- Offering time and support to shelters for the homeless, women, and animals
- Volunteer Work
- Homelessness Outreach
Debra Smith
Wichita,KS
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse seeking a position that leverages extensive training while providing opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement. Committed to delivering high-quality patient care and fostering a supportive environment. Eager to contribute to a dynamic healthcare team and embrace new challenges in a fast-paced setting. Passionate about improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practices and continuous learning.
Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) with progressive career history in direct patient care, triage and care coordination in fast-paced environment. Proven to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle difficult patients and high-stress situations. Consistently developing strong relationships with patients and families through empathetic communication, respectful attitude, and excellent customer service.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse
Ascension
Wichita
01.2015 - 05.2026
- Administered comprehensive patient care, ensuring adherence to clinical protocols and safety standards.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported changes to healthcare providers promptly.
- Educated patients and families on health management, treatment options, and preventive care strategies.
- Streamlined medication administration processes, improving efficiency in patient treatment timelines.
- Implemented infection control measures, reducing hospital-acquired infections within the unit.
- 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.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Reported findings to quality departments after conducting routine restraint audits and worked with team to devise corrective actions for deficiencies.
RN Supervisor
Kansas Masonic Home
Wichita, KS
02.1999 - 01.2015
- Achieved higher quality of nursing care in a sixty-bed assisted living community through dedicated service efforts. Executed thorough chart reviews and expedited physician order processing while optimizing staff assignment. Transitioned from CMA to LPN to RN following graduation, exemplifying commitment to nursing excellence. Obtained role as CQI nurse, markedly improving care standards for all residents, including those in specialized care. Led clinical services for two years, driving initiatives that significantly enhanced resident care outcomes. Secured adult care home operator certification, solidifying expertise in adult care operations.
CMA
Sandpiper Bay
Wichita, KS
05.1998 - 08.1998
- I passed medications and did treatments on skilled nursing residents.
CNA
Superior Healthcare
Wichita, KS
03.1998 - 07.1998
- I worked as a patient care attendant at all the local hospitals through this agency.
CNA
Catholic Care Center
Wichita, KS
11.1997 - 02.1998
- I worked as a nurse aide caring for residents.
CNA
Betty Dare Good Samaritan Center
Alamogordo, NM
08.1994 - 10.1997
- Provided care for patients in a 102 bed, long term care facility. I worked on a special skill unit. This unit worked on rehabilitation for residents.
Education
Diploma -
Alamogordo Senior High School
Alamogordo, NM05-1992
LPN Certification - undefined
Wichita Area Technical College
Wichita, KSCMA - undefined
Wichita Area Technical College
Wichita, KS01-1998
Associate of Arts - Fine Arts, Emergency Medical Tech
New Mexico State University, Alamogordo Branch
Alamogordo, NM12-1995
Skills
- Medication and IV administration
- Medication administration
- Direct patient care
- Patient assessments
- Documentation and charting
- Patient assessment
- Strong clinical judgment
- Patient education and counseling
- Infection control measures
- Patient care
- Compassion and empathy
- Patient monitoring
- Professional bedside manner
- Physical assessments
- Patient care planning
- Patient evaluation
- Nursing staff leadership
- Precepting
- Patient discharge
- Team coordination
- Intake and discharge
- Emergency response
- Maintaining privacy
- Relationship building
- Vaccine administration
- Diabetes management
- Insulin medication assistance
- Patient counseling
- Staff supervision
- Emotional awareness
- Mental health nursing
- Seizure management
Interests
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Ascension
01.2015 - 05.2026
RN Supervisor
Kansas Masonic Home
02.1999 - 01.2015
CMA
Sandpiper Bay
05.1998 - 08.1998
CNA
Superior Healthcare
03.1998 - 07.1998
CNA
Catholic Care Center
11.1997 - 02.1998
CNA
Betty Dare Good Samaritan Center
08.1994 - 10.1997
Associate of Arts - Fine Arts, Emergency Medical Tech
New Mexico State University, Alamogordo Branch
CMA - undefined
Wichita Area Technical College
LPN Certification - undefined
Wichita Area Technical College
Diploma -
Alamogordo Senior High School
Continuing Education
- Delirium and Dementia in the Elderly (Kansas Health Care Association), May 2004
- Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type (Hutch Community College)
- Understanding Osteoporosis (Wesley Medical Center), May 2004
- Challenges of Managing PUD GERD in the LTC patient (Hutch Community College)
- Assisted Living and Residential Healthcare Regulatory Review (Hutch Com. College)
- Principles of HCBS (Kansas Health Care Assoc.)
- The A-Word (Sunflower Consultants)
- Role of the Nurse in Assisted Living (Sunflower Consultants)
- Wound Care (Hospice Care of Kansas)
- Update for Adult Care Home Operator (Sunflower Consultants) 2006
Qualifications
- Over 10 years of experience in the nursing field including charge nurse responsibilities and experience as a Continuing Quality Improvement nurse. I served as Clinical Services Manager for two years. This position allowed me to obtain excellent supervisory/ managerial skills. I began employment in the Manor soon after its opening as a CMA.
- Kansas Nursing License # 23-29185-032