Ericka Smith
Indianapolis,IN
Summary
Registered Nurse with 10+ years of experience in leadership, high acuity care, progressive care and surgical oncology-known for implementing innovative patient care strategies that enhance outcomes and satisfaction. Proficient in advanced nursing skills such as patient monitoring, wound care, and treatment preparation, while fostering teamwork and mentoring new nurses. Committed to leveraging data-driven decision-making and new technologies to continually improve healthcare delivery and efficiency.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Nursing/RN Case Manager
Transitions Care Hospice
Indianapolis
04.2025 - Current
- Led nursing staff to enhance patient care standards and improve operational efficiency.
- Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to optimize departmental performance and resource utilization.
- Mentored nursing leadership, fostering professional growth and ensuring adherence to best practices.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to align healthcare services with organizational objectives.
- Managed patient care plans, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive service delivery.
- Assessed patient needs and developed tailored interventions to enhance health outcomes and satisfaction.
- Educated patients and families on disease management and community resources to promote self-care strategies.
- Monitored progress of patients, adjusting care plans based on evolving health requirements and feedback.
- Implemented quality improvement initiatives, enhancing care protocols for efficiency and patient safety.
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to facilitate seamless transitions of care across settings.
Registered Nurse PCCU
Franciscan Health
Greenwood
05.2024 - 09.2025
- Monitor vital signs, administer medications, maintain accurate records in high-pressure PCCU.
- Implemented care strategies, adapted to medical technologies, enhanced patient comfort.
- Streamlined care processes, reduced patient stay duration, maintained high care standards.
- Fostered strong communication with patients, families, professionals for coordinated care.
- Optimized critical care protocols, improved outcomes through data-driven decisions.
- Analyze patient data to optimize care strategies, resulting in reduced PCCU stay durations while maintaining high safety standards and treatment efficacy.
- Foster interdisciplinary teamwork, enhancing communication and coordinated care efforts to ensure optimal patient outcomes in critical care settings.
Charge Nurse PRN
Scion Health
Indianapolis
05.2015 - 04.2025
- Lead nursing team in critical care unit, ensuring high-quality patient care. Implement evidence-based practices, resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced readmission rates.
- Foster teamwork among nursing staff, enhancing communication and coordination. Mentor new nurses, promoting professional growth and maintaining unit's exceptional standards of care.
- Spearhead process improvements in patient care protocols, streamlining workflows and increasing efficiency. Introduce new technologies to enhance patient monitoring and care delivery.
- Optimize resource allocation, leading to cost reductions while maintaining high-quality care. Implement strategies that significantly boost patient satisfaction scores and staff retention rates.
Clinical Nurse Educator
American Senior Communities
Indianapolis
05.2023 - 05.2024
- Develops and implements training programs for nursing staff, enhancing clinical skills.
- Collaborates with healthcare teams to improve patient care standards and outcomes.
- Analyzes training needs and adapts programs to address skill gaps and compliance.
- Facilitates workshops and seminars, promoting continuous professional development.
- Evaluates program effectiveness, achieving measurable improvements in staff performance.
- Led clinical education programs, enhancing staff competencies. Developed evidence-based curricula, improving patient care outcomes. Mentored new nurses, fostering professional growth.
- Pioneered simulation-based training methods, boosting critical thinking skills. Implemented virtual learning platforms, increasing accessibility. Redesigned orientation process for efficiency.
- Streamlined continuing education tracking, ensuring 100% compliance. Conducted needs assessments, tailoring programs to staff requirements. Reduced orientation time through targeted interventions.
Surgical Oncology Nurse/PCCU Nurse
St.Vincent Ascension
Indianapolis, IN
12.2020 - 06.2023
- Facilitated compassionate care for oncology patients, enhancing treatment adherence and comfort.
- Monitored patient health metrics, adjusting care plans to improve outcomes and recovery rates.
- Supported patients and families, reducing stress and fostering a healing environment.
- Collaborated with medical teams to advocate for patient needs and optimize care strategies.
- Administered medications and tracked responses, ensuring patient safety and effective treatment.
- Conducted comprehensive patient assessments, monitoring key factors to inform and adjust treatment plans for optimal outcomes.
