Kara Kubicek
Apple Valley,CA
Summary
Proven nursing leader effective at uniting and guiding nursing teams toward achieving patient care goals, improving satisfaction and supporting wide-spread healthcare system improvements. Focused on continuously advancing expertise in leadership while building relationships.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Emergency Room Manager
KPC Health Victor Valley Global Medical Center
Victorville, CA
07.2023 - Current
- Increased medication and patient scanning from 16% to 86% to meet quality and patient safety goals (Leapfrog).
- Increased courtesy of nurses' HCAHPS score from 55.5% in CY2023 to 76% in the current year.
- Increased overall rating of ER care from 49.7% in CY 2023 to 67% this calendar year.
- Optimized staff scheduling, resulting in achievement of 100% productivity.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory agencies, such as The Joint Commission, through the development of staff accountability checklists and weekly rounding.
- Built work schedules and staff assignments, taking workload, space, and equipment availability into consideration to increase efficiency.
- Developed and implemented a positive feedback culture, resulting in a noticeable improvement in employee morale and retention.
- Investigated incidents of errors and near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
- Lead the Sepsis team to achieve the three-hour bundle requirements, move towards one-hour evidence-based guidelines, and reach TJC certification.
Nurse Manager
Providence St. Mary Medical Center
Apple Valley, CA
05.2021 - 07.2023
- Managed a 170-person nursing and clinical staff, including budgeting, supply management, and performance and quality targets for the hospital's strategic plan.
- Reviewed and investigated complaints from families, patients and clinical staff, devising solutions to multifaceted challenges.
- Performed personnel interviewing, hiring, disciplinary actions and dismissals.
- Integrated push-pull for admitted patients with ED in order to assist with transferring patients to a unit in a timely manner. 60 minutes targets from order to bed placement.
- Increased Telemetry unit HCAHPS score by 30%.
- Merged two nursing units, increased bed capacity by an additional eight beds, while increasing both patient and employee satisfaction.
- The highest participation rate in the caregiver engagement survey across the organization.
- Lead a quality improvement team focusing on hand hygiene to exceed the hospital goal for expected scores in 2022.
- Team member of the Hospital Throughput Committee, which initiated a process that decreased the time from the ED to the unit to less than 45 minutes, and reduced discharge time from the DC order to departure by 2 p.m.
- Launched shared governance committee, which created the following councils: Clinical Practice and Quality Outcomes, Quality and Safety, Nursing Research, Professional Advancement, and Nursing Leadership.
Nurse Supervisor
St. Mary Medical Center
Apple Valley, CA
02.2018 - 05.2021
- Managed and provided leadership to help staff with direct and indirect patient care and telemetry monitoring.
- Participated in hospital-wide initiatives and committees to improve patient care, satisfaction and safety.
- Advised, coached and mentored experienced and student nurses on medical issues, crisis management and appropriate nursing interventions.
- Received and researched complaints from families, patients and clinical staff in order to resolve concerns to full satisfaction.
Registered Nurse
St. Mary Medical Center
Apple Valley, CA
11.2009 - 02.2018
- Performed role of interim Nurse Supervisor for 66 inpatient beds; managed staff, patient care issues, patient satisfaction
- Charge Nurse; Leading team of nursing staff on shift and carrying out duties assigned by Nurse Leader
- Administered medications, tracked dosages and documented patient conditions.
- Maintained comprehensive patient care plans and monitored staffs' implementation of physician's orders.
- Oversaw delivery of high-quality, cost-effective care with focus on patient safety, comfort and dignity.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Good Shepherd Health System
Hermiston, OR
01.1998 - 07.2006
- Guaranteed exceptional care quality by correctly administering medication, inserting and caring for catheters, dressing and changing wounds and assisting with personal hygiene.
- Educated clients, patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA06.2009
LVN Certification -
Pasco Hernando Community College
Dade City, FL11.1997
Skills
- 8yr Nurse Leader (ER, MS, Tele)
- Organizational skills
- Working collaboratively across disciplines
- Provider relations
- Experienced in performance improvement
- Time management
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Conflict resolution
Certification
- Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- NIHSS Stroke Certification
Timeline
Emergency Room Manager
KPC Health Victor Valley Global Medical Center
07.2023 - Current
Nurse Manager
Providence St. Mary Medical Center
05.2021 - 07.2023
Nurse Supervisor
St. Mary Medical Center
02.2018 - 05.2021
Registered Nurse
St. Mary Medical Center
11.2009 - 02.2018
Licensed Practical Nurse
Good Shepherd Health System
01.1998 - 07.2006
Associate of Science - Nursing
Victor Valley College
LVN Certification -
Pasco Hernando Community College
- Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- NIHSS Stroke Certification
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