JESSICA HICKMAN
Huntsville,AL
Summary
Critical care nurse with extensive experience in a Medical ICU at a Level 1 Trauma facility. Skilled in auditing and comprehensive chart review as a charge nurse, including participation in Joint Commission audits, ensuring accurate, complete, and compliant clinical documentation. Strong understanding of disease processes, clinical indicators, and their impact on coding, quality metrics, and patient outcomes. Experienced collaborating with providers and interdisciplinary teams to support quality improvement and regulatory compliance initiatives. Detail-oriented and highly motivated with strong adaptability, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Charge Nurse
Medical Intensive Care Unit, Huntsville Hospital Main
Huntsville, AL
08.2024 - Current
- Supervised daily operations of ICU, ensuring optimal patient care and staff performance.
- Assisted in developing and implementing protocols to enhance patient safety and treatment effectiveness.
- Mentored nursing staff, fostering professional development and clinical excellence.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress and care plans.
- Directed shift operations for a 26-bed high-acuity Medical ICU supervising up to 13 nursing staff and ancillary personnel
- Managed patient assignments based on acuity, ventilator status, and nurse competency to ensure safe, balanced workloads
- Served as primary escalation point for clinical deterioration, staffing shortages, and complex patient care situations
- Mentored and supported bedside nurses, including new graduates, in managing critically ill patients and high-stress situations
- Nominated for the DAISY Award for excellence in patient care and compassionate nursing practice
Registered Nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit
Huntsville Hospital Main
Huntsville, AL
01.2019 - Current
- Demonstrated effective communication skills when interacting with patients and families
- Performed nurse driven bedside procedures such as wound dressing changes, Foley catheterizations, IV starts and tracheostomy care
- Coordinated with multidisciplinary team members to develop individualized plans of care for each patient
- Prioritized multiple tasks while maintaining excellent standards of care delivery
- Provided care to critically ill patients in a fast-paced environment
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient assessments, treatments, and medications administered in electronic medical record system
- Evaluated the effectiveness of nursing interventions through ongoing assessment of patient responses and outcomes
- Ensured compliance with hospital policies and procedures related to ICU operations
- Actively participated in continuing education opportunities related to critical care nursing practices
- Assisted physicians with various invasive procedures within the ICU setting
- Successfully managed multiple tasks while maintaining focus on providing safe, high-quality patient care
Medical Assistant
Family Medicine Of Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
05.2015 - 01.2019
- Functioned as charge nurse and assumed patient care in absence of nurses ending or arriving for shifts
- Established and implemented nursing care plans for each patient using protocols of assessment, development, activation and evaluation
- Maintained records, prepared reports and served on special committees
- Utilized computerized Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) system
- Adhered to HIPAA regulations regarding safeguarding confidential patient information at all times
- Administered injections, medications and treatments as directed by the physician
- Organized charts, documents and supplies to maintain team productivity
- Conducted patient interviews to gather health history, vital signs and information about current medical issues
- Oversaw patient registration, insurance verification, form completion and appointment scheduling to maintain operational efficiency
- Coordinated referrals to specialists or other healthcare professionals when needed
- Interpreted diagnostic statements and assigned appropriate ICD-10 codes accordingly
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Alabama At Huntsville
Huntsville, AL12-2018
Skills
- Clinical leadership
- Care coordination
- Quality Improvement and Assurance
- Reliable and Responsible
- Task and Work Prioritization
- Healthcare Team Collaboration
- Patient Advocacy
- Effective Communication
- Time Management
- Complex Information Interpretation
- Critical Care/ICU Experience
- ICD-10
- EMR Systems
Certification
- RN License (compact state)
- ACLS Certification
- BLS Certification
Timeline
Charge Nurse
Medical Intensive Care Unit, Huntsville Hospital Main
08.2024 - Current
Registered Nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit
Huntsville Hospital Main
01.2019 - Current
Medical Assistant
Family Medicine Of Huntsville
05.2015 - 01.2019
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Alabama At Huntsville