- Improved patient compliance and recovery rates by creating a comfortable atmosphere during challenging situations.
- Partnered with interdisciplinary teams to advocate for patient needs and implement tailored treatment strategies.
Assistant Director of Nursing
American Senior Communities
Fishers, IN
10.2019 - 12.2020
- Evaluated clinical staff skills, ensuring safety and quality care.
- Led nursing orientation, clarifying policies and roles.
- Supervised executive decisions, enhancing policy adherence.
- Reviewed care plans, ensuring compliance and updates.
- Analyzed incident reports, ensuring accurate notifications.
- Analyzed clinical staff competency to enhance quality and safety, while overseeing nursing orientation processes and policy explanations.
- Exercised independent judgment in executive supervision, ensuring proper implementation of policies and procedures across the organization.
Hospice Nurse Case Manager
St.Vincent Hospice
Indianapolis, IN
01.2019 - 11.2019
- Listened to patients and loved ones, offering emotional support and kindness to help with end-of-life transition.
- Guided patients' loved ones and caregivers in pain management, wound care and medication dosing.
- Utilized effective interpersonal, writing and active listening skills to build and cultivate positive relationships with patients, caregivers and physicians.
- Created and applied tailored care plans that would meet each patient's individualized needs.
- Planned hospice care for elderly and disabled patients.
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
Primary Care Registered Nurse
Eskenazi Hospital
Indianapolis, IN
07.2017 - 11.2018
- Educated patients, caregivers and families on diagnoses, treatment options and disease prevention.
- Liaised between patients and doctors, completing comprehensive assessments and recording medical information to achieve recovery goals.
- Developed and maintained quality care systems and standards and implemented medical protocols and guidelines.
- Set up trays, supplies and sterile fields for office procedures.
- Reached out to patients to convey lab results and provide care instructions.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
- Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Progressive Care
St.Vincent Ascension
Carmel, IN
07.2016 - 07.2017
- Participated in bedside reporting and handoff at change of shift and for patient transfers.
- Assessed and prepared patients for procedures, performing initial and ongoing patient assessments.
- Monitored and managed various treatment and care interventions.
- Performed blood and blood product transfusions and intravenous infusions to address patient symptoms or underlying causes.
- Collected lab specimens, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and lab results.
- Monitored and recorded patient condition, vital signs, recovery progress and medication side effects.
- Oversaw patient admission and discharge processes to coordinate related paperwork.
- Assist with cardioversions and TEE'S at bedside
- Pulled venous and arterial sheaths
Education
BSN - undefined
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati04.2024
Associate of Science - Nursing
Mech-Tech College
Atlanta, GA03.2015
Skills
- Unit Administration (Experienced)
- Treatment Preparation (Expert)
- Feeding Tubes (Expert)
- Culturally Sensitive (Expert)
- Tracheostomy Care (Expert)
- Sheath Pulls (Experienced)
- STEMI/ Non Stemi (Experienced)
- Patient Monitoring (Expert)
- Wound Care (Experienced)
- Post Op (Expert)
- Colostomy Care (Expert)
- Laparoscopic Procedures (Experienced)
- Cardioversion Assistance (Experienced)
- Arterial Line Management (Experienced)
- Critical Drips (Experienced)
Languages
English
Timeline
Director of Nursing/RN Case Manager
Transitions Care Hospice
04.2025 - Current
Registered Nurse PCCU
Franciscan Health
05.2024 - 09.2025
Clinical Nurse Educator
American Senior Communities
05.2023 - 05.2024
Surgical Oncology Nurse/PCCU Nurse
St.Vincent Ascension
12.2020 - 06.2023
Assistant Director of Nursing
American Senior Communities
10.2019 - 12.2020
Hospice Nurse Case Manager
St.Vincent Hospice
01.2019 - 11.2019
Primary Care Registered Nurse
Eskenazi Hospital
07.2017 - 11.2018
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Progressive Care
St.Vincent Ascension
07.2016 - 07.2017
Charge Nurse PRN
Scion Health
05.2015 - 04.2025
BSN - undefined
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Associate of Science - Nursing
Mech-Tech College