DOROTHY CRUZ
Palos Hills,IL
Summary
Certified Nursing Assistant, possessing CPR certification. Empathetic to needs of patients, especially elderly patients. Works with minimal direction and exercises sound judgment. Communicates with team members to coordinate actions in fast-paced environments. Nursing Assistant with 17 years of experience providing health care to patients at home, hospitals, and nursing homes. Compassionate and caring, responding quickly to patient calls for assistance. Provide support in daily living, including dressing, eating, and toileting. Trained Caregiver skilled in providing direct care to clients with various conditions. Understand caregiving basics, including dementia communication strategies, social engagement, and physical care, including lifting, bathing, and feeding support. Understands age-related cognitive differences, and creates safe environment through observation and infection control. Energetic CNA offering skills in patient transportation, vitals monitoring and treatment preparation developed over 17 years of hands-on experience delivering compassionate patient care. Able to multitasking in fast-paced environments to track patient activities, assist with treatments and collect specimens. Skillfully prepare rooms for procedures while keeping patients happy and comfortable.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Cna/Home Health Hospice Aide
VITAS Healthcare
Bradley, IL
08.2023 - 08.2025
- Assisted patients with daily living activities, promoting independence and dignity.
- Checked patient vitals such as temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
- Promoted good oral and personal hygiene by aiding patients with shaving, bathing, and teeth brushing.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate and attentive care.
- Maintained confidentiality of patient information according to HIPAA guidelines while communicating effectively with team members about critical updates.
Home Health Hospice Aide
Apex Hospice And Palliative Care
Westmont, IL
06.2021 - 08.2023
- Participated in ongoing training opportunities to continuously enhance knowledge of hospice care best practices and maintain certification requirements.
- Delivered exceptional personal hygiene assistance, upholding dignity and respect for each patient throughout the end-of-life journey.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families, fostering positive relationships and open communication.
- Supported the provision of high-quality care by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant healthcare regulations and policies.
Certified Nursing Assistant
Kindred Chicago Central Hospital
Chicago, Illinois
06.2020 - 05.2021
- Responded immediately to calls from patients for assistance or treatment and alerted medical staff to emergency situations.
- Communicated with physicians, nurses, and other caregivers to exchange information about patient conditions, treatment plans, and activities.
- Monitored patient condition by recording vitals including blood pressure, respiration rates, and body temperature.
- Worked with patients to assure that they participated in exercises and therapeutic activities.
- Worked alongside dining room personnel to ensure that patients received the correct meals and that all residents were able to eat.
- Observed condition of patients by examining, including checking of existing conditions, such as open wounds.
- Supported patients with daily activities and attending to personal hygiene, transporting patients, and assisting them in walking and exercising.
- Helped residents with daily living tasks including feeding, dressing, and personal hygiene.
- Monitored patient medications and encouraged them to take medications and nutritional supplements as prescribed.
- Ensured complete documentation when entering data into the EMR system.
- Helped patients with daily living requirements by bathing, dressing and assisting with mobility needs.
- Responded appropriately to symptoms and behavior.
- Documented clinical information in patient medical records daily.
- Documented vital signs like temperature and blood pressure to track medical symptoms and the progress of treatments.
- Resupplied patients with personal hygiene items like towels, soap and sheets.
- Exercised patients with limited or no mobility, including individuals with partial or total paralysis.
- Prepared patients for surgeries and treatments by washing, shaving and draping specific body areas.
- Maintained confidentiality concerning treatment and personal information.
- Monitored intake of food and medication and alerted staff to deterioration in patient conditions.
- Transported patients by wheelchair or rolling bed between care and examination rooms.
- Applied correct aseptic and sterile techniques and used appropriate personal protective equipment.
Certified Nursing Assistant
Riverside Healthcare
Kankakee, IL
08.2019 - 06.2020
- Responded immediately to calls from patients for assistance or treatment and alerted medical staff to emergency situations.
- Monitored patient condition by recording vitals including blood pressure, respiration rates, and body temperature.
- Helped residents with daily living tasks including feeding, dressing, and personal hygiene.
- Communicated with physicians, nurses, and other caregivers to exchange information about patient conditions, treatment plans, and activities.
- Worked alongside dining room personnel to ensure that patients received the correct meals and that all residents were able to eat.
- Monitored patient medications and encouraged them to take medications and nutritional supplements as prescribed.
- Worked with patients to assure that they participated in exercises and therapeutic activities.
- Supported patients with daily activities and attending to personal hygiene, transporting patients, and assisting them in walking and exercising.
- Observed condition of patients by examining, including checking of existing conditions, such as open wounds.
- Transported patients by wheelchair or rolling bed between care and examination rooms.
- Helped patients with daily living requirements by bathing, dressing and assisting with mobility needs.
