Denise Spears
Cameron,Oklahoma
Summary
Experienced nursing professional bringing demonstrated clinical expertise, leadership skills and technical knowledge. Nursing professional with 30 years of experience in nursing education, admission coordination, and direct patient care environments. Talented at conducting patient assessments, developing individualized care plans and patient education.
Quality-driven and efficient with strong interpersonal abilities. Committed job seeker with a history of meeting company needs with consistent and organized practices. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations. Specializing in compassionate patient communication.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Nurse Admission Liaison
Encompass Health
Fort Smith, AR
09.2016 - Current
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to develop individualized plans of care for each patient.
- Ensured that all documentation was accurate and up-to-date according to established guidelines.
- Educated patients on their medical condition, treatment plans, and self-care management techniques.
- Supported families during times of illness or injury by providing emotional support and assistance with decision making processes.
- Managed multiple tasks simultaneously while prioritizing urgent requests from physicians or nurses.
- Facilitated communication between members of the healthcare team by attending interdisciplinary meetings.
- Answered patient and family questions to educate on optimal treatment procedures.
- Delivered compassionate care to increase comfort and psychological, social and spiritual well-being.
- Educated patients, caregivers and families on diagnoses, treatment options and disease prevention.
- Followed rehabilitation and treatment care plans to accelerate patient recovery, minimize pain and optimize patient outcomes.
- Partnered with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to formulate individualized treatment plans to deliver high-quality patient care.
- Triaged patients by phone and provided general assistance for basic and advanced needs.
- Evaluated patients, recognized and addressed complications and coordinated treatment with other members of critical care team.
- Acted as patient advocate and implemented total patient care through team nursing process.
- Advocated for patients by supporting and respecting basic rights, values and beliefs.
- Oversaw patient admission and discharge processes to coordinate related paperwork.
- Created, implemented and evaluated patient care plans with medical team.
Weekend On-call
Advantage Home Health and Hospice
Poteau, Oklahoma
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Demonstrated sound clinical judgment in providing quality patient care.
- Provided direct patient care including medication administration, wound dressing changes, IV therapy, and patient education.
- Monitored vital signs and documented patient progress in medical records.
- Conducted health assessments to determine the physical condition of patients.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Educated families on disease processes, medications, discharge planning, follow-up appointments and home safety techniques.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes.
- Provided emotional support and guidance to patients and their families during difficult times.
- Assessed psychosocial needs of patients and coordinated referrals for social services when necessary.
- Responded quickly to emergent situations using appropriate clinical interventions.
Nursing Instructor
Carl Albert State College
Poteau, Oklahoma
01.2009 - 01.2016
- Provided instruction on nursing concepts and practices to students in a classroom setting.
- Developed assessments to evaluate student performance.
- Conducted clinical evaluations of students in hospital settings.
- Created course materials such as lesson plans, handouts, and tests.
- Mentored new instructors on curriculum development and teaching techniques.
- Organized and maintained current records of student progress.
- Assisted with the recruitment, selection, orientation, and training of nursing staff members.
- Supervised student clinical activities in various healthcare settings.
- Participated in faculty meetings to discuss departmental policies and procedures.
- Developed strategies for improving the quality of patient care through research-based evidence.
- Monitored student learning outcomes and provided feedback to ensure mastery of course material.
- Advised students regarding academic issues or concerns they may have had during their studies.
- Collaborated with other faculty members to develop innovative approaches to teaching nursing courses.
- Presented lectures on medical terminology, pharmacology, pathology, and other relevant topics.
- Evaluated student's competency based upon laboratory simulations and clinical experiences.
- Provided guidance on professional licensure exams such as NCLEX-RN or CGFNS Certification Exam.
- Attended conferences related to nursing education both locally and nationally.
- Ensured compliance with all regulatory requirements related to accreditation standards.
- Designed personal clinical assignments consistent with student's knowledge base, competency and learning needs.
- Observed and evaluated student performance in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes through assignments, projects and examinations.
- Maintained current, accurate records of course enrollment, attendance and student academic progress.
- Instructed courses in nursing to meet educational requirements stated in credit course outline and board of registered nursing regulations.
- Committed passionately to student development through hands-on training.
- Supervised student laboratory and clinical work, offering knowledgeable advice to advance learning and abilities.
- Remained current in instructional methods and evidence-based, best practice nursing concepts and impact such concepts place on nursing program students' education.
- Helped students make optimal educational and career choices to maximize learning and long-term vocational benefits.
- Monitored student growth.
- Taught multiple courses, which included management of post-operative cardiovascular surgery patients, EKG, and 12-lead EKG.
Lecturer
Hurst Review Services
Brookhaven, Mississippi
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Delivered lectures to undergraduate and graduate classes of varying sizes.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop innovative teaching methods to engage students.
- Attended conferences and workshops to stay up-to-date on best practices in higher education.
- Served as a guest lecturer at other universities or organizations when requested.
- Integrated technology into the classroom experience where appropriate.
Med/Surg. Manager/ICU Staff Nurse
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center
Poteau, Oklahoma
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Coached, mentored and trained team members in order to improve their job performance.
- Established processes to ensure efficient workflow throughout the organization.
- Resolved conflicts between employees by providing guidance on company policies and procedures.
