Kara Tipsword
Eldorado,IL
Summary
A dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner equipped to deliver impactful services in family practice. Committed to providing holistic patient care while effectively meeting a variety of medical needs. Recognized for collaboration, dependability, and adaptability in fast-paced healthcare environments. Skilled in diagnosis, treatment planning, and positive patient outcomes.
Overview
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Nurse Practitioner - Family Practice
Deaconess Illinois Clinic
08.2025 - Current
- Work autonomously in assessing, diagnosing, and treating acute and chronic illnesses in diverse patient populations in a primary care setting.
- Administer physical assessments including school and sports for diverse age groups.
- Review medication and health history to provide a comprehensive plan of care
- Conduct and interpret a range of diagnostic assessments for acute and chronic treatment.
- develop treatment plans including prescriptions, referrals, follow-ups.
- conduct various procedures including pap tests, dermatology procedures, and joint injections
- Developed and implemented individualized care plans for optimal patient outcomes.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care delivery and coordination.
- Educated patients on disease prevention, management, and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Mentored junior staff on clinical best practices and professional development strategies.
- Streamlined clinic workflows to improve operational efficiency and patient satisfaction.
- Promoted healthy lifestyle choices among patients using motivational interviewing techniques and tailored education materials based on their needs or concerns.
- Developed strong relationships with local community resources to provide comprehensive support for patients in need.
- Enhanced cultural competence within the practice by providing culturally sensitive care and implementing strategies to address health disparities among diverse patient populations.
- Direct clinical oversight of hormone replacement therapy for women and testosterone replacement therapy for men.
- Oversee and coordinate clinical management of GLP-1 medications for optimal patient outcomes.
Adjunct Nursing Instructor
Southeastern Illinois College
08.2019 - Current
- Facilitated both in-person and online education learnings
- Developed and implemented nursing curricula aligned with industry standards and educational best practices.
- Facilitated engaging classroom discussions to enhance critical thinking and practical application of nursing concepts.
- Mentored nursing students, providing guidance on clinical skills and professional development strategies.
- Evaluated student performance through assessments, ensuring consistent feedback and support for academic growth.
- Collaborated with faculty to refine instructional methods and improve overall program effectiveness.
- Integrated current healthcare technologies into teaching practices to enhance learning outcomes and student engagement.
- Conducted workshops on clinical competencies, promoting best practices in patient care among nursing students.
- Monitored progress of each student and provided formal evaluation upon completion of clinical placements.
- Developed and created clinical assignments to assess student skills.
- Coached underperforming students to help meet clinical objectives
- Identified and assigned appropriate activities and projects to enhance student learning.
- Liaised with medical and nursing personnel to evaluate and improve teaching and nursing practices.
- Served as a liaison between the academic institution and clinical sites to ensure smooth transitions for student placements.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of nursing practice through continuing education programs, contributing relevant insights to classroom discussions.
- Fostered an inclusive learning atmosphere that supported diverse perspectives and promoted cultural competence among nursing students.
Nurse Practitioner- Urgent Care
Deaconess Illinois Specialty Clinic
07.2023 - 08.2025
- Worked autonomously in assessing, diagnosing, and treating acute illness, accidents, and injuries.
- Performed physical exams, including school and sports, for all age groups.
- Performed a variety of occupation health services such as worker's comp
- Conducted comprehensive patient assessments to develop personalized treatment plans.
