.
- Evidenced based quality metrics development, gathering and reporting, including Quality, Cancer, and Ethics Committee.
- In collaboration with System team developed patient satisfaction surveys for Palliative Care Population.
- Policy writing for administrative and clinical programs related to both palliative and inpatient hospice care.
- Inpatient end of life care orders and policies lead writing and implementation with Provider champions.
- Improved Provider documentation for inpatient hospice from 50-99% adherent to standards through education and support.
- Monthly nursing orientation for Palliative Care and Hospice initiatives and protocols within the institution.
- Creation, coordination, and facilitation of weekly Interdisciplinary Palliative Care conference meetings
- Subject Matter Expert for providers, clinical staff, nonclinical staff, patients, families, and the community.
- Palliative Care week coordination and facilitation to include coordination with Education for CME and CEU creation for 5 Presentations, including a Presentation with all of the inpatient Hospice Contracted Agencies.
- Established and maintained successful relationships with patients, families and providers by utilizing exemplary communication and active listening skills.
RN Staff Nurse and Shift Supervisor
Mifflin Center (Formerly Hassler Home)
07.1984 - 04.1987
- Collaborated with physicians to assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Wound Care, ventilator care and documentation of progress.
- Supervised staff of 5 registered nurses, 4 licensed practical nurses and 30 certified nursing assistants.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
- Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, physicians, and patients by leveraging clinical judgment
Education
Bachelor of Science - Health Arts
University of St. Francis
Joliet, ILAssociate of Applied Science - Nursing
Reading Area Community College
Reading, PAMaster of Science - Nursing Innovation
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA06.2021
Skills
- Healthcare Program Planning
- Healthcare Personnel Supervision
- Scheduling
- Educational Material Development
- Educational Programs
- Quality Improvement Plans
- Organizational Skills
- Project Implementation
- Critical Thinking
- Comfortable with Work from Home Environment
- Care Coordination
- Clinical Interviewing
- Communicating with Patient Families and Teams
- Provider Collaboration
- Disease Trajectory
- Advanced Care Planning
- Patient Health Information Privacy
- Multidisciplinary Communication
- Crisis Prevention Intervention
- Grief Support
- Diagnosis Explanation
- EMR Systems
- HEDIS standards
- Evidenced Based Practice Standards
- Patient Education
- Microsoft Office
- Motivational Interviewing
Accomplishments
Career Achievements
- Successful, Inpatient Palliative Care Program creation, development, growth, and maintenance.
- Successfully supported CRNP hire needs through growth of consult volume and overall benefit with patient and provider satisfaction surveys.
- Successfully decreased readmissions through with program development and implementation.
- Successfully made the case for overall Palliative Program by coordination and running family meetings within the hospital., symptom management, goal setting under the Supervision of the attending Provider.
- Recruitment, long-term retention, and evaluation of CRNP and Physician Staff per HR guidelines.
- Developed and implemented evidenced based quality metrics for symptom management with 95-99% utilization of guidelines by Providers.
- Successful coding education for reimbursement to Physicians and other Providers for both Palliative Care and GIP hospice levels of care, improving compliance to 100% to meet insurer requirements and maximize reimbursement.
- Annual Palliative Care Week Presentations CEU CME and Community Presentations development
- Developed and executed contracts with Hospices and maintained satisfactory relationships with same for inpatient level of care.
- Policy Writing: Administrative and Clinical Program related to both Palliative and Hospice Care
- Implemented Inpatient Comfort Care orders and Policies utilizing Evidenced Based Best Practice. 100% adoption and utilization by Providers for Comfort Care order sets
- Creation, coordination, and facilitation of: Weekly Interdisciplinary Palliative Care conference meetings (To include Pharmacy, Dietary, Chaplaincy, Education, Nursing, Physician, Wound Care, PT/OT and others prn)
- CHI Health System Caring Communities Grant project nurse participant, including training at Kentucky of the Blue Grass CAPC training facility and monthly meetings that included development of the patient and family satisfaction survey for the CHI System Palliative Programs and streamlining system operations as part of grant projects.
- Contributing Member of editing CHI system wide Palliative Care Resources including webinar and educational roll out presentation.
Certification
ACDIS Apprenticeship course 2023 Certification in Case Management 2008 (renewal 2028) Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing 2011 (renewal October 2023)
Affiliations
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Member Reviewer Core Curriculum for the Hospice and Palliative Registered Nurse Fourth Edition 2015 Member of Academy of Certified Case Managers CM- BOK Initial development reviewer Member of Clinical Documentation Organization (ACDIS) - Apprenticeship Certificate 2023 Invited to Ethics Committee 2007 served for 10 years Associate Program Graduate - Project on Pain- graduating presentation. Ethics monthly rotation, response to consults for the hospital as per approved policies for consultation services.
Community Outreach and Volunteer Activities: Circle of Life Coalition – President and Chair of the Board of Directors 2017 - Present St. Francis Hospice Home Care Giver Volunteer 2019 – 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion General Council 2021-2023 DEI Subcommittee – Training Development Initiative 20202023
Worker Bee for Friends and Family Volunteer activities.
Timeline
Nurse Navigator
Tower Health- Reading
12.2017 - 04.2023
Last Title Palliative Care Navigator
Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center
04.1987 - 11.2017
RN Staff Nurse and Shift Supervisor
Mifflin Center (Formerly Hassler Home)
07.1984 - 04.1987
Bachelor of Science - Health Arts
University of St. Francis
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Reading Area Community College
Master of Science - Nursing Innovation
Drexel University
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