Emily Cornelius
Columbia,South Carolina
Summary
Compassionate and energetic registered nurse with experience in a high-volume Level 1 trauma center in PACU, caring for both adult and pediatric patients, including high-acuity and ICU-level cases. I have a strong background in critical care with prior experience in the ICU and cardiac surgery step-down, bringing a calm, team-oriented approach to complex patient care.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Post-Operative Care Registered Nurse (PACU)
Prisma Health Richland
Columbia, South Carolina
07.2025 - Current
- Administered medications and managed pain effectively for post-operative patients to enhance comfort and recovery.
- Monitored patient vital signs during anesthesia recovery to ensure stability and prompt intervention.
- Assisted in the assessment and evaluation of patient recovery progress.
- Educated patients and families on post-operative care and discharge instructions to promote safe recovery at home.
- Utilized effective communication skills to educate patients and family members on side effects from both surgery and anesthesia.
Registered Nurse, ICU Float Pool
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, USA
11.2024 - 06.2025
- Provided comprehensive care across multiple Intensive Care Units, including Cardiovascular Surgery, Neurology, Medical, Coronary Care, and Surgical ICUs.
- Delivered specialized post-operative care for open heart surgery patients, managing cardiac devices such as the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump.
- Provided ACLS-trained care to patients in critical conditions, ensuring prompt and precise medical response.
- Monitored and managed treatment and care interventions, ensuring timely responses to patient needs.
- Assessed patient needs, prioritized treatment, maintained patient flows and assisted physicians with both invasive and non-invasive procedures.
- Adapted to various ICU environments, maintaining high standards of patient care and safety across diverse settings.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families, fostering a compassionate environment during critical periods.
Registered Nurse, Cardiovascular ICU
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, USA
12.2022 - 11.2024
- Provided comprehensive care for postoperative cardiovascular ICU patients to support recovery from open heart surgery.
- Administered medications and treatments as per physician orders to ensure effective patient management.
- Collaborated with respiratory therapists, physicians, and nurse practitioners to address critical patient changes promptly.
- Detected emerging problems by monitoring patients' behavior, vital signs and fluid intake and output.
- Managed critical care equipment and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Observed strict safety measures, including checking medication dosages before administration to patients.
Cardiac Stepdown Registered Nurse
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, USA
10.2021 - 11.2022
- Executed emergency life-saving measures in compliance with ACLS protocol, effectively stabilizing patients in critical situations.
- Delivered specialized care for patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD), ensuring optimal device function and enhancing patient safety.
- Provided comprehensive care for patients undergoing cardiac surgery workups and those recently discharged from the cardiovascular intensive care unit.
- Performed nursing care to acutely ill adult patients with cardiac diagnoses such as myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias.
- Monitored for changes in patient status and responded appropriately per hospital protocols.
- Assessed patient conditions and monitored behaviors, promptly updating supervising physicians with critical observations and concerns.
- Provided continuous monitoring of patient's vital signs and cardiac rhythms.
- Provided emotional support for family members during difficult times.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Kent State University
Kent, OH08-2021
Skills
- Critical thinking
- Advanced cardiovascular life support
- Life-sustaining machines
- Clinical judgment
- Telemetry monitoring
- Resource utilization
- Family support
- Post-operative care
- Patient assessment
- Emergency response training
- Effective communication
- Pediatric nursing care
- Pediatric CPR
Certification
- ACLS
- BLS
- IABP certified
Affiliations
Volunteer Medic for Newspring Church
Timeline
Post-Operative Care Registered Nurse (PACU)
Prisma Health Richland
07.2025 - Current
Registered Nurse, ICU Float Pool
Cleveland Clinic
11.2024 - 06.2025
Registered Nurse, Cardiovascular ICU
Cleveland Clinic
12.2022 - 11.2024
Cardiac Stepdown Registered Nurse
Cleveland Clinic
10.2021 - 11.2022
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Kent State University