Debra Willingham
Crandall,TX
Summary
Experienced LVN skilled in patient care, treatment plan implementation, and infection control. Proven track record of collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to develop tailored care plans that improve patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
LVN Agency Nurse
Thusa Nurses
DFW Texas
05.2025 - Current
- Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by healthcare providers.
- Monitored patient vital signs, documenting changes and reporting concerns promptly.
- Assisted patients with daily living activities, ensuring comfort and dignity.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement care plans.
- Educated patients and families on health management and preventive care practices.
- Maintained accurate patient records in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Cared for wounds, provided treatments, and assisted with procedures.
- Assisted with admissions, appointments, transfers, and discharges.
- Facilitated effective communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care during transitions between facilities or levels of care.
- Documented accurate and complete patient information to address patient problems and expected outcomes.
- Administered controlled narcotics, inserted IVs, and performed catheterizations.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments of newly admitted patients, identifying individual needs and developing tailored nursing interventions accordingly.
- Safeguarded patient confidentiality by adhering to HIPAA regulations and maintaining secure medical records.
LVN Agency Nurse
Clipboard Health
Dallas, TX
03.2024 - Current
- Managed patient care through closely monitoring respiration, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels.
- Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
- Provided emotional support to patients, fostering a compassionate environment.
- Promoted patient safety through vigilant monitoring of vital signs and reporting any abnormalities to the appropriate healthcare provider promptly.
- Documented patient vitals, behaviors, and conditions to communicate concerns to supervising nurse and attending physician.
- Responded to patient requests with appropriate clinical and personal assistance.
- Strengthened infection control measures by strictly following hand hygiene protocols and utilizing personal protective equipment when necessary.
- Gathered lab specimens, ordered testing, and interpreted results to diagnose patients.
- Provided excellent wound care management, resulting in faster healing times for patients with complex wounds.
- Educated patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
- Offered immediate assistance in emergency and routine paging situations to evaluate needs and deliver care.
- Performed routine evaluations of each patient's status, needs, and preferences.
- Ensured compliance with health and safety regulations during nursing procedures.
- Documented patient progress accurately in electronic health records systems.
- Provided guidance and support to junior nurses in daily operational tasks.
- Administered injections, prescribed medications, and enemas and cleaned and dressed wounds to assist with basic medical care.
Contract LVN Charge Nurse
Supplemental Health Care
DFW Texas
06.2018 - Current
- Administered medications and treatments according to established protocols and patient needs.
- Monitored vital signs and reported changes in patient conditions to healthcare team promptly.
- Assisted in developing individualized care plans based on patient assessments and medical histories.
- Educated patients and families on health management, medication adherence, and treatment options.
- Mentored junior nursing staff on best practices, enhancing overall team performance and patient outcomes.
- Improved patient satisfaction by providing compassionate and attentive care.
- Evaluated patients to identify and address wounds, behavioral concerns, and medically relevant symptoms.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Helped long-term care residents with bathing, dressing, feeding, and other daily living activities.
- Clearly and thoroughly explained diagnoses, treatment options and procedures to patients and loved ones, checking in to verify understanding.
- Implemented infection control measures, enhancing safety standards and reducing hospital-acquired infections.
- Coordinated daily nursing activities to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, significantly reducing risk of non-compliance.
LVN Charge Nurse
James L West Presbyterian Special Care Center
Fort Worth, TX
03.2010 - 09.2015
- Supervised nursing staff to ensure high-quality patient care and adherence to safety protocols.
- Implemented patient care plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, enhancing treatment efficacy.
- Monitored vital signs and health status, promptly addressing changes to optimize patient outcomes.
- Facilitated communication between families and healthcare providers, ensuring clarity on patient conditions and treatments.
- Documented patient vitals, behaviors, and conditions to communicate concerns to supervising nurse and primary physician.
- Took samples to complete diagnostic and routine assessment tests.
- Facilitated smooth transitions between shifts through efficient handoff reports that highlighted critical information for incoming nurses.
- Promoted a culture of teamwork and collaboration among nursing staff by encouraging the sharing of best practices, learning from one another''s experiences, and supporting each other in challenging situations.
- Analyzed patient assessments and laboratory data to bring any issues to attention of physicians.
- Delivered direct quality care to patients by evaluating medical conditions and managing and assessing treatments.
- Served as charge nurse, caring for patients with serious illnesses.
- Circulated assigned floor to measure and record patients' fluid and food levels, implementing measures to promote healthy intake and output as necessary.
- Administered medications and injections to patients.
- Clearly and thoroughly explained diagnoses, treatment options and procedures to patients and loved ones, checking in to verify understanding.
- Helped long-term care residents with bathing, dressing, feeding, and other daily living activities.
Contract LVN
Nursecore
Fort Worth, TX
01.2004 - 01.2015
- Administered medications and treatments per physician orders, ensuring compliance with safety protocols.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported changes to healthcare team for timely interventions.
- Assisted in developing individualized care plans based on patient assessments and needs.
- Educated patients and families on health management, promoting understanding of treatment plans.
- Delivered updates in patient status to charge nurse, recording changes in medical records.
- Comforted and counseled patients and families throughout care process.
- Supported diagnoses by taking blood samples from patients for laboratory testing.
- Provided diagnosis information, treatment possibilities, disease management tips and wound care advice to patients, loved ones and caregivers.
- Cared for wounds, provided treatments, and assisted with procedures.
- Administered controlled narcotics, inserted IVs, and performed catheterizations.
- Safeguarded patient confidentiality by adhering to HIPAA regulations and maintaining secure medical records.
LVN Telemetry Nurse
Osteopathic Medical Center
Fort Worth, TX
01.1990 - 03.2004
- Monitored patient vital signs and telemetry data to identify abnormalities and ensure timely intervention.
- Administered medications and treatments per physician orders, enhancing patient care quality.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans for patients.
- Educated patients and families on health management, promoting understanding of treatment processes.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the workplace by adhering to all established policies regarding infection control, medication administration, and patient privacy.
- Educated patients and families on disease processes, medications, and self-care techniques, promoting optimal recovery and wellbeing.
- Assisted physicians with treatment plans for patients, resulting in improved health outcomes.
- Provided compassionate nursing care to a diverse population of patients in the telemetry unit.
- Participated in ongoing educational opportunities to stay current on best practices within the field of telemetry nursing.
- Administered heart and blood pressure medication to cardiac patients as prescribed by physicians.
- Observed patient health and side effects from treatments and medications, noting all details in patient chart.
- Helped patients complete bathing, dressing and eating.
- Took samples to complete diagnostic and routine assessment tests.
Education
Lisenced Practical Nurse - Nursing
Baptist School of Practical Nursing
Little Rock, Ark10-1980
Skills
- Medication administration
- HIPAA compliance
- Geriatric care
- Vital signs monitoring
- Catheter care
- Patient education
- Direct patient care
- Infection control
- Documentation accuracy
- Diabetes management
- Treatment plan implementation
- Reporting and documentation
- Patient and family communication
- Intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal certification
- Nursing processes
- Wound care
Timeline
LVN Agency Nurse
Thusa Nurses
05.2025 - Current
LVN Agency Nurse
Clipboard Health
03.2024 - Current
Contract LVN Charge Nurse
Supplemental Health Care
06.2018 - Current
LVN Charge Nurse
James L West Presbyterian Special Care Center
03.2010 - 09.2015
Contract LVN
Nursecore
01.2004 - 01.2015
LVN Telemetry Nurse
Osteopathic Medical Center
01.1990 - 03.2004
Lisenced Practical Nurse - Nursing
Baptist School of Practical Nursing