James R. Dunagan
Palm Springs,CA
Summary
Experienced nursing leader with a Master's degree and a track record of success in managing business operations, clinical functions, and overcoming organizational barriers. Skilled in leading diverse teams across acute, ambulatory, and community settings to deliver exceptional patient care. Demonstrated ability to ensure organizational readiness for regulatory, licensing, and accreditation standards. A strategic thinker and problem-solver who advocates for evidence-based solutions. Recognized for collaborative teamwork, effective communication, and leveraging technology to enhance care delivery for patients and care teams.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Department Administrator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California
11.2022 - Current
- Manage assigned daily operations of the Medical Office Building (MOB) across multiple departments.
- Provide staff leadership for Primary Care, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Oncology, Infusion, Dermatology, Head and Neck, Pain Management, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Neurology, and Rheumatology
- Evaluate departmental procedures regularly, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing necessary changes to enhance overall efficiency.
- Collaborate with Human Resources, Union Partners, Risk Management, IT, Vendors, Finance, and building management to ensure our staff have all the tools necessary to provide top quality services to our members
- Onboard new clinical staff, providing guidance, information, and education to ensure their success on our teams.
- Manage inventory control processes within the department, ensuring adequate supplies were always available and minimizing waste.
- Improve interdepartmental communication by organizing regular meetings and fostering open dialogue among team members.
- Assist in recruiting top talent by participating in hiring processes, including resume screenings, interviews, and reference checks.
- Support senior management in strategic planning, contributing to the successful achievement of organizational goals.
- Contribute to project success by providing administrative support throughout all stages of project through the development and deployment of a new graduate Licensed Vocational Nurse and Registered Nurse education and onboarding program. Of note: all new graduates are now working independently within our ranks at all three Medical Office Buildings in Coachella Valley
Nurse Manager for Shared Procedure Unit
Kaiser Permanente of Washington
01.2021 - 04.2022
- Manage Shared Procedure Units (SPUs) by developing and deploying policies, procedures, and ensuring optimized operations across multiple sites
- Lead 49 employees working in the SPU for Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, and other key sub-specialties
- Direct reports include Assistant Managers, Clinic Nurse Leads, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Endoscopy Technicians, Certified Nursing Assistants, and Complex Procedure/Surgical Schedulers
- Managed budgets and controlled costs, achieving financial targets without compromising patient care quality.
- Managed staff scheduling and time off to adequately staff nursing floors and allow nurses earned time off.
- Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Oversee the execution of the SPU operations plan in partnership with Physician leaders and health plan executives
- Standardized processes and reporting that resulted in schedule fill rates rising from 74% average to a steady 98% over the course of 3-months and streamlining the appointing processes reducing time to schedule by 50%
- Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to support professional growth of nursing staff members.
Clinic Nurse Lead for General, Plastic, and Vascular Surgery
Kaiser Permanente of Washington
10.2018 - 01.2021
- Served as the Clinic Nurse Lead for both Nurses and Medical Assistants while delivering numerous process improvements, staff training, and standardization initiatives
- As a Clinic Nurse, reviewed and updated clinical processes and workflows, ensuring optimal care practices were implemented, replacing outdated methods and processes
- Successfully identified key orientation and development opportunities to draft and implement a playbook to ensure a 100% compliance for staff skill competencies and adherence to new policies and procedures
- Educated patients, families and caregivers about conditions and treatments.
- Maintained detailed documentation of patient records, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Post-Anesthesia Care Registered Nurse
Seattle Orthopedic Center – a Proliance Affiliate
01.2018 - 10.2018
- Delivered direct post-surgery care in Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) for orthopedic patients
- Received training as an operating room circulating nurse and pre-operative nurse fulfilling those duties as needed by leadership
- Assigned as safety and quality improvement project lead for the ASC accreditation process by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
- Developed policies, procedures, and key processes required by AAAHC, which resulted in no findings for the clinical processes in place for the ASC
Owner and Sole Proprietor
Dunagan Therapeutic Massage
03.2002 - 10.2018
- Delivered direct patient care to an established panel of patients focusing on quality of life, outcomes, and consistent therapy practices
- Managed all business operations functions directly, including credentialling, insurance contracting, revenue cycle management (coding, billing, and account receivables), and tax preparation with a financial services vendor
Patient Care Technician (Certified Nursing Assistant)
Virginia Mason Medical Center
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Promoted from long-term care facility to acute care unit after 6-months
- Delivered direct patient care to long-term care and medical telemetry patients focusing on quality of life, outcomes, and consistent nursing practice
- Implemented care plans for patients in acute care medical telemetry unit for diverse patients presenting with a multitude of multiple co-morbidities
- Served patients in long-term hospice and palliative care facility
- Diagnoses included several terminal conditions, including AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive Leadership
Aspen University
Denver, CO09-2025
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership And Management
American Sentinel University
Denver, CO01.2020
Associate and Bachelor of Science - Nursing
American Sentinel University
Denver, CO01.2019
Skills
- Organizational Management
- Motivational Leadership
- Recruitment support
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Relationship Building
- Access Optimization and Triage
- Excellent, Flexible Communicator
- Quality Improvement
- Data Analytics and Reporting
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Strategic Planning
- Results-oriented problem solving
Certification
- Licensed Registered Nurse, California Board of Registered Nurses, 01/01/22, Present
- Licensed Registered Nurse, Arizona Board of Registered Nurses, 01/01/22, Present
- Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, 01/01/15, Present
Timeline
Assistant Department Administrator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California
11.2022 - Current
Nurse Manager for Shared Procedure Unit
Kaiser Permanente of Washington
01.2021 - 04.2022
Clinic Nurse Lead for General, Plastic, and Vascular Surgery
Kaiser Permanente of Washington
10.2018 - 01.2021
Post-Anesthesia Care Registered Nurse
Seattle Orthopedic Center – a Proliance Affiliate
01.2018 - 10.2018
Patient Care Technician (Certified Nursing Assistant)
Virginia Mason Medical Center
01.2015 - 12.2015
Owner and Sole Proprietor
Dunagan Therapeutic Massage
03.2002 - 10.2018
- Licensed Registered Nurse, California Board of Registered Nurses, 01/01/22, Present
- Licensed Registered Nurse, Arizona Board of Registered Nurses, 01/01/22, Present
- Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, 01/01/15, Present
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive Leadership
Aspen University
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership And Management
American Sentinel University
Associate and Bachelor of Science - Nursing
American Sentinel University
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