HEATHER FRONTERA
Palm Bay,FL
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) with progressive career history in direct patient care, triage and care coordination in fast-paced environment. Proven to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle difficult patients and high-stress situations. Consistently developing strong relationships with patients and families through empathetic communication, respectful attitude and excellent customer service.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse Clinical Charge Nurse ICU
Health First Palm Bay Hospital
10.2022 - Current
- Coordinated nursing care on unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring patient orders, and communicating with ancillary departments.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care.
- Championed a positive work culture by recognizing exemplary performance from team members and addressing conflicts promptly when they arose.
- Mentored and supervised junior nurses, fostering a supportive and professional work environment.
Registered Nurse Case Manager
Sebastian River Medical Center
03.2023 - 08.2023
- Case load consisted of 20-25 patients
- Responsible for identifying barriers to discharge; implementing safe and responsible discharge to home, hospice or SNF; educating patients & family on community resources; and arranging home medical equipment and supplies
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Streamlined care coordination processes to reduce hospital readmissions and emergency department visits.
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC Medical Intensive Care Unit
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Preceptor & New Associate Orientation Role
- 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.
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Sebastian River Medical Center
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Relief Charge Nurse
- PICC team experience
- Assisted physicians with bedside procedures, ensuring accurate treatment administration and timely patient recovery.
- Handled ventilator support, feeding tubes and central lines.
- Demonstrated advanced critical thinking skills while managing complex clinical situations involving multiple organ systems failures in critically ill patients.
- Reduced patient complications by promptly identifying changes in condition and initiating appropriate interventions.
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Health Trust Travel Position
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Excellent ability to mentor newer nurses and educate patients and their families
- Supportive and nurturing preceptor skills in fast-paced environments
- Exceptional customer service skills with patient and family
- Highly motivated to educate patient and caregivers about the disease process and disease management
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Demonstrated strong clinical reasoning skills when assessing patients'' conditions, initiating appropriate interventions, and escalating concerns to physicians as needed.
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Health First HRMC
01.2008 - 01.2015
- Newborn, Pediatric and Adult Care Emergency Nursing
- Demonstrated strong clinical reasoning skills when assessing patients'' conditions, initiating appropriate interventions, and escalating concerns to physicians as needed.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Improved patient outcomes by consistently providing high-quality emergency care and implementing evidence-based nursing practices.
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Worked in step down Stroke Unit
Registered Nurse
Associated Home Health Care
01.2005 - 01.2008
- In charge of developing and overseeing a safe and responsible plan of care for a caseload of 25-30 patients in the home setting
- Responsible for supervision of LPNs & CNAs, OASIS admissions, discharges, recertifications, initiating IV therapy & maintenance, obtaining lab work, medication & disease process teaching as ordered by the physician
Registered Nurse
Mederi Home Health Care
01.2003 - 01.2005
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC
01.2001 - 01.2003
- Dedicated Charge Nurse in Holding Observation Unit
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Neuroscience Telemetry
Education
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
Eastern Florida State College
11-2025
Associate Degree - Nursing
Eastern Florida State College
01.1999
Skills
- Compassionate care
- Communication skills
- Active listening
- Service orientation
- Critical thinking
- Emergency care skills
- Mentoring
- Patient education
- Preceptor skills
- Customer service
- Patient and caregiver education
Certification
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- NIHSS
Affiliations
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Timeline
Registered Nurse Case Manager
Sebastian River Medical Center
03.2023 - 08.2023
Registered Nurse Clinical Charge Nurse ICU
Health First Palm Bay Hospital
10.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC Medical Intensive Care Unit
01.2021 - 01.2023
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Sebastian River Medical Center
01.2017 - 01.2021
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Health Trust Travel Position
01.2015 - 01.2017
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Health First HRMC
01.2008 - 01.2015
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC
01.2006 - 01.2008
Registered Nurse
Associated Home Health Care
01.2005 - 01.2008
Registered Nurse
Mederi Home Health Care
01.2003 - 01.2005
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC
01.2001 - 01.2003
Registered Nurse
Health First HRMC
01.1999 - 01.2001
Associate Degree - Nursing
Eastern Florida State College
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
Eastern Florida State College