- Reviewed medication and health history to provide a plan of care
- Prescribed short term medications with consideration on acute medical issue
- Ordered and interpret various diagnostic testing, point of care and send out testing
- Practiced in collaboration with a physician to improve patient outcomes and work in conjunction with primary care physicians and specialists as needed
- Conducted minimally invasive practices in clinic like suture placement and incision drainage
Registered Nurse
Cross Country Healthcare
06.2023 - 07.2023
- Admissions from a variety of units, departments, and other facilities
- Rounding and collaborating with a multidisciplinary care team
- Physical assessments, medication administration, blood transfusions
- Assisting with bedside procedures, wound care, surgical site care
- Assisting and leading healthcare technicians with daily duties
- Performing needs assessments prior to discharge
- Collaboration with all ancillary departments
- PCU/Stepdown, Peds, Surgical, Medical, Trauma
Travel Registered Nurse
Host Healthcare
10.2021 - 03.2023
- Admissions from a variety of units, departments, and other facilities
- Rounding and collaborating with a multidisciplinary care team
- Physical assessments, medication administration, blood transfusions
- Assisting with bedside procedures, wound care, surgical site care
- Assisting and leading healthcare technicians with daily duties
- Performing needs assessments prior to discharge
- Collaboration with all ancillary departments
Contract COVID Registered Nurse
VA Medical Center
12.2020 - 09.2021
- Detailed to inpatient units for COVID influx
- Completed COVID-19 nasopharyngeal testing and vaccine administration
- Assessed and triaged patients for the Emergency Department
- Administered medications and treatments to patients, ensuring adherence to protocols and safety standards.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans.
- Monitored patient conditions, documenting observations accurately for timely interventions.
Travel Registered Nurse
Medical Staffing Network
07.2016 - 07.2020
- Admissions from a variety of units, departments, and other facilities
- Rounding and collaborating with a multidisciplinary care team
- Physical assessments, medication administration, blood transfusions
- Assisting with bedside procedures, wound care, surgical site care
- Assisting and leading healthcare technicians with daily duties
- Performing needs assessments prior to discharge
- Collaboration with all ancillary departments
- PCU/Stepdown, Peds, Surgical, Medical, Trauma
Registered Nurse Per Diem
Hamilton Memorial Hospital
10.2017 - 05.2019
- Admissions from a variety of units, departments, and other facilities
- Performed rounding and collaborating with a multidisciplinary care team
- Completed physical assessments, medication administration, blood transfusions
- Assisting with bedside procedures, wound care, surgical site care
- Assisting and leading healthcare technicians with daily duties
- Performing needs assessments prior to discharge
- Collaboration with all ancillary departments
Registered Nurse
Harrisburg Medical Center
07.2012 - 07.2016
- Admissions from a variety of units, departments, and other facilities
- Completed rounding and collaborating with a multidisciplinary care team
- Performed physical assessments, medication administration, blood transfusions
- Assisting with bedside procedures, wound care, surgical site care
- Assisting and leading healthcare technicians with daily duties
- Performing needs assessments prior to discharge
- Collaboration with all ancillary departments
Education
Master of Science - Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
Minneapolis. MN11-2022
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT08-2018
Associate Degree - Nursing
Southeastern Illinois College
Harrisburg, IL05-2012
Skills
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Health promotion
- Diagnosis accuracy
- Women's health
- Treatment Planning
- Prescription management
- Chronic disease management
- Patient communication and education
- Excellent oral communication
- Physical assessments
- Diagnostic screenings and result interpretation
- Hormone Replacement Therapy/ Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Certification
- Family Nurse Practitioner- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Registered Nurse Illinois- 041402466 Ex. 05/31/2028
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Illinois - 209.027354 Ex. 05/31/2028
- Illinois Controlled Substance License - 309.020457 Ex. 05/31/2028
- Registered Nurse Indiana - 28275574A Ex. 10/31/2027
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Indiana- Pending
- Registered Nurse Michigan - 4704451979 Ex. 07/09/2028
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Michigan - Pending
Timeline
Nurse Practitioner - Family Practice
Deaconess Illinois Clinic
08.2025 - Current
Nurse Practitioner- Urgent Care
Deaconess Illinois Specialty Clinic
07.2023 - 08.2025
Registered Nurse
Cross Country Healthcare
06.2023 - 07.2023
Travel Registered Nurse
Host Healthcare
10.2021 - 03.2023
Contract COVID Registered Nurse
VA Medical Center
12.2020 - 09.2021
Adjunct Nursing Instructor
Southeastern Illinois College
08.2019 - Current
Registered Nurse Per Diem
Hamilton Memorial Hospital
10.2017 - 05.2019
Travel Registered Nurse
Medical Staffing Network
07.2016 - 07.2020
Registered Nurse
Harrisburg Medical Center
07.2012 - 07.2016
Master of Science - Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Governors University
Associate Degree - Nursing
Southeastern Illinois College