Jennifer Novak BSN, RN, CNOR
Austin,TX
Summary
Perioperative Nurse Leader with over 12 years of leadership experience and more than 20 years of experience in the Perioperative setting. Thrives in stressful and fast-paced environments. Effective at improving revenue, team productivity, and influencing positive outcomes. Well-versed in motivating and retaining employees and building relationships with staff and physicians.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim Operating Room Manager
UT Southwestern, B.E. Smith
02.2022 - Current
- UT Southwestern Clements University Hospital is a 752 bed Magnet hospital with 48 ORs, 3 angio rooms, and 2 endovascular suites. It is affiliated with UT Southwestern Medical school. CUH has been ranked #1 in the DFW area for 6 years in a row.
- Direct day-to-day administrative and operational functions for 48 Operating rooms, providing guidance and leadership to over 300 employees.
- Developed and updated policies and procedures, maintaining compliance with statutory, regulatory and local, state and federal guidelines relating to HIPAA, benefits administration and general liability.
- Fostered excellence by example by "setting pace" and being hands on mentor to clinical staff.
- Conducted routine facility inspections, identifying areas needing improvement and eliminating hazards posed to staff and residents for continued compliance with associated regulations.
Clinical Education Specialist
HCA
07.2020 - 02.2022
- HCA Central West Texas Surgical Services education for all of perioperative services. Includes El Paso market.
- Remain current with TJC standards.
- Maintained detailed records of training activities and staff progress against targets.
- Conducted needs assessments to identify and fill staff knowledge gaps. Post QR codes for staff to easily request specific educational needs.
- Daily rounding in the units.
- Delivered industry-leading educational experiences by integrating theoretical knowledge, evidence-based principles and expertise in clinical nursing.
- Instruct Periop 101 for CWT
- Helped staff achieve patient care goals and outcome standards by implementing regular training courses.
- Rolled out newly established standards to direct patient care staff and provided educational opportunities to promote development of staff members.
- Committed passionately to student development through hands-on training.
- Participated in planning, implementing and evaluating assigned courses for continued development of nursing curriculum.
- Continuously improved course curricula, content and materials to maintain currency with changing demands and technological advancements.
Director of Perioperative Services
Dell, Medical Center
09.2019 - 07.2020
- Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas is a pediatric acute care hospital located in Austin, Texas. The hospital has 248 beds. It is affiliated with The UT Austin Dell Medical School, and is a member of Ascension Health. The hospital features the only Level I pediatric trauma center in the Central Texas region serving a 46 county area.
- Surgical Services consists of 14 ORs, 4 cath labs, and 2 special services procedural rooms.
- Responsible for daily operations of Sedation services, Endoscopy, Preadmission testing, Preop, PACU, Sterile Processing, Scheduling, Operating Room, CV, and CathLab.
- Implemented Shared Governance Nursing model.
- Improving staff satisfaction by daily rounding including encouragement and praise, acting on staff suggestions, changing staffing model, Decreased staff turnover by 41% in one year.
- Improved block time utilization by 33% using OR Control and meeting monthly with our multidisciplinary team.
- Led and motivated 232 employees through supervision, training and coaching on duties and daily operational activities.
- Managed operations in accordance with budget requirements.
- Headed clinical oversight to devise and establish policies, procedures and best practices in alignment with regulatory requirements.
- Supervised administrative staff of 12, delivering consistent coaching and mentoring to improve job efficiency and staff satisfaction.
- Collaborated with multi-disciplinary staff to establish a Pediatric Heart Transplant Program.
- Participated in new facility construction of sister hospital: Dell Children's Hospital North.
- Worked with team on construction of new CVOR suite.
- Led the new construction of the Women's Center operating rooms for fetal surgery and c-sections.
- Created and implemented policies, procedures, and testing for COVID 19 within surgical services.
Operating Room Nurse Manager
St Luke’s Hospital
07.2015 - 09.2019
- CHI St. Luke's Hospital The Woodlands is a 242-bed hospital that offers the latest in diagnostic, medical and surgical services, including cardiology, neurosciences and stroke care, orthopedics, bariatric, wound care, rehabilitation, surgery, women's health and emergency care.
- Surgical Services consists of 8 ORs. 2 CVORs, 2 Endoscopy rooms, and 4 Cathlabs.
- Updates and creates policy and procedure for all perioperative services
- Improved vendor relations
- Improved physician relations by being present and rounding daily.
- Creates and adheres to yearly budget guidelines
- Headed clinical oversight in multiple construction projects. Cath lab was expanded from 2 to 4 rooms. Expansion of additional OR rooms. Reconstruction of Neuro room. Expansion for new lounge, specimen room, education area, and locker rooms.
- Continuous monitoring of staff morale and team building exercises.
