Denise Malek
Crystal Lake,Illinois
Summary
Experienced Clinical Supervisor (Charge Nurse) with over 9 years of leadership experience in perioperative services including Pre-Admission Testing, Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU), and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Proven ability to supervise nursing teams, coordinate complex surgical workflows, and lead process improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety, efficiency, and quality of care.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Supervisor (Charge Nurse)
Saint Joseph Hospital
Elgin, Illinois
08.2015 - Current
- Supervise and lead a team of 6 nurses preparing patients for surgery, endoscopy, cardiac catheterization, and interventional radiology procedures.
- Coordinate patient flow across Pre-Admission Testing, ASU, and PACU to optimize efficiency and patient outcomes.
- Perform and assist with comprehensive pre-operative assessments to ensure patient readiness and safety.
- Provide detailed patient education regarding procedures, recovery expectations, and post-operative care.
- Serve as a clinical resource and mentor to nursing staff, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
- Lead daily interdisciplinary huddles to review and plan next-day surgical cases and address operational needs.
- Collaborate closely with nurse manager and department director to support staffing, workflow improvements, and quality initiatives.
- Led a process improvement project to enhance pre-admission assessment and pre-surgical preparation.
- Improved consistency of pre-admission assessments by training staff on standardized interview techniques.
- Collaborated with anesthesia team to implement standardized pre-surgical testing criteria, improving patient readiness and workflow efficiency.
- Improved pre-admission workflow efficiency, significantly reducing staff overtime utilization.
- Mentored junior staff, promoting knowledge sharing and skill development within the team.
- Served as a liaison between clinical staff and administration to address concerns and optimize workflows.
- Fostered collaborative environment, encouraging interdisciplinary teamwork to enhance patient outcomes.
- Supervised nursing staff, ensuring high-quality patient care and adherence to hospital protocols.
Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center
Jacksonville, Florida
01.2008 - 01.2015
- Provided direct patient care across Med-Surg, Telemetry, PCU, ASU, PACU, and Float Pool settings.
- Collected blood and urine samples and assisted with diagnostic testing.
- Participated in unit council initiatives to support quality improvement and staffing solutions.
- Administered outpatient blood transfusions and monitored patients for adverse reactions.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- 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.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Administered medications and monitored patient vital signs to ensure optimal recovery outcomes.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans.
Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center
Jacksonville, Florida
01.2001 - 01.2006
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
- Administered medications and monitored/report patient status changes.
- Collected specimens and assisted with diagnostic and treatment processes.
- Developed strong clinical judgment and time management skills in high-acuity environments.
- Educated patients and families on disease management, treatment options, and health maintenance strategies.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Texas
Arlington, TX06-2026
Associate of Science in Nursing -
Florida State Community College At Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL05-1999
Skills
- Meditech
- Cerner
- HealthNautica Scheduling Platform
- Patient Monitoring Systems
- MicrosoftOffice Suite
- Nursing Leadership & Staff Supervision
- Preoperative & Postoperative Care
- Patient Assessment & Education
- Surgical Coordination & Workflow Management
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Quality & Patient Safety Initiatives
- Team supervision
Accomplishments
- Improved pre-admission workflow efficiency, significantly reducing staff overtime utilization.
- Led process improvement initiative to standardize pre-admission assessments and pre-surgical preparation.
- Trained nursing staff to improve consistency and quality of patient assessment interviews.
- Collaborated with anesthesia to implement standardized pre-surgical testing criteria, enhancing patient readiness and workflow efficiency.
Certification
- Registered Nurse, State of Illinois — 2015–Present
- Registered Nurse, State of Florida —1999–Present
- ACLS Certification — 2001–Present
- BLS Certification — 1999–Present
- PALS Certification — 2025–Present
Timeline
Clinical Supervisor (Charge Nurse)
Saint Joseph Hospital
08.2015 - Current
Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center
01.2008 - 01.2015
Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center
01.2001 - 01.2006
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Texas
Associate of Science in Nursing -
Florida State Community College At Jacksonville