Debra L. Risser
Custer,SD
Summary
Transformational Healthcare Manager with diverse leadership experience in acute care, emergency services, rural health clinics, long-term care, and memory care. Led financial growth and quality improvement initiatives, fostering workforce engagement and operational success. Expertise in regulatory compliance and leadership development has built high-performing teams and improved patient outcomes while driving sustainable organizational change.
Overview
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
RESIDENT CARE MANAGER
Seven Sisters Living Center, Fall River Health Services
02.2025 - Current
- Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to enhance resident care and operational standards
- Revised CNA Program, developed Mentor Program
- Developed onboarding process, comprehensive orientation checklists with competency verification
- Increased caregiver recognition through WOWs, celebrations, and newsletters, fostering a positive workplace culture
- Created and initiated caregiver huddles to enhance communication and prioritize safety
- Developed and led IGNITE Leadership Orientation Pathway
- Documented key operational successes
- 100% pass rate and certification for the CNA Program
- Mentor Program decreased CNA and nursing turnover
- Improved caregiver engagement scores
- Earned 4 star rating from CMS 2025
STAFF DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
FALL RIVER HEALTH SERVICES
04.2024 - 02.2025
- Provided opportunity to lead and define new position of Staff Development Coordinator responsibilities
- Revised onboarding process, orientation, and competency verification for medical surgery, ED, long-term care to enhance new staff integration
- Redesigned CNA program to incorporate didactic and simulation experiences for improved trainee preparedness
- 100% pass rate and certification for the CNA Program
- Mentor Program decreased turnover rates
- Documented key operational achievements
- Strategic Initiative Development; implementation sustained
- Implemented Mentor Program resulting in decreased turnover rates among caregivers
- Operational Achievements
NURSE MANAGER OF ACUTE CARE, OUTPATIENT SERVICES, ED, 3 RURAL HEALTH CLINICS
MONUMENT HEALTH CUSTER HOSPITAL & CLINICS
12.2020 - 04.2024
- Strategic Initiative Development and implementation sustained
- Modified outpatient infusion and wound care workflows to enhance patient care delivery
- Rapid Response Team and process in all locations
- Standardized triage processes
- Established standing orders and standard operating procedures in ED, medical surgery, outpatient, and clinic settings.
- CRN Leadership Development
- Preceptor Standard Work
- Competency verification for all roles
- Patient-centered Onboarding Pathway increasing caregiver competency, retention, and decreased length of orientation
- Tiered Safety Huddles in all settings
- Clinic workflow and escalation processes for EPIC in baskets
- Quality Dyad: Medical Director and Nurse Manager - operational and communication focus
- Quality Dyad: ED Physician and RN - STEMI and Stroke
- Quality Dyad: Clinic Physician/Hospitalist and RN - standing orders and standard operating procedures
- Quality Dyad: Nurse Manager and CRN - patient acuity
- Quality Dyad: Pharmacist and Outpatient RN - Infusion management and services
- Increased physician RVU from 10-14 up to 20-28
- Earned Guardian of Excellence Award
- Increased caregiver engagement from 39th percentile to 87th percentile through targeted initiatives
- Expanded outpatient infusion services, driving revenue growth from $1 million to $6 million in 3 years
CLINICAL NURSE MANAGER
MONUMENT HEALTH, RAPID CITY, EMERGENCY SERVICES
03.2015 - 12.2020
- Facilitated and led LEAN operational redesign of 32 bed Emergency Department
- Led caregiver workflow development for Vertical Care and the secure behavioral unit
- Led LEAN operational redesign of 32-bed Emergency Department, enhancing workflow efficiency and patient care delivery
- Developed and instructed for Critical Care Trauma Lead and Patient Flow Coordinator roles
- Led caregiver committee to define Stroke Pit Stop and STEMI care
- Led caregiver committee to create and initiate SEPSIS Alert Process
- Directed caregiver committee to establish Stroke Pit Stop and STEMI care protocols, improving response times for critical patients
- Standardized nursing warm hand-offs and communication boards
- Operational achievements
- Streamlined process for rooming patients to enhance workflow efficiency in clinical settings.
- Conducted triage assessments to prioritize patient care based on urgency of medical needs.
- Oversaw boarding process for patients to facilitate smooth transitions into care settings.
- Delivered comprehensive diabetic care to support patients in managing their condition.
- Decreased door to cardiac catheterization times for STEMI
- Improved patient experience scores
- Improved caregiver engagement scores
- Created caregiver immersion scenarios to improve patient experience
- Developed caregiver immersion scenarios, enhancing patient experience through improved staff-patient interactions
- Initiated cross department shadowing at onboarding
- Created Standard Operating Procedures
- Developed OB standards of care and documentation
- Provision of direct bedside care
- Diabetic care
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Southwestern Community College
CrestonSkills
- Healthcare management
- Patient management
- Quality improvement
- Nursing leadership
- Workforce development
- Strategic planning
- Change management
- Delivery improvement
- Leadership coaching
- Performance enhancement
- Electronic health record systems
- Regulatory expertise
Accomplishments
- $5M Revenue Growth
- 48pt Engagement Improvement
- 4-Star CMS Quality Achievement
- Guardian of Excellence Award
- DAISY Award Recipient
- Leading Star Award
- OASIS Team Lead
- Exceptional Nurse Summit Award Nominee
- Service Excellence Advisor
- DAISY Award Nominee x 2
Certification
ACLS, PALS, NRP, NIHSS, ENPC, LEAN Yellow Belt
Timeline
RESIDENT CARE MANAGER
Seven Sisters Living Center, Fall River Health Services
02.2025 - Current
STAFF DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
FALL RIVER HEALTH SERVICES
04.2024 - 02.2025
NURSE MANAGER OF ACUTE CARE, OUTPATIENT SERVICES, ED, 3 RURAL HEALTH CLINICS
MONUMENT HEALTH CUSTER HOSPITAL & CLINICS
12.2020 - 04.2024
CLINICAL NURSE MANAGER
MONUMENT HEALTH, RAPID CITY, EMERGENCY SERVICES
03.2015 - 12.2020
Associate of Science - Nursing
Southwestern Community College
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
- Guardian of Excellence Award
- DAISY Award Recipient
- Leading Star Award
- OASIS Team Lead
- Exceptional Nurse Summit Award Nominee
- Service Excellence A
- DAISY Award Nominee x 2