Heather Smith
Travelers Rest,South Carolina
Summary
Seasoned nursing professional offering proven clinical knowledge, natural interpersonal strengths and technical abilities. Knowledgeable about EMR charting, medication administration and interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and support. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
PACU/Infection Control/Educator Trainer
Carolina Specialty Eye Surgery
Boling Springs, SC
10.2020 - Current
- Set clear policies to improve success of infection control measures in departments.
- Evaluated surgical acquired infections by conducting root cause analysis.
- Developed effective training programs to help staff understand and implement critical protections.
- Investigated outbreaks and revamped control measures to prevent future incidents.
- Surveilled ongoing infections to verify adequate data collection, control procedures and current staff interventions.
- Coordinated successfully and with full compliance to prevent infections according to facility and Joint Commission standards.
- Gathered and submitted data to regulatory agencies for mandatory report infections such as [Type].
- Identified and mitigated unnecessary infection risks through regular reviews and procedural assessments.
School Nurse
Greenville County School District
Greenville, SC
03.2019 - 12.2020
- Served as liaison between families, school personnel and other healthcare providers on behalf of students.
- Oversaw health services for school of [Number] students and faculty.
- Developed care plans and made referrals as necessary for students with health concerns or injuries.
- Performed health screening for students and faculty by conducting [Type] and [Type] evaluations.
- Participated in development of school safety plans to address areas of concern.
- Provided medical consultations to other school personnel to promote well-coordinated school health and safety efforts.
- Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
Hospice RN
Interim Hospice
Anderson, SC
11.2018 - 03.2019
- Developed and implemented individualized care plan for each hospice patient while following physician instructions.
- Recognized and understood specific stages of dying process, providing comfort-based care during vulnerable times.
- Established and maintained successful relationships with patients, families and physicians by utilizing exemplary communication and active listening skills.
- Taught family members and caregivers various ways to manage patients' pain, how to check for vital signs and proper methods for dressing changes.
- Offered listening ear to both patients and loved ones to meet emotional and mental, as well as physical needs.
- Established hospice care services for elderly and disabled patients.
- Accurately documented treatment, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions and follow-up care.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety and rights of patient.
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Adhered to strict safety measures by carefully determining proper dosages before administering medications.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
RN, PACU
Piedmont Surgery Center
Greenville, SC
11.2015 - 08.2018
- Audited charts and reviewed clinical documents to verify accuracy.
- Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
- Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Kept optimal supply levels in treatment rooms, triage and other areas to meet typical patient loads.
Contract Travel RN
Supplemental Health Care
Charleston, SC
05.2009 - 11.2015
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
- Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
- Collected blood, tissue and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing.
- 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 and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
LDRP RN
Easley Baptist Hospital
Easley, SC
11.2004 - 04.2009
- Educated new parents on how to properly care for infants by instructing parents on bottle feeding, bathing, circumcision care and breastfeeding.
- Monitored and assessed mother and newborn after delivery to ascertain proper healing and recovery.
- Assisted mothers in establishing breastfeeding relationships with infants through [Action].
- Coordinated and consulted with [Number]-member health care team to plan, implement and assess both mother and infant care plans.
- Supported pregnant women in healthy labor processes.
- Conducted examinations to determine fetal station, cervical dilation and effacement.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
- Accurately documented treatment, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions and follow-up care.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SCSkills
- Team Meeting Management
- Patient Condition Monitoring
- Equipment and Instrument Sterilizatoin
- Patient Care Assessment
- Operational Standards
- Accurate Documentation
- Immunizations and Vaccinations
- Medical Recordkeeping
- IV Administration
- Preventive Healthcare
- Medication Administration
- Crisis Prevention Intervention
- Clear Patient Communication
- Patient Health Information Access
- Intramuscular Injections
- Medical Supply Management
- Treatment Preparation
- Patient Intakes
- Specialized Healthcare Referrals
- Patient Examination
- Project Implementation
- Monitoring Vital Signs
- Compassionate and Caring
- Nursing Consultation
- Medication Side Effect Knowledge
- Infection Control Measures
- Medical Procedure Preparation
- Learning Strategies
- Information Intake
- Recognition Programs
- Delegation and Motivation
Certification
- ACLS
- BLS
- Infection Control
Timeline
PACU/Infection Control/Educator Trainer
Carolina Specialty Eye Surgery
10.2020 - Current
School Nurse
Greenville County School District
03.2019 - 12.2020
Hospice RN
Interim Hospice
11.2018 - 03.2019
RN, PACU
Piedmont Surgery Center
11.2015 - 08.2018
Contract Travel RN
Supplemental Health Care
05.2009 - 11.2015
LDRP RN
Easley Baptist Hospital
11.2004 - 04.2009
Associate of Science - Nursing
Greenville Technical College
- ACLS
- BLS
- Infection Control
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