Jerelyn D. Felton
Alexandria
Summary
Retired Army Nurse Corps Officer with a strong background in healthcare leadership. Led vaccination initiatives for over 13,000 veterans and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed educational programs and ensured compliance with regulatory standards, enhancing clinical outcomes. Committed to delivering exceptional service and managing multiple priorities effectively.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Chief of Nursing Services-Education
Alexandria VA Health Care System
Pineville
10.2017 - Current
- Reports directly to the Associate Director, Patient Care Services, and serves as the Acting Associate Director of Patient Care Services as designated.
- A key leader in the facility's response to the national COVID-19 pandemic; was directly responsible for the safe vaccination of over 13,000 veterans, employees, and caregivers.
- Directed education initiatives that improved staff training effectiveness at the medical center.
- Ensures accreditation compliance with Office of Nursing Service (ONS) and Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), The Joint Commission (TJC) and other regulatory bodies.
- Designed and implements interdisciplinary programs within the service and medical center.
- Assessed and recommended allocation of human and material resources, determined staffing models, managed overtime, and contributed to successful recruitment and retention of nursing staff.
- Ensures competency assessment is completed on each nursing employee within the Education and Staff Development section.
- Staffed across multiple units and services continually (24/7), validated daily patient classifications, and collaborated with other Nurse Managers to identify and share resources.
- Provides leadership on service and medical center committees and task forces to improve nursing practice and patient care across the facility.
- Identifies educational needs of staff at the facility, service, or program level, and ensures that these needs are addressed.
- Directly responsible for leadership, direction, and control of the following services: Nursing Officer of the Day, Wound Care Consultation, EISP/NNEI Scholarship program, RN Transition to Practice program, Safe Patient Handling program, VHA's Resuscitation Education and Innovation (REdI) program, VHA's Staffing Methodology program (facility coordinator), VISN ONS Evidence Based Practice program (facility representative), and the Code Blue Committee.
- Represented the facility at the VISN level to share best practices with local civic organizations and Veterans organizations.
- Contributed as a member of VISN-16 Evidence-based Practice Community of Practice, evaluating and implementing best practices for nursing in clinical practice.
- Received four consecutive annual performance ratings of "outstanding" for performance improvement and evidence-based initiatives (performance evaluations available upon request).
- Significant Accomplishments in this Role: Professional development-earned a doctorate in nursing practice (Direct Patient Improvement project: CDC Fall Prevention Program: STEADI implemented in the CLC in 2021).
- Created 2 training programs to address a gap in code blue team response, mock code blue drills and simulated code interdisciplinary team training (SCITT) which has improved response team adherence to AHA guidelines and patient outcomes during code blues and medical emergencies.
- Achieved certification as Nurse Executive-Advanced (ANCC), Nursing Professional Development (ANCC), and Certified Nurse Educator (NLN).
- Created bi-weekly education series, Just in Time Training Sessions (JITTS), to support ongoing learning for clinical staff of over 400 RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, fostering active engagement and compliance with educational standards.
Assistant Deputy Commander of Nursing
United States Army
Fort Polk
08.2016 - 10.2017
- Second in Command of a troop of 150 Soldiers at a Role 2 Combat Support Hospital, responsible for keeping the field hospital ready to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world by providing oversight of triage and medical care, outpatient services, inpatient care, pharmacy, clinical laboratory, blood banking, radiology, physical therapy, medical logistics, operational dental care, nutrition care and patient administration services.
- Led and managed teams in a variety of tactical and operational environments.
- Directly responsible for managing and tracking resources for 150+ personnel.
- Identified and addressed skill gaps between peacetime and operational requirements, utilizing internal and external education and training to ensure a competent, current, and ready medical force.
- Identified, interpreted, and applied current medical doctrine applicable to individual missions.
- Negotiated and implemented military-civilian educational partnership with a local hospital, rotating 80 active-duty healthcare personnel for skill maintenance, resulting in a more operationally ready field hospital staff while being cost-effective for both Army and civilian organizations.
- Developed and executed operational plans for severe weather response across Louisiana, East Texas, Central Arkansas, and West Mississippi, ensuring timely and effective disaster response.
- Articulated the roles and relationships between the field hospital, and local, regional, state, and national disaster response plans and assets, to include non-governmental organizations.
Chief Nursing Officer (Nurse Executive)
United States Army
Ansbach
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Second in Command for a company of 180 soldiers and civilian employees.
- Directed and supervised clinical staff to ensure best practices and high-quality care delivery, fostering a culture of excellence in patient care.
