Heather Estey

-Night Shift Charge for Inpatient Adult Psychiatric Unit.

-Provided oversight to a team of psych techs and nurses to ensure safety of patients, admit new patients, provide medications, update care plans, manage psychiatric emergencies and medical emergencies, train new staff, manage issues to avoid psych emergencies, and coordinate care with other departments.

-Supervised staff of assigned unit to ensure compliance with patient care standards and hospital protocols on night shift at Riverview Hospital during COVID outbreak.

-Floated to any floor as assigned.

-Managed psychiatric patients to avoid psychiatric emergencies, oversaw management of patients during psychiatric emergencies.

• Supervised psych techs and nurses as well as frequent student nurses in patient care of 18 patients. Managed unit to ensure care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols were adhered to in order to optimize performance, quality care, and safety.
• Documented using Cerner in EMR, assisted coworkers by becoming "Super User".
• Coordinated patient admission, discharge, and transfer processes to optimize workflow efficiency.
• Delegated care and oversaw psychiatric and medical emergencies.

• Assisted teacher with classroom management and documentation of daily progress for classroom of 7 to 10 adults with cognitive delays as well as significant medical conditions including cerebral palsy, genetic conditions, and autism spectrum conditions. Contributed to quarterly reporting on progress toward goals of individualized plans. Maintained positive learning environment.
• Collaborated with Classroom Teacher with curriculum planning efforts. Prepared lessons and taught these with teacher oversight.
• Performed medical treatments and monitoring duties such as oral medications, tube feedings, hygiene and toileting using lifts and mats for wheelchair bound students, and physical therapy for each classroom assigned. Oversaw medical issues that arose unexpectedly throughout entire facility of 9 classrooms.
• Pursued professional development opportunities to cultivate further understanding of adaptations required by students who used alternative methods of communication and locomotion, such as computer generated speech and/or wheelchairs operated by eye gaze.

• Provided skilled nursing care to home health and hospice patients of all ages, including physical assessments and high-tech home care, medication and chronic disease management, and instruction to caregivers in infusions, pain and diabetes management, and wound and ostomy care.
• Met or exceeded productivity and quality standards.
• Managed care with attention to insurance reimbursement. Utilized Medicare OASIS system for reporting patient condition and acuity updates.
• Mastered transition from paper charting to use of EMR.
• Trained, guided, supported and supervised home health aide care providers.
• Supervisor of nurses and HHA's for CHCS 3/8/99 to 5/20/99
• Home Health Nurse for CHCS 12/16/96 to 3/13/98

• Accurately documented medical dictation by doctors in PA and NY to record patient notes while working remotely from home here in Maine.
• Followed approved formats for individual providers in radiology, pediatric hematology, as well as orthopedics.
• Referred to variety of medical sources to prevent mistakes in medical terms.
• Followed all HIPAA rules and regulations regarding patient confidentiality.
• Increased typing speed to 100+ words per minute.

• Implemented quality patient care techniques to align with safety, health, organizational and insurance regulations in SNF and Rehabilitation setting.
• Maximized team performance by monitoring nursing care, including patient assessment processes and treatment implementations of nurses, CRMA's, and CNA's.
• As evening charge nurse, oversaw daily care for 30 Rehab patients from 3-7 and 60 SNF and Rehab patients from 7-11. Utilized resources such as agencies to acquire additional staff for call-outs and no-shows. Managed physical plant emergencies such as ice or water damage until necessary fixes could be obtained.

• Directed patient care activities of 36-bed Rehab and SNF unit. Provided guidance to nurses and CNA's during shift while delegating assignments, providing treatment to assigned patients, and documenting care. Learned Pyxis system initially at this facility for medication dispensing.

Also worked for this Home Health Agency 5/91-9/91

• Provided care to home health patients, including physical assessments, treatments including high-tech and wound management, and chronic and acute disease management, as well as Hospice.
• Managed plan of care by working with multidisciplinary team as well as vendors of medical supplies and equipment.
• Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
• Developed comprehensive understanding of Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and Private Insurance requirements for home care and hospice patients to ensure compliance and best outcomes for patient while providing cost-effective care.

• Provided skilled nursing care to caseload of home health patients, including physical assessments, high-tech care such as infusions and wound management, and chronic disease management. Saw between 5 to 10 patients per day depending on agency and patient needs.
• Oversaw management of patient caseload, collaborating with multi-disciplinary care team as well as medical equipment vendors.
• Managed patient care with thorough knowledge of insurance reimbursement criteria.

• Provided high level of individualized care to adult patients across multiple medical specialties, including pre-and post-op care as well as acute and chronic illness.
• Educated patients and families on illnesses, medications, wound care, and discharge plans, and documented same.
• Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.