Heather Leitner

• Float between many specialty units at 2 hospitals to provide patient care
• Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined next course of action.
• Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
• Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
• Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.
• Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
• Evaluated healthcare needs, goals for treatment, and available resources of each patient and connected to optimal providers and care.
• Oversaw delivery of care for patients on medical-surgical unit, providing direct care, delegating nursing assignments and supervising team comprised of nurses, technicians, and unit clerks.
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
• Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
• Participated in nursing simulation activities, evidence-based practice project implementation and competency development to further nursing education.
• Provided instructions to orient new nurses and potential student nurses to achieve training outcomes.
• Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions met treatment goals and identifying insurance coverage limitations.
• Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
• Managed quality care for patients with heart failure, end-stage renal disease and coronary artery disease.
• Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
• Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to highest standards of care.

Floated between 5 different hospitals within the greater Milwaukee area to provide patient care, fill in as charge RN or House Supervisor.

• Managed care from admission to discharge.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Same skills as above