Heather Higgins
Lexington,VA
Summary
Caring, hardworking, and service-oriented Registered Nurse with 11 years of experience. Well-versed in offering evidence-based, therapeutic care. A collaborative and motivational leader with expertise in training new nursing staff while providing top-notch service to patient populations.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse, CTL
Carilion Home Care
Lexington, VA
11.2022 - Current
- Adhered to infection control procedures to facilitate safe, clean patient environment.
- Created, implemented and evaluated patient care plans with medical team.
- Collaborated with doctors to plan post-treatment home care and prevent return hospitalization.
- Monitored and managed various treatment and care interventions.
- Monitored patients after surgery, answered questions and provided home care strategies.
- Maintained thorough, accurate and confidential documentation in electronic medical records.
- Advocated for patients by supporting and respecting basic rights, values and beliefs.
- Acted as patient advocate and implemented total patient care through team nursing process.
Registered Nurse, Home Health Care
Carilion Home Care
Lexington, VA
06.2017 - 11.2022
- Adhered to infection control procedures to facilitate safe, clean patient environment.
- Administered medications and treatments, monitoring patients for reactions and side effects.
- Created, implemented and evaluated patient care plans with medical team.
- Trained and mentored new RNs on best practices, hospital policies and standards of care.
- Counseled patients and caregivers, providing emotional, psychological and spiritual support.
- Monitored patients after surgery, answered questions and provided home care strategies.
- Collected lab specimens, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and lab results.
- Maintained thorough, accurate and confidential documentation in electronic medical records.
- Conducted intake assessments with patients and relatives to gather case history.
- Advocated for patients by supporting and respecting basic rights, values and beliefs.
- Updated charts throughout shifts with current, accurate information to maintain strict recordkeeping standards.
- Evaluated patients, recognized and addressed complications and coordinated treatment with other members of critical care team.
- Monitored and managed various treatment and care interventions.
- Recorded patient condition, vital signs, recovery progress and medication side effects.
- Acted as patient advocate and implemented total patient care through team nursing process.
- Oversaw patient admission and discharge processes to coordinate related paperwork.
- Maintained personal and team compliance with medication administration standards and patient care best practices.
- Provided patient and family health education focusing on self-management, prevention and wellness.
- Collaborated with doctors to plan post-treatment home care and prevent return hospitalization.
Registered Nurse, Home Health Care
Kindred at Home
Union, SC
06.2015 - 06.2017
- Charted changes in patient conditions and discussed concerns with supervising healthcare provider.
- Administered prescribed medications and started intravenous fluids to address patient symptoms and underlying etiologies.
- Supported patients with activities of daily living and functional mobility to improve comfort and quality of life and reduce pain.
- Answered patient calls, identified issues and determined how best to provide assistance within parameters established by facility and supervisor.
- Completed initial assessments of patients and family to determine and address individual home care needs.
- Addressed patient care needs, collected vitals, dressed wounds and managed catheters.
- Participated in on-call rotations and delivered after-hours care.
- Collected biological samples for routine laboratory testing to assist diagnostic processes.
- Conducted regular re-evaluations to address changes in needs and conditions, and introduced revisions to care plans.
- Assisted with client personal care needs to foster independence and well-being.
- Coordinated with healthcare team to establish, enact and evaluate patient care plans.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
- Monitored diet, physical activity, behaviors and other patient factors to assess conditions and adjust treatment plans.
- Administered oral, IV and intra-muscular medications and monitored patient reactions.
- Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing Administration
Radford University
Radford, VA08-2024
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Practice
Radford University
Radford, VA05.2022
Associate of Science - Nursing Practice
Spartanburg Technical College
Spartanburg, SC12.2013
Skills
- Medical Screening
- Patient Monitoring
- Unit Administration
- Patient Examination
- Blood Draw and Sample Collection
- Monitoring Vital Signs
- Diet and Nutrition
- Clear Patient Communication
- Medication Administration
- Medical Recordkeeping
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Accurate Documentation
- Preventive Healthcare
- Attention to Detail
- Patient Condition Monitoring
- Patient Care Assessment
- Compassionate and Caring
- Creative Problem Solving
- Immunizations and Vaccinations
- Home Visits
- Taking Vitals
- Patient Management
- Family and Patient Support
- Infectious Disease Control
- Documenting Vitals
- Patient Satisfaction and Process Improvement
- Epic EHR Management
- Patient Relations
- Medication and IV Administration
- Colostomy Care Familiarity
- Patient Care Planning
- Tracheostomy Care
- Nursing Plan Development
- Electronic Health Records Management
- Gastrostomy Tube Care
- Patient Care
Certification
- CPR certified through American Heart Association
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification 2013 to present
Timeline
Registered Nurse, CTL
Carilion Home Care
11.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse, Home Health Care
Carilion Home Care
06.2017 - 11.2022
Registered Nurse, Home Health Care
Kindred at Home
06.2015 - 06.2017
Master of Science - Nursing Administration
Radford University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Practice
Radford University
Associate of Science - Nursing Practice
Spartanburg Technical College
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