- Developed and implemented strategies and protocols addressing healthcare needs, enhancing service delivery and patient satisfaction.
- Manage budget allocations of over two (2) million dollars to ensure appropriate resources for effective operations.
- Assessed organizational performance against agreed objectives and implemented corrective actions.
- Ensure compliance with relevant healthcare regulations and standards.
- Develop and implement quality improvement initiatives to improve patient outcomes.
- Evaluated and reviewed existing programs to identify improvement areas, leading to enhanced operational efficiency and care quality.
- Led recruitment and retention of nursing staff.
- Manage the development and implementation of quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
- Significant Accomplishment in this Role: Led a team of health care interdisciplinary clinicians in the recognition of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as an Army Patient Centered Medical Home that enhanced access to care for over 6,000 soldiers, dependents and retirees, better access to provider teams. Access to care was improved by implementing open scheduling, same-day appointments, secure messaging, and other innovative options for communication between patients and their personal physician and practice team. (Leading People; Results Driven; Business Acumen; Building Coalitions)
Chief of Post Anesthesia Recovery Unit (PACU) (2009-2011), Chief of Hospital Education and Staff Development (2011-2013)
United States Army
Fort Polk
01.2008 - 01.2013
Non-Commissioned Officer/Operating Room & PACU
United States Army
Landstuhl
01.2001 - 01.2005
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge/Intermediate Care Wards (2)
United States Army
Fort Hood
01.1996 - 01.2001
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) -
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Az.09-2020
Master of Science in Nursing-Education (MSN) -
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Az.08-2018
Basic Healthcare Administration Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School/Baylor University
Landstuhl, Germany08-2015
Captains Career Leadership Development Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Fort Sam Houston, TX.06-2013
Clinical Nurse Officer in Charge Leader Development Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Fort Sam Houston, TX.03-2013
Hospital Emergency Preparedness -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Fort Sam Houston, Texas02-2013
Hospital Educator Training -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Fort Sam Houston, TX.12-2012
Nursing Research Course -
Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice
Fort Sam Houston, TX.09-2012
Department of the Army Supervisor Development Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Fort Sam Houston, TX.08-2012
Hospital Incident Command System Course (HICS) -
Army Medical Department Center and School
San Antonio, Tx.12-2010
Skills
- Project management
- Personnel management
- Leadership
- Adaptability in leadership roles
- Time management
- MS Office applications
- Record keeping
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
Affiliations
- The American College of Healthcare Executives, 01/01/17, Current
- The American Nurses Association, 01/01/07, Current
- Louisiana State Nurses Association, 01/01/07, Current
- The Army Nurse Corps Association, Inc., 01/01/07, Current
Certification
- Nurse Executive-Advanced Certified, 01/01/29
- Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), 12/01/29
- Nursing Professional Development-BC, 07/01/26
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor, 05/01/26
- Basic Life Support Instructor, 03/01/29
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification, 01/01/10
Accomplishments
- Daisy Nurse Leader Award, 01/01/24
- Coin from the Secretary of the VA for efforts to support the facility's COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts, 01/01/20
- Meritorious Service Medal, 01/01/16
- Army Commendation Medal, 01/01/12
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal & Army Commendation Medal, 01/01/11
- Meritorious Service Medal, 01/01/09
Credentials
DNP, RN, MSN-ED., NEA-BC, NPD-BC, CNE
Timeline
Associate Chief of Nursing Services-Education
Alexandria VA Health Care System
10.2017 - Current
Assistant Deputy Commander of Nursing
United States Army
08.2016 - 10.2017
Chief Nursing Officer (Nurse Executive)
United States Army
01.2013 - 01.2016
Chief of Post Anesthesia Recovery Unit (PACU) (2009-2011), Chief of Hospital Education and Staff Development (2011-2013)
United States Army
01.2008 - 01.2013
Non-Commissioned Officer/Operating Room & PACU
United States Army
01.2001 - 01.2005
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge/Intermediate Care Wards (2)
United States Army
01.1996 - 01.2001
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) -
Grand Canyon University
Master of Science in Nursing-Education (MSN) -
Grand Canyon University
Basic Healthcare Administration Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School/Baylor University
Captains Career Leadership Development Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Clinical Nurse Officer in Charge Leader Development Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Hospital Emergency Preparedness -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Hospital Educator Training -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Nursing Research Course -
Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice
Department of the Army Supervisor Development Course -
Army Medical Department Center and School
Hospital Incident Command System Course (HICS) -
Army Medical Department Center and School