Evelyn Cruz
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Compassionate and highly skilled Registered Nurse with over 40 years of experience providing exceptional patient care across diverse settings, including long-term care, medical-surgical units, and emergency departments. Experienced Nursing Supervisor with a proven ability to manage hospital staffing, ensure adequate supplies, and respond effectively to critical situations such as Code Blue and Code Red events. Dedicated to delivering high-quality care to veterans and diverse patient populations while fostering collaboration.
Compassionate registered nurse with background in emergency and critical care. Skilled in fast-paced environments, prioritizing patient needs and delivering high-quality care. Strong communication abilities ensure effective collaboration with healthcare teams. Improved patient satisfaction through attentive service and advocacy.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Primary Care Registered Nurse
Charlotte VA Outpatient Clinic
Charlotte, NC
01.2008 - 01.2018
- Directed daily operations of the outpatient clinic, ensuring smooth unit function and high-quality patient care.
- Oversaw patient staffing, scheduling, and workload distribution to maintain optimal coverage.
- Evaluated clinical competencies and conducted staff performance reviews to support professional growth.
- Administered medications and provided direct patient care as needed.
- Collaborated with physicians, nurses, and administrative staff to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses to treatments.
- Educated patients on health management and preventive care practices.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient services.
- Documented patient interactions and maintained accurate medical records.
- Assisted in triaging patients to prioritize care needs effectively.
- Conducted routine health screenings and vital sign assessments.
- Supported veterans by addressing their specific healthcare concerns and needs.
- Educated patients, caregivers and families on diagnoses, treatment options and disease prevention.
- Coordinated with other healthcare providers to ensure optimal continuity of patient care across settings.
- Responded promptly to emergency situations requiring immediate action or stabilization prior to transfer of patient for further treatment.
- Assessed psychosocial needs of patients and provided referrals as needed to community resources.
- Maintained accurate medical records through documentation of patient visits and treatments.
- Actively participated in case conferences with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives focusing on patient safety outcomes in primary care settings.
- Counseled patients on health promotion activities such as diet, exercise, stress management, disease prevention and immunizations.
- Educated patients on health maintenance issues related to lifestyle changes or medication use.
- Facilitated referrals for specialty consultations when indicated by clinical presentation or diagnostic test results.
- Maintained accurate medical records in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
- Attended continuing education programs to maintain current knowledge base in primary care nursing practices.
- Managed telephone calls from patients seeking guidance regarding their health concerns.
- Conducted follow up phone calls with discharged patients to assess post hospitalization recovery status.
- Liaised between patients and doctors, completing comprehensive assessments and recording medical information to achieve recovery goals.
- Served as a resource person for new staff members providing orientation and training on primary care protocols.
- Assisted physicians in the delivery of medical services by providing direct patient care under their supervision.
- Administered medications according to physician orders including injections and IV therapy.
- Reached out to patients to convey lab results and provide care instructions.
- Observed strict safety measures, including checking medication dosages before administration to patients.
- Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
- Interpreted and evaluated diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition.
- Prepared medical equipment and tools to aid physician during examination and treatment of patients.
- Stocked clinical workstations and procedure rooms with necessary supplies.
Registered Nurse / Nursing Supervisor
W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center
Salisbury, NC
01.1999 - 01.2008
- Delivered patient-centered care to a diverse veteran population across long-term care, medical-surgical, and emergency department units.
- Served as Nursing Supervisor for the entire hospital during second shift, overseeing staffing assignments and resolving operational issues.
- Responded to critical situations, including Code Blue and Code Red events, ensuring rapid, coordinated interventions.
- Monitored supply levels and coordinated distribution of essential resources across hospital units.
- Supported continuity of care by collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to meet patient needs effectively.
- Instructor - Patient Care Aligned Team: Traveled to multiple VA facilities to instruct staff on implementing the Patient Care Aligned Team concept, enhancing care quality and teamwork.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Winston-Salem State University
Associate Degree - Nursing
Central Piedmont Community College
Skills
- Patient Care & Assessment
- Emergency & Critical Care
- Nursing Supervision & Staff Management
- Clinical Competency Evaluation
- Medication Administration
- Patient-Centered Care for Veterans
- Long-Term Care & Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Supply Chain & Resource Management
- Computerized Patient Care Systems
- Staff Training & Instruction
- Effective Communication & Team Collaboration
Timeline
Primary Care Registered Nurse
Charlotte VA Outpatient Clinic
01.2008 - 01.2018
Registered Nurse / Nursing Supervisor
W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center
01.1999 - 01.2008
Master of Science - Nursing
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Winston-Salem State University
Associate Degree - Nursing
Central Piedmont Community College