Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Timeline
RegisteredNurse

Gayle Stearns

Carbondale,IL

Summary

Compassionate Registered Nurse with expertise in medication administration and patient advocacy, recognized for implementing evidence-based fall prevention strategies that significantly reduced patient falls at Recover Us Centers. Adept at fostering patient satisfaction through holistic care and strong clinical judgment, ensuring optimal recovery outcomes in diverse healthcare settings.

Experienced healthcare professional skilled in patient care, critical thinking, and communication. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving optimal patient outcomes. Reliable and adaptable, ensuring efficient and compassionate care in dynamic environments. Equipped with expertise in medical procedures, patient assessments, and care coordination.

Healthcare professional with strong background in patient care and medical support. Known for collaborative work with medical teams to deliver high-quality care and adapt to evolving patient needs. Expertise in patient assessment and medication administration, along with compassionate care and reliability.

Experienced with patient care, critical thinking, and effective communication. Utilizes medical knowledge to support patient recovery and manage complex conditions. Strong understanding of healthcare protocols and compassionate care delivery.

Compassionate Registered Nurse with experience offering comprehensive patient care in outpatient environments. Works well with diverse patient populations and fosters trusting relationships to improve outcomes. Efficiently coordinate with healthcare professionals to advance patient care.

Seasoned nursing professional offering proven clinical knowledge, natural interpersonal strengths and technical abilities. Knowledgeable about EMR charting, medication administration and interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and support. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader.

Overview

42
42
years of professional experience

Work History

Registered Nurse

Recover Us Centers
10.2023 - Current
  • Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
  • Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
  • Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
  • Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
  • Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
  • Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
  • Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
  • Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the unit.
  • Streamlined medication administration processes for increased safety and accuracy during busy shifts.
  • Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
  • Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
  • Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
  • Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
  • Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
  • Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
  • Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
  • Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
  • Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
  • Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
  • Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
  • Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.

Registered Nurse

Memorial Hospital of Carbondale
06.1983 - 06.2023
  • Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
  • Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
  • Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
  • Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
  • Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
  • Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
  • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
  • Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
  • Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
  • Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
  • Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in nursing care and emerging trends in healthcare delivery.
  • Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
  • Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
  • Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
  • Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the unit.
  • Demonstrated expertise in wound management techniques resulting in accelerated healing times for patients with complex wounds or pressure injuries.
  • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex cases.
  • Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
  • Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
  • Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
  • Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
  • Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
  • Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
  • Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
  • Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
  • Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
  • Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
  • Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
  • Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.
  • Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
  • Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
  • Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
  • Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
  • Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
  • Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
  • Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
  • Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
  • Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
  • Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions.
  • Sustained quality standards by performing routine medication audits and upholding internal and industry best practices.
  • Reported findings to quality departments after conducting routine restraint audits and worked with team to devise corrective actions for deficiencies.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

SIU Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
09-1979

Skills

  • Medication and IV administration
  • Medication administration
  • Direct patient care
  • Patient assessments
  • Documentation and charting
  • Patient assessment
  • Strong clinical judgment
  • Patient education and counseling
  • Clinical judgment
  • Patient and family advocacy
  • Infection control measures
  • Patient care
  • Wound care
  • Compassion and empathy
  • Patient monitoring
  • IV setup
  • Intravenous therapy
  • Care planning
  • Patient management
  • Care plan development
  • Professional bedside manner
  • Physical assessments
  • Patient care planning
  • Patient evaluation
  • Telemetry monitoring
  • Licensed RN
  • Taking vitals
  • Critical care
  • Collecting vitals
  • Nursing staff leadership
  • Medication distribution
  • Tracheostomy care
  • Precepting
  • Patient discharge
  • Lab result interpretation
  • Team coordination
  • EMR systems
  • Performing ekgs
  • Complex Problem-solving
  • Proper catheter insertion/removal
  • Intake and discharge
  • Emergency response
  • Maintaining privacy
  • Relationship building
  • Chart updating
  • Vaccine administration
  • Diabetes management
  • Insulin medication assistance
  • EMR / EHR
  • High level of autonomy
  • Procedure preparations
  • Chronic disease management
  • Medical assessment
  • ADL assistance
  • Patient counseling
  • Staff supervision
  • Personal care needs
  • Patient relations
  • Diabetes and nutrition education
  • Chest pain management
  • Emergency procedures
  • Treatment Planning
  • Emotional awareness
  • Data collection
  • HIPAA education
  • Emergency care
  • Administering immunizations
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Cardiac care
  • Acute care expertise
  • Medical recordkeeping
  • Hospice and palliative care
  • Long-term care
  • Geriatric nursing
  • Oxygen saturation standards
  • Mobility assistance
  • Removing sutures
  • Palliative care awareness
  • Managing deadlines
  • Preventive health
  • Family advocacy
  • Seizure management
  • Feeding assistance
  • At-risk patient care
  • Medical evaluation=
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Accomplishments

Wrote the current Pacemaker class used to train nurses at SIH on all types of pacemakers.

Taught multiple classes related to critical care for SIH

Served on several Kaizans and committees related to policies and processes

Helped write the original Sepsis orders set, End of Life order set and several policies.

Was relief House Supervisor for about 5 years, served as a

Charge Nurse, Shift Supervisor, Preceptor and Staff nurse in the ICU over my 40 years at MHC ICU.

Affiliations

  • First United Methodist Church
  • Eagles Auxillary of Carbondale

Timeline

Registered Nurse

Recover Us Centers
10.2023 - Current

Registered Nurse

Memorial Hospital of Carbondale
06.1983 - 06.2023

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

SIU Edwardsville
Gayle Stearns