Gina L. Dunn
TX
Summary
Customer Service: Strong interpersonal skills, able to present information effectively to both clinical and non-clinical audiences, as well as cultivate relationships with patients, family members, and other healthcare professionals, in support of collaborative, multi-disciplinary plans for continuity of care. Voluntarily serves in community capacities to include but not limited to Board of Directors positions and speaker/presenter at faith-based organization for health and wellness classes.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Nurse Practitioner
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
2022.02 - Current
- Highly qualified and passionate primary care provider, focusing on educating veterans on lifestyle solutions to chronic diseases in Primary Care setting
- Prescribed appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities to support health and comfort of patients.
- Ordered and interpreted diagnostic tests to develop and implement treatment plans.
- Assessed patients to determine individual needs and develop care plans in coordination with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.
- Performed comprehensive physical examinations and documented patient histories to gather information and identify health issues.
- Assess chronic disease, with emphasis on appropriately utilizing lifestyle and integrative solutions to addressing comorbid conditions
- Ongoing implementation the VA's “Whole Health (WH) approach”, the VA's cutting-edge approach to care that supports one's health and well-being
- Teach, coach and empower veterans to improve their health through proper nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress reduction and other lifestyle modalities
- Render direct patient care through a daily patient schedule of face-to-face, telephone, and video-connect visits, for a variety of health conditions including but not limited to well-annual exams, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, chronic renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression
- This fosters a collaborative relationship with the patients and a team environment in the clinic which optimizes the care for the veterans
- CUSTOMER SERVICE: Operates daily with the goal of providing the highest quality of care to patients on a long-term basis and in compliance with the VA's Preventive Health Index and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Primary Care Services
- Strong interpersonal skills, able to present information effectively to both clinical and non-clinical audiences, as well as cultivate relationships with patients, family members, and other healthcare professionals, in support of collaborative, multi-disciplinary plans for continuity of care
- Voluntarily serve in community capacities to include but not limited to Board of Directors positions and speaker/presenter at faith-based organization for health and wellness classes
- COST EFFECTIVENESS, BENEFIT AND SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT: Continue to be instrumental in the current COVID-19 Pandemic, in assisting with vaccine administration of COVID -19 immunizations to veterans as well as coordinating safe practices and education
- Educate veterans and families about the COVID-19 virus and the importance of becoming vaccinated
- Explained risks due to comorbid and environmental conditions
Education Faculty
OPCC&CT, St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital
2023.02 - Current
- Assist in advancing Whole Health Education throughout the VA Health care system by focusing on teaching and collaboration with Network Sponsors
- Assist to ensure integration of WH Education into the overall VISN WH System Strategic Plan.
- Act as course faculty across the VISN responsible for delivering WH Education at the network level – WH clinical, coaching, Pathway courses, and newer specialized trainings.
- Regularly partner with additional key positions within the VISN, such as the Designated Learning Officer, to ensure alignment of educational efforts.
- As needed, develop WH educational programming in collaboration with other members of the VISN WH Education Team.
- As needed, organize and facilitate train-the-trainer initiatives to assist with bringing on new Whole Health educators and support current educators within the VISN.
- As needed, provide mentoring to Local Education Champions (LoECs) on course content development and teaching/facilitation skills.
- As needed, provide mentoring and continuing education for non-clinical roles (WH Coaches, WH Partners, and facilitators of Veteran peer groups) to ensure the fidelity of the WH System.
- As needed, assist OPCC&CT with other national Whole Health education initiatives within the VISN (Whole Health Clinical Care, Coaching, and Pathway courses).
- Actively attend/participate in all OPCC&CT faculty development training and support activities.
