Erin Zilka
Registered Nurse
San Diego,CA
Summary
Master's prepared Registered Nurse with extensive experience in Medical ICU, Emergency Paramedicine, and Operating Room Nursing. Skilled in implementing evidence-based practices, providing clinical education, and driving quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient outcomes. Proven track record in mentoring staff, developing training programs, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to enhance clinical effectiveness. Seeking a role that leverages leadership abilities, critical care expertise, and nursing education skills to foster professional development and drive improved patient care.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Certifications
Work History
Operating Room Nurse
Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns
01.2023 - Current
- Provide highly specialized intraoperative care, ensuring adherence to sterile techniques, infection control, and surgical protocols.
- Staff leader in the education and training on evidence-based perioperative practices in regards to emergencies in the OR including hands-on code blue training.
- Collaborated with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and operative teams to improve patient safety, workflow efficiency, and procedural outcomes.
Intensive Care Nurse
Sharp Memorial Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit
11.2017 - 01.2023
- Provided high-acuity critical care for patients with multi-organ failure, respiratory distress, and cardiovascular instability.
- Clinical resource, preceptor, and code blue response member ensuring adherence to evidence-based protocols and practices.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to optimize care pathways, patient outcomes, and policy updates.
- Delivered comprehensive clinical nursing education on complex concepts to diverse audiences, effectively communication in high-pressure, emotionally charged environments.
RN Skills Lab Instructor
University of San Diego
01.2021 - 05.2021
- Instructing over 30 master's prepared nursing students through aiding in the development of essential nursing skills.
- Assessing competency in medication administration, sterile technique, wound care, and head-to-toe patient assessment.
- Educating and facilitating up to 20 faculty and staff in obtaining their BLS provider certification through AHA.
BLS CPR Instructor
Express Training Solutions
01.2015 - 07.2015
- Lectured and gave hands-on instruction to10 to 20 students per class seeking certification with the American Heart Association.
- Taught adult, child, and infant CPR; provided AED and choking training.
Paramedic Instructor
National College of Technical Instruction (NCTI)
01.2013 - 07.2015
- Mentoring, precepting, instructing, and evaluating 30 to 40 paramedic students in the didactic phase of learning.
- Developing competency-based training for critical care protocols, emergency response, and advanced paramedic interventions.
- Assess mastery through scenario-based-testing, skills evaluation, and situational leadership communication.
Paramedic
American Medical Response
03.2012 - 07.2015
- Provided pre-hospital emergency care and inter-facility critical care transport as the highest level of care in high-pressure environments stabilizing patients.
- Worked alongside ED, ICU, and trauma teams to ensure seamless patient transitions from prehospital care to in-hospital management.
- Managed advanced airway procedures, cardiac resuscitation, trauma stabilization, and medication administration in accordance to evidence-based emergency protocols.
EMT
Pacific Ambulance
06.2009 - 03.2012
- Performing basic patient assessment, obtaining and interpreting vital signs, manage care during transports from various locations.
- Collaborating with critical care transport nurses in providing care to critically ill patients requiring ground transport.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leadership
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA 08.2015 - 01.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Health and Human Services, Community Mental Health
University At Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 08.2005 - 01.2009
Skills
Critical care nursing
Health education
Verbal and written communication
Teamwork and collaboration
Quality improvement
Clinical assessments
Certification
Registered Nurse, California
Timeline
Operating Room Nurse
Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns
01.2023 - Current
RN Skills Lab Instructor
University of San Diego
01.2021 - 05.2021
Intensive Care Nurse
Sharp Memorial Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit
11.2017 - 01.2023
Master of Science - Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leadership
University of San Diego
08.2015 - 01.2017
BLS CPR Instructor
Express Training Solutions
01.2015 - 07.2015
Paramedic Instructor
National College of Technical Instruction (NCTI)
01.2013 - 07.2015
Paramedic
American Medical Response
03.2012 - 07.2015
EMT
Pacific Ambulance
06.2009 - 03.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Health and Human Services, Community Mental Health
University At Buffalo
08.2005 - 01.2009
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