- Staffing, hiring, retention, employee relations including coaching and mentoring
- Decreased turnover times by 30%
- Ensures alignment with regulatory accrediting agencies. Mock Joint Commission surveys held quarterly with weekly "Did you know?" emails to staff speaking to departmental requirements.
- Patient Satisfaction survey improved by 17% by implementing hour rounding on preop patients and families in the waiting room.
- Headed Quarterly Service line committees for all services.
- Coordinated care with charge nurse and other staff through daily communication.
- Facilitated peer-to-peer conflict resolution.
- Initiated training and education programs for Robotics supporting healthcare staff.
- Developed highly effective working relationships with other departments by being positive and constructive leader.
Operating Room Nurse Manager
CHI St. Luke’s Health
04.2012 - 07.2015
- CHI St. Luke's The Vintage consists of 106 patient beds. The facility includes 6 ORs, 2 Endoscopy rooms, 2 Cathlabs
- Developed CVOR program including supplies, equipment, training, creating and implementing cardiovascular policy and procedures.
- Circulate all ortho, spine, urology, gyn, pediatric ENT, podiatry
- Scrubbed and Circulated all CV
- Implemented new hire training to further develop skills and initiate discussions on task prioritization.
- Initiated training and education programs for Colorectal Service Line. Initiated ESR program.
- Managed staffing
- Recruited and hired competent clinical and administrative staff to bolster skills set of already talented team.
Cell Banking Coordinator
Celltex
09.2011 - 03.2012
- Assisted daily operations of working with doctors and clients in the retrieval of stem cells for personal use
- Education of physicians and clients
- Oversaw program and developed and initiated policies and procedures to standardize delivery of care.
- Acuired the an IRB to oversee clinical trials.
Operating Room Nurse Manager
Elite Surgical Affiliates
09.2009 - 09.2011
- Ambulatory surgery centers specializing in ortho, spine, gynecological, pain management, pediatric ENT, endoscopy, and podiatry cases.
- OR manger
- Infection control nurse
- Pharmacy nurse
- Responsible for OR assignments and ordering
- Integral part of opening and setting up 3 surgery centers. One of which was a new construction.
- Responsible for MH, AIrway, and Crash cart set ups and in-services.
Operating Room Charge Nurse
The Methodist Hospital
02.2007 - 10.2009
- The Methodist Hospital is located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The facility has 907 beds.
- The Debakey Heart Center consists of 10 Operating rooms
- Scrub and Circulate all CV, thoracic, vascular, robotic and endovascular cases
- Education of all new graduates
- Magnet committee for CVOR
- Time out Surveillance committee
Operating Room Nurse/evening Charge Nurse
Memorial Hermann Hospital
08.2004 - 02.2007
- Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is the primary teaching hospital for the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Memorial Hermann-TMC provides leading-edge care in heart, neuroscience, orthopedics, women's health, general surgery, and organ transplantation. As one of only two certified Level I trauma centers in the greater Houston area, the hospital provides 24/7 emergency and trauma care. Memorial Hermann Life Flight provides emergency rescue within a 150-mile radius.
- Scrub and Circulate all CV, thoracic, vascular, robotic and endovascular cases
- Trauma team
- Charge nurse for CV
Operating Room Nurse
The Methodist Hospital
12.2002 - 11.2004
- Scrub and Circulate all CV, thoracic, and vascular cases
Operating Room Nurse
Scottish Rite Hospital
07.2002 - 12.2002
- Scrub and Circulate all general pediatric cases through nurse intern program
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Governor's University
09.2018
Associates of Science - Nursing
Houston Community College
Houston, TX05.2002
Skills
- TJC and DNV Regulatory requirements
- Performance metrics
- Personnel management
- Patient safety
- Quality assurance controls
- Transformational Leadeship
- Policy Development
- Physician relations
- Employee recruitment, retention, and morale strategies
- Schedule management
Timeline
Interim Operating Room Manager
UT Southwestern, B.E. Smith
02.2022 - Current
Clinical Education Specialist
HCA
07.2020 - 02.2022
Director of Perioperative Services
Dell, Medical Center
09.2019 - 07.2020
Operating Room Nurse Manager
St Luke’s Hospital
07.2015 - 09.2019
Operating Room Nurse Manager
CHI St. Luke’s Health
04.2012 - 07.2015
Cell Banking Coordinator
Celltex
09.2011 - 03.2012
Operating Room Nurse Manager
Elite Surgical Affiliates
09.2009 - 09.2011
Operating Room Charge Nurse
The Methodist Hospital
02.2007 - 10.2009
Operating Room Nurse/evening Charge Nurse
Memorial Hermann Hospital
08.2004 - 02.2007
Operating Room Nurse
The Methodist Hospital
12.2002 - 11.2004
Operating Room Nurse
Scottish Rite Hospital
07.2002 - 12.2002
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Governor's University
Associates of Science - Nursing
Houston Community College
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