Nurse Practitioner
Whole Health Integrator Champion, OPCC&CT
2022.02 - Current
- Provide ongoing education of Whole Health as VA's cutting-edge approach to care that supports veteran's health and well-being to all Primary Care operations at the facility level
- Provide continued dialogue with staff to utilize with veterans in discussing their mission, aspiration and purpose
- Encourage Whole Health referrals by Primary Care staff to veterans
- Assist to integrate a variety of VA technology applications to be utilized in providing CIH (Complementary Integrative Health) modalities to include but not limited to Touch, meditation, calmness, mindfulness, meditation and yoga
- Continued participation in monthly Whole Health Integrator meetings and collaborative efforts
Post-Nurse Practitioner Fellowship-Primary Care
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
2021.08 - 2022.02
- Highly qualified and passionate about educating veterans on lifestyle solutions to chronic diseases
- Observed and shadowed senior Nurse Practitioners; continued to implement the VA's “Whole Health approach” which is a cutting-edge approach to care that supports the veterans' health and well-being
- Taught, coached and empowered veterans to improve their health through proper nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress reduction and other lifestyle modalities
- Demonstrated proficiency in incorporating whole health principles into my primary care practice to included but not limited to Healing Touch, meditation, calmness, relaxation, and yoga
- Continued as Whole Health Integrator for Primary Care
- Assessed and recognize appropriate resources for veterans, families / caregivers, employees and / or colleagues when a need was identified
- Drafted proposal for continuation of Quality Improvement Project (QIP) aimed at increasing veteran engagement into Whole Health department
- Proposal was submitted 09/2021 for Health and Wellness posters to be purchased at discount prices from publisher and I sought to secure funding for distribution of these educational materials to be displayed in the Primary Care patient areas
- Funding is not available at this time
- credentialing process in progress
- Advised patients of no cure for COVID-19 at this time; however, the vaccine could help prevent and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19.
Nurse Practitioner Fellow
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
2020.08 - 2021.08
- Focus on assessing chronic disease, with emphasis on appropriately utilizing lifestyle and integrative solutions to addressing comorbid conditions
- Prescribed appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities to support health and comfort of patients.
- Ordered and interpreted diagnostic tests to develop and implement treatment plans.
- Performed comprehensive physical examinations and documented patient histories to gather information and identify health issues.
- Coordinated with physicians, specialists, and other medical staff to develop treatment plans for chronic conditions.
- Presenter for Nursing and Allied Health Research Symposium 2020, St Louis VA Healthcare System – presented DMP project
- Successful completion of Quality Improvement (QI) Project to improve Whole Health Engagement of Veterans in an identified Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT)
- Improvement in veteran engagement was noted, proposal to continue project currently being considered
- Received certificate of completion of Fellowship on 08/2021.
Registered Nurse Care Manager
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
2013.12 - 2020.08
- Assessed patients in home setting, accurately evaluated and made appropriate recommendations for treatment
- Collaboratively reviewed and determined plan of care with multidisciplinary team in order to manage and coordinate care with other team members to include social worker, provider, pharmacist, occupational or physical therapist, dietician, psychologist and chaplain
- Provided recommendations for treatment of chronic conditions, while providing comprehensive care, including health promotion and disease prevention, management of acute and chronic medical conditions, and pharmacological management
- Made appropriate recommendations to specialty care and other ancillary services
- Assisted with the management of medication reconciliation, medication refills and properly refilling current daily medication planners
- WHOLE HEALTH INTEGRATION / INTEGRATIVE HEALTH / PREVENTIVE CARE: Routinely provided education, as well as tangible whole health modalities to veterans in their home when appropriate and veteran was agreeable
- Provided direct information to veterans and families regarding Nigra Yoga which helps relieve stress and assist soldiers who are recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder
- Provided information and practice of, to include, healing touch, meditation via VA approved technology applications, “wellvets” website, and nutrition for improved dietary habits as well as occasional demonstration of recipe preparation
- CUSTOMER SERVICE: Coordinated between private and VA providers for veterans and their families to ensure continuity of care
- Provided telephone triage and screening of patient / family issues, providing access to the most appropriate treatment / intervention
- Coordinated with hospital departments to ensure that the veteran needs were being adequately met
- Mentored new Home Base Primary Care Registered Nurse (RN) Care Managers
- Developed and implemented policies, protocols and guidelines for Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) case management practice
- Facilitated QI Project in HBPC as result of attending Green Belt training
- This resulted in greater uniformity for all 6 teams in HBPC having improved weekly Interdisciplinary Team Meetings and ultimately improved patient care.
