Debra V. Dennis
Rockwall,TX
Summary
Ambitious Registered Nurse with extensive experience in delivering exceptional patient care across hospital and educational settings. Demonstrates strong expertise in assessments and critical thinking, complemented by proficiency in documentation, patient education, execution of clinical skills, and medication management. Proven leader adept at driving transformative change through the identification and development of tailored patient care plans, consistently achieving positive outcomes. Committed to fostering a compassionate environment that prioritizes patient well-being and promotes health education.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Caregiver, RN
Destiny’s Home Health Care
11.2023 - Current
- Total Care provided for an Alzheimer/physically impaired patient
- Manage, set-up, and administered all medications as per doctor’s order
- Ongoing communication with physicians, family members, to collaborate patient’s care, with updates on cognitive and functional statuses
- Transport and accompany patient to and from all appointments, e.g., doctors, therapies, dentists, grocery store, personal shopping, and social activities
- Advocate for patient’s needs and services to Veteran and civilian physicians, community care & social services, health care agencies, and family
- Ready patient for all pre-operative needs for procedures and provide post-operative care as per doctors’ orders
Substitute School Nurse
Garland Independent School District
10.2014 - 05.2023
- Triage, manage and treat care for students from Pre-K to 12th grade and staff, Emergent calls to 911 as needed.
- Medication Administration
- Diabetic Care – Provided diabetic education about their disease process
- Education provided with demonstrations on how to use a syringe or pen; and how to read and draw up or dial correct insulin amount, using aseptic technique
- Collaborated with nurses, doctors, parents, teachers, and administration to provide optimal diabetic care and asthmatic care. Immediate notification to parent for all abnormal or emergent needs.
Case Manager/Utilization Reviewer
Doctor's Hospital
05.2008 - 11.2009
- Verify or correct acuity levels of patient for correct reimbursements
- Held interdisciplinary meetings to monitor patient’s progress, initiated plans necessary to meet patient goals, and to foresee that all doctor’s patient orders were met, in a timely manner
- Provided insurance companies with necessary information for patients to continue to meet in-patient criteria and for correct hospital reimbursements. HIPPA maintained
- Implemented referrals to Social Work Department due to safety need. Made recommendations for transfers to sub-acute or long-term facilities as needed
- Set-up in-home physician visits for continuity of care and to decrease re-hospitalization for same diagnoses
- Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
RN Case Manager - Utilization Reviewer
Dallas Regional Hospital
12.2007 - 05.2008
- Managed caseload of 20-22 patients daily for Medical Surgical, Post-partum, and ICU floors
- Monitored charts and corrected acuity levels assigned to patients from Emergency Room, when needed, once transferred to floor to ensure correct insurance reimbursements.
- Collaborated with insurance companies to provide pertinent information to ensure patients met in-patient criteria for correct hospital reimbursements. HIPPA maintained
- Coordinated weekly Interdisciplinary Team meetings held, Collaborated with physicians, social workers, nurses, and ancillary staff to ensure orders were carried-out in a timely manner and to prevent delayed discharges.
- Set-up home health care services, home health equipment, home infusions, and home visits with physicians for follow-up care.
- Monitored patient progress, adjusting care strategies based on clinical outcomes and feedback.
- Educated patients and families on treatment options, medication management, and health maintenance strategies.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to optimize resource utilization and reduce hospital readmission rates.
Client Care Coordinator
Baylor Garland Hospital
12.2006 - 11.2007
- Award Winning Utilization Review Team. Received the 2007 Summit Award for most successful reimbursements for hospital stays for Baylor hospitals for 2007
- Conducted utilization reviews to ensure correct reimbursements for in-patient stays
- Set-up home health care, home infusions, home-meds, home-equipment, and in-home physician visits, provided follow-up calls to ensure discharge orders for home care were received
- Oversaw case management processes, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and organizational standards.
- Enhanced client satisfaction by promptly addressing concerns and providing personalized solutions.
Education
Associate’s degree - Nursing
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA01.1993
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
University of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA01.1979
Skills
- Data visualization analyst
- Detail-oriented proofreader
- Problem solver
- Interdisciplinary Team Leader
- Clinical charge responsibilities
- Documentation of processes
- Proficient in computer applications
- Proficient typist
- Administrative coordination abilities
- Patient education specialist
- Nursing consultation expertise
- Patient care coordination
Accomplishments
Baylor Health Care System quality Improvement Summit Award, 2007
Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, 1993
Certificate of Accomplishment in Interpersonal Communication, 1993
Timeline
Caregiver, RN
Destiny’s Home Health Care
11.2023 - Current
Substitute School Nurse
Garland Independent School District
10.2014 - 05.2023
Case Manager/Utilization Reviewer
Doctor's Hospital
05.2008 - 11.2009
RN Case Manager - Utilization Reviewer
Dallas Regional Hospital
12.2007 - 05.2008
Client Care Coordinator
Baylor Garland Hospital
12.2006 - 11.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
University of Santa Barbara
Associate’s degree - Nursing
Golden West College