- Assessed team member's skillsets and assigned tasks accordingly for optimal efficiency.
- Analyzed customer feedback data to develop action plans for improving services offered.
- Monitored staff performance and addressed issues.
- Exercised good judgment and decision-making in escalating concerns and resolving issues.
- Trained employees on additional job positions to maintain coverage of roles.
- Assigned tasks to associates to fit skill levels and maximize team performance.
- Minimized staff turnover through appropriate selection, orientation and training.
Clinical Nurse Manager
Advance Care Hospital
Fort Smith, Arkansas
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Provided guidance and support to nursing staff members.
- Evaluated performance of nursing staff members through observation and chart reviews.
- Implemented strategies for improving quality of care, patient safety, and satisfaction levels.
- Established effective communication channels between clinical staff members and other departments.
- Coordinated patient care activities across multiple units ensuring continuity of services.
- Maintained appropriate documentation of patients' medical records according to established standards.
- Performed assessments of the health needs of individual patients as well as populations within the facility.
- Actively participated in quality assurance programs focusing on patient outcomes.
- Collaborated closely with department heads from other disciplines such as laboratory or radiology to ensure efficient workflow throughout the organization.
- Established and maintained positive relationships with residents, physicians, hospital staff, patients and families.
ICU Staff Nurse/ICU Relief Team Leader
Saint Edward Mercy Medical Center
Fort Smith, Arkansas
01.1991 - 01.2005
- Assessed, monitored and evaluated patient's condition in the ICU.
- Provided direct care to critically ill patients including administering medications, performing treatments and providing emotional support.
- Collaborated with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient.
- Ensured appropriate documentation of patient care activities according to established standards.
- Maintained accurate records of vital signs, fluid intake and output levels, daily weights and laboratory results.
- Responded promptly to changes in a patient's condition by initiating life saving interventions as needed.
- Managed ventilators, tracheostomy tubes and intravenous lines while monitoring oxygenation levels and hemodynamic parameters.
- Monitored cardiac rhythms on telemetry monitors; recognized arrhythmias and initiated corrective measures when necessary.
- Counseled patients' families regarding end-of-life decisions, health maintenance or any other relevant topics related to their loved ones' care plan.
- Participated in interdisciplinary rounds to discuss best practices for current patients in the ICU setting.
- Performed bedside procedures such as wound dressing changes, nasogastric tube placement or insertion of urinary catheters as required.
- Actively participated in quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes.
- Provided education about disease processes and self-care management techniques to patients upon discharge from the unit.
- Administered parenteral nutrition according to physician orders while closely monitoring electrolyte balance.
- Assisted physicians during invasive procedures such as intubations or bronchoscopies.
- Implemented infection control policies within the ICU environment ensuring optimal safety for both staff members and patients alike.
- Supervised nursing students assigned to the unit providing guidance whenever needed.
- Developed and maintained professional relationship with members of health care team, patient and patient's family.
- Delivered optimum treatments to critical-care patients following prescribed rules, policies, protocol and procedures.
- Monitored patients' respiration activity, blood pressure and blood glucose levels in response to medical administration.
- Established and implemented nursing care plans for each patient using protocols of assessment, development, activation and evaluation.
- Assessed ICU patients each shift to ascertain vitals and key information.
- Functioned as charge nurse and assumed patient care in absence of nurses ending or arriving for shifts.
- Maintained records, prepared reports and served on special committees.
- Evaluated patient vital signs and laboratory data to assess needs and provide emergency interventions.
- Supervised cardiac monitors, mechanical ventilators and alarms and oxygen delivery devices.
- Detected emerging problems by monitoring patients' behavior, vital signs and fluid intake and output.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
Education
Masters of Science in Nursing -
Northeastern State University
12.2012
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
12.2007
Associate Degree in Nursing -
Westark Community College
05.1991
General Studies -
Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College
12.1983
Skills
- Electronic Health Records Management
- Nursing Plan Development
- Patient Assessment and Care
- Licensed RN
- Treatment Planning
- Referral Generation
- Family Education
- Patient Assessment
- Policy and Procedure Compliance
- Medical Chart Management
- Clinical Documentation
- Patient Rights Advocacy
- Patient Care and Education
- Patient Education
- Care Plan Implementation
Affiliations
- Previous member of the American Nurses Association
- Previous member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nursing
Certification
Licensed Registered Nurse in Oklahoma and Arkansas
Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
Development
- 2009 – NCSBN Learning Extension, Test Development and Item Writing
- 2018 – Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
Personal Information
Title: MSN, RN, CRRN
Volunteer Experience
Cross Community Church
Timeline
Nurse Admission Liaison
Encompass Health
09.2016 - Current
Weekend On-call
Advantage Home Health and Hospice
01.2013 - 01.2016
Lecturer
Hurst Review Services
01.2010 - 01.2013
Nursing Instructor
Carl Albert State College
01.2009 - 01.2016
Med/Surg. Manager/ICU Staff Nurse
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center
01.2006 - 01.2009
Clinical Nurse Manager
Advance Care Hospital
01.2005 - 01.2006
ICU Staff Nurse/ICU Relief Team Leader
Saint Edward Mercy Medical Center
01.1991 - 01.2005
Masters of Science in Nursing -
Northeastern State University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Associate Degree in Nursing -
Westark Community College
General Studies -
Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College
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