Director, Health Care Home Program
Amanda Luckett, Murphy Hopewell Center
2012.01 - 2013.12
- ASSESS, DIAGNOSE, PLAN AND IMPLEMENT CARE/ANALYZE/SECURE ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES / PREVENTIVE CARE: Provided direct oversight of out-patient medical care for individuals with chronic mental health conditions at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) in Healthcare Home setting
- Provided additional oversight for integrating physical and behavioral health, prevention and wellness through quality assurance and process improvement
- Managed daily operations of Healthcare Home (HCH) to include enrollment, discharges and transfers, as well as completion and submission of monthly reports to the state of Missouri
- Directed operation of assisting individuals in accessing needed health care services and supports while learning to manage and improve their health conditions with proper monitoring and intervention
- Facilitated promotion of wellness, healthy lifestyles and prevention as relates to chronic conditions to include tobacco cessation, nutrition, disease prevention and medication adherence in part using state required Disease Management Tools and Metabolic Syndrome Screening Tools.
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) -
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona12.2019
MSN -
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota08.2008
BSN -
State University of New York
05.1982
No Degree - Integrative Medicine
Andrew Weil Center For Integrative Medicine
09.2021
No Degree -
Whole Health Coaching
04.2019
Skills
- Decision-Making
- Friendly, Positive Attitude
- Coaching with priority on Health/Wellness
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Attention to Detail
- Teamwork and Collaboration
Accomplishments
- Dissertation Topic: “Improving Primary Care Providers' Knowledge and Intent to Recommend Whole Food Plant-Based Nutrition for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease”
- The Committee Chair – Lorraine Martin-Plank, Clinical Professor, Member of the Graduate Faculty of University of Arizona, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certified (FNP-BC), Nurse Practitioner Certified (NP-C), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Board Certification (GNP-BC), Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP), Forum of Nurses in Advanced Practice (FNAP) stated that Whole food plant-based nutrition has been found to improve cardiovascular disease
- This project assessed the impact of briefly educating primary care providers on this form of nutrition and evaluating their possibility of doing so
- National Registry of Myocardial Infarction Coordinator, Guam Memorial Hospital, Guam, 1993
Certification
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Board Certified Nurse Practitioner - Family Nurse Practitioner, 01/2020
- American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional (DipACLM), 11/2020
- Family Nurse Practitioner, State of Missouri, 04/2020
- Family Nurse Practitioner, State of Iowa, 03/2020 Registered Nurse (RN), State of Missouri, 06/2000,
- St Louis Nurses in Advanced Practice (StLNAP), 08/2020
- Healing Touch St Louis, 06/2018
Affiliations
- American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), 05/2018
- American Nurses Association (ANA), 02/2016
- National Black Nurse Practitioner Association (NBNPA), 05/2020
- Board of Directors, Healing Touch St Louis, 2021 to Present Member,
- Board of Directors, St. Louis Plant-Centered Living, 2020 to Present Member,
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Delta Nu Omega Chapter, 2021 to present
REFERENCES
Available upon request.
Timeline
Education Faculty
OPCC&CT, St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital
2023.02 - Current
Nurse Practitioner
Whole Health Integrator Champion, OPCC&CT
2022.02 - Current
Nurse Practitioner
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
2022.02 - Current
Post-Nurse Practitioner Fellowship-Primary Care
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
2021.08 - 2022.02
Nurse Practitioner Fellow
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
2020.08 - 2021.08
Registered Nurse Care Manager
St. Louis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
2013.12 - 2020.08
Director, Health Care Home Program
Amanda Luckett, Murphy Hopewell Center
2012.01 - 2013.12
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) -
University of Arizona
MSN -
Walden University
BSN -
State University of New York
No Degree - Integrative Medicine
Andrew Weil Center For Integrative Medicine
No Degree -
Whole Health Coaching
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Board Certified Nurse Practitioner - Family Nurse Practitioner, 01/2020
- American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional (DipACLM), 11/2020
- Family Nurse Practitioner, State of Missouri, 04/2020
- Family Nurse Practitioner, State of Iowa, 03/2020 Registered Nurse (RN), State of Missouri, 06/2000,
- St Louis Nurses in Advanced Practice (StLNAP), 08/2020
- Healing Touch St Louis, 06/2018
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