Gretchen Engel
Toano,VA
Summary
I am an organized and knowledgeable Registered Nurse. I have 39 years of nursing experience behind me. 31 of those years were spent working at the Riverside Transfer Ctr / Riverside Nurse Line, where I performed many roles with the department. In the years prior to holding this position, I worked in several areas of nursing including med/surg, the Operating Room, & Psych. I excel at communication, teamwork, and ensuring optimal patient outcomes.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse, Transfer Ctr / Triage Nurse Line
Riverside Regional Medical Center
Newport News, VA
10.1992 - 12.2023
- Coordinated & facilitated patient transfers from lower to higher level of care facilities, via computer & telephone technology.
- Managed nurse triage phone calls by providing appropriate medical advice or referring callers to their primary care provider/specialist, urgent care facilities, or local emergency rooms.
- Assisted in contacting patients, via telephone, who were recently discharged from hospitals within the Riverside Health System, to ascertain their needs were being met at home.
- Aided in the Patient Flow process within hospitals of Riverside Health System by monitoring the Bed Board. This role required management of daily admissions, discharges, and transfers to ensure proper bed utilization.
- Helped with Quality Assurance Monitoring of medical staff in the department, making sure they were adhering to established protocols and procedures related to patient safety and quality assurance.
- Assisted as needed in preparation of the office staffing schedules.
- Aided in the training of new nurses in the department
Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psych, Supervisor
Greenleaf Center of Jonesboro
Jonesboro, AR
12.1990 - 05.1992
- Nurse Supervisor, Night Shift, for free standing mental health facility.
- Provided nursing care to patients with mental health disorders.
- Administered medications according to physician orders and hospital policy.
- Provided emotional support for patients during difficult times of adjustment or distress.
- Maintained accurate records of treatments, assessments, medications, laboratory results and any other pertinent information related to patient care.
Registered Nurse, Operating Room
Methodist Hospital of Jonesboro
Jonesboro, AR
03.1990 - 12.1990
- Performed as Circulating Nurse in the OR
- Prepared OR suites for upcoming surgeries by gathering necessary supplies and instruments according to protocol guidelines.
- Performed surgical site preps, sterile techniques, surgical counts, required OR paperwork. Assisted with transporting patients into the OR & then to PACU post surgery.
- Assisted in maintaining a safe environment in the operating room at all times.
- Responded quickly and effectively to any emergency situations that arose during surgery.
Registered Nurse, Operating Room
St Bernard's Regional Medical Center
Jonesboro, AR
06.1987 - 06.1988
- Circulator in the OR
- Prepared OR suites for upcoming surgeries by gathering necessary supplies and instruments according to protocol guidelines.
- Assisted in maintaining a safe environment in the operating room at all times.
- Performed surgical site preps, sterile techniques, surgical counts, & completed required OR paperwork. Assisted with the transporting of patients to the OR suite & then to PACU post op.
- Responded quickly and effectively to any emergency situations that arose during surgery.
Registered Nurse, One Day Surgery Center
Riverside Regional Medical Center
Newport News, VA
1993 - 1996
- Worked in the Pre-Assessment area. Interviewed patients in the days prior to their surgeries to review chronic health conditions and medications. Helped identify any health concerns that needed to be addressed, before the day of surgery.
- Worked in the Pre-op area. Conducted pre-op care & preparation of patients prior to their surgery or procedure. Initiated IV access, administered pre-op meds, & assured all appropriate paperwork was completed.
- Worked in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Assessed patients' post-operative physical condition, including vital signs and oxygen saturation levels. Developed individualized discharge instructions for each patient based on their diagnosis. Instructed family members on post-operative care techniques at home.
Registered Nurse, Staff Nurse, Med/Surg
St Bernard's Regional Medical Center
Jonesboro, AR
09.1986 - 06.1987
- Administered prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques.
- Performed vital signs monitoring for early identification of changes in patient condition or response to treatment plan.
- Prioritized workloads according to urgency levels ensuring timely completion of assignments.
- Adhered to hospital policies and procedures while providing quality patient centered care.
Registered Nurse, Charge Nurse, Med/Surg
Osceola Memorial Hospital
Osceola, AR
06.1985 - 09.1986
- Supervised nursing staff to ensure quality patient care.
- Assessed staffing levels according to acuity of patients' conditions.
- Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Participated in performance improvement activities related to quality assurance initiatives.
- Prioritized workloads according to urgency levels ensuring timely completion of assignments.
- Administered prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques.
- Adhered to hospital policies and procedures while providing quality patient centered care.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Arkansas State University
State University, AR05-1985
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts And General Studies
Mississippi County Community College
Blytheville AR05-1983
Skills
- Nurse Telephone Triage
- Patient Transfer Facilitation
- Bed Board Management
- QA Monitoring
- Training of Staff
- Computer & Telephone Operational Skills
Certification
- Certified Epic Trainer
Timeline
Registered Nurse, Transfer Ctr / Triage Nurse Line
Riverside Regional Medical Center
10.1992 - 12.2023
Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psych, Supervisor
Greenleaf Center of Jonesboro
12.1990 - 05.1992
Registered Nurse, Operating Room
Methodist Hospital of Jonesboro
03.1990 - 12.1990
Registered Nurse, Operating Room
St Bernard's Regional Medical Center
06.1987 - 06.1988
Registered Nurse, Staff Nurse, Med/Surg
St Bernard's Regional Medical Center
09.1986 - 06.1987
Registered Nurse, Charge Nurse, Med/Surg
Osceola Memorial Hospital
06.1985 - 09.1986
Registered Nurse, One Day Surgery Center
Riverside Regional Medical Center
1993 - 1996
Associate of Science - Nursing
Arkansas State University
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts And General Studies
Mississippi County Community College
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