- Monitored intake of food and medication and alerted staff to deterioration in patient conditions.
- Supported the social and emotional needs of patients by providing caring companionship.
- Documented vital signs like temperature and blood pressure to track medical symptoms and the progress of treatments.
- Prepared patients for surgeries and treatments by washing, shaving and draping specific body areas.
- Ensured complete documentation when entering data into the EMR system.
- Applied correct aseptic and sterile techniques and used appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Responded appropriately to family members when discussing patient care and instructions for discharge.
- Maintained confidentiality concerning treatment and personal information.
- Responded appropriately to symptoms and behavior.
- Documented clinical information in patient medical records daily.
Medical Records Clerk
Scottish Home
North Riverside, IL
12.2017 - 05.2019
- Prepared new patient charts, by collecting information, documentation, and patient data from paper sources and electronic health record formats.
- Retrieved patients' records for medical staff and refiled in correct locations after use.
- Protected security of medical records by maintaining confidentiality and adhere to Privacy Act and HIPAA provisions.
- Followed required procedures to maintain records accuracy and exceed quality assurance standards.
- Supplied nursing department with required patient information and forms for each appointment.
- Maintained medical records in standardized format and order, maintaining completeness and integrity.
- Communicated with colleagues and staff to cover other positions in department as needed.
- Scanned paperwork for inclusion in electronic medical record.
- Leveraged scanning and imaging software to electronically file medical documentation in individual patient medical charts.
- Practiced meaningful customer service skills to address patient and staff needs courteously, promptly, and with compassion.
- Pulled medical records for patients being seen by doctor each day.
- Filed records chronologically to expedite retrieval by end-user.
- Maintained patient records in full compliance with confidentiality standards and HIPAA requirements.
- Archived inactive patient records to comply with record retention guidelines and established protocols.
- Maintained well-organized and efficient medical records system, quickly filing and retrieving files for clinical team members.
- Supported the smooth movement of patients into and out of departments by helping with admissions and discharges.
- Worked within AOD and POC code system to properly classify patient data.
- Kept all files secure and confidential to protect the patients and comply with HIPAA and internal requirements.
CNA
Cantata
Brookfield, IL
09.2011 - 07.2017
- Monitored patient condition by recording vitals including blood pressure, respiration rates, and body temperature.
- Communicated with physicians, nurses, and other caregivers to exchange information about patient conditions, treatment plans, and activities.
- Responded immediately to calls from patients for assistance or treatment and alerted medical staff to emergency situations.
- Performed light housekeeping, including cleaning patient rooms and changing sheets on beds.
- Monitored patient medications and encouraged them to take medications and nutritional supplements as prescribed.
- Supported patients with daily activities and attending to personal hygiene, transporting patients, and assisting them in walking and exercising.
- Helped residents with daily living tasks including feeding, dressing, and personal hygiene.
- Worked alongside dining room personnel to ensure that patients received the correct meals and that all residents were able to eat.
- Worked with patients to assure that they participated in exercises and therapeutic activities.
- Observed condition of patients by examining, including checking of existing conditions, such as open wounds.
- Responded appropriately to symptoms and behavior.
- Transported patients by wheelchair or rolling bed between care and examination rooms.
- Monitored intake of food and medication and alerted staff to deterioration in patient conditions.
- Documented clinical information in patient medical records daily.
- Responded appropriately to family members when discussing patient care and instructions for discharge.
- Documented vital signs like temperature and blood pressure to track medical symptoms and the progress of treatments.
- Resupplied patients with personal hygiene items like towels, soap and sheets.
Education
Certification - CNA
Northwestern Health
Chicago, Illinois12.2009
High School Diploma - undefined
William J Bogan
Chicago, IL06.1999
Skills
- Infection control procedures
- Electronic charting
- Quality assurance
- Specimen collection
- Health education
- Mobility assistance
- Monitor vitals
- Bed preparation
- Client documentation
- Transport patients
- Patient evaluations
- Patient relationship building
- Meal planning
- Patient observation
- First aid and CPR
- Vital signs
- Medical equipment operation
- Behavior redirection
- Vital signs monitoring
- Family communication
- Clinical documentation
Timeline
Cna/Home Health Hospice Aide
VITAS Healthcare
08.2023 - 08.2025
Home Health Hospice Aide
Apex Hospice And Palliative Care
06.2021 - 08.2023
Certified Nursing Assistant
Kindred Chicago Central Hospital
06.2020 - 05.2021
Certified Nursing Assistant
Riverside Healthcare
08.2019 - 06.2020
Medical Records Clerk
Scottish Home
12.2017 - 05.2019
CNA
Cantata
09.2011 - 07.2017
High School Diploma - undefined
William J Bogan
Certification - CNA
Northwestern Health