Kara Taungatu'a, MSN, RN-BC, CEN
Prospect,Maine
Summary
Seasoned nursing professional offering proven clinical knowledge, natural interpersonal strengths and technical abilities. Knowledgeable about EMR charting, medication administration and interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and support. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader with excellent unit management skills whose focus is staff support and development. Proficient in quality, cost and care standards focused on maximizing resources, patient and staff satisfaction.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Nurse Manager
Maine Health Waldo County Hospital
01.2022 - Current
- Developed and implemented quality improvement initiatives to provide best possible patient care and identify and address areas of concern.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Championed continuous learning among staff members, organizing regular educational workshops and seminars.
- Advocated for patients'' rights and ethical considerations in all aspects of care delivery.
- Promoted culture of safety within department, conducting regular risk assessments and addressing potential hazards promptly.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Established strong relationships with patients'' families, providing support and education throughout treatment process.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Improved patient satisfaction scores by fostering team-oriented environment among nursing staff.
- Developed strategy to target nursing and patient satisfaction issues, improve response, and patient care quality and suggest actionable improvements to promote hospital-wide quality and safety initiatives.
- Managed staff scheduling and time off to adequately staff nursing floors and allow nurses earned time off.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
- Coordinated staffing resources during times of high patient acuity or census fluctuations to maintain optimal nurse-to-patient ratios.
- Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, physicians, and patients by leveraging clinical judgment and unit management expertise.
- Established and continuously optimized unit schedules and individual work assignments.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for patients with complex needs.
Director Emergency Department and Nursing Supervision
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within the organization.
- Recruited, hired, and trained new personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions.
- Monitored and coordinated workflows to optimize resources.
- Strengthened internal controls by reviewing existing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Evaluated employee performance objectively using established metrics, leading to fair compensation adjustments based on meritocracy principles.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
Clinical Supervisor
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
01.2019 - 11.2019
- Optimized scheduling processes that promoted efficient use of time in order to maximize clinician availability for direct patient contact.
- Monitored, analyzed, and corrected staff performance and worked with nurse manager to raise standards of practice.
- Designed and introduced leadership development, coaching and team management model, resulting in promotion of employees into increased levels of responsibility.
- Mentored junior staff members in clinical best practices, contributing to culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular staff meetings, case conferences, and training sessions.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based treatment plans and clinical interventions.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Assessed patients, determined needs, and managed care.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
- Responded to crisis situations with calm and professional approach to optimize support.
- Identified nurses' and staff training needs and devised training programs to close gaps.
Clinical Nurse Educator
Eastern Maine Medical Center
01.2015 - 01.2019
- Streamlined onboarding processes for new hires, resulting in decreased time to full productivity.
- Promoted patient safety by leading quality improvement initiatives within nursing department.
- Kept current with emerging trends in healthcare education, incorporating new strategies into existing curricula for continuous program improvement.
- Served as mentor for junior nursing staff, fostering positive learning environment and promoting professional growth.
- Contributed to hospital accreditation efforts by ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices in nursing education.
- Coordinated continuing education events, connecting nurses with relevant resources to advance their expertise within their respective fields.
- Assisted in design of simulation exercises, enhancing hands-on learning experiences for clinical staff members.
- Utilized adult learning principles to adapt teaching methods according to individual learner needs, maximizing comprehension and retention of material presented.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to ensure consistent patient care and education across various departments.
- Improved nursing competency through creation and delivery of targeted training sessions and workshops.
- Contributed to achievement of key performance indicators by providing data-driven recommendations for nursing education initiatives.
- Led the development of annual training plans based on identified gaps in knowledge or skills among clinical staff members.
- Enhanced patient outcomes by developing and implementing evidence-based educational programs for clinical staff.
- Increased staff retention by providing ongoing professional development opportunities and support.
- Developed comprehensive competency assessments, effectively measuring nursing staff knowledge and skill levels.
- Facilitated open communication between management and clinical staff, addressing concerns and implementing solutions to improve overall team satisfaction.
- Supported departmental goals by aligning educational programs with organizational objectives.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness through the development of innovative solutions.
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Eastern Maine Medical Center
01.2001 - 01.2015
- Responsibilities included: Adult and Pediatric triage, scheduling, orientation support, payroll, daily assignment, trauma response team, tele-trauma and flow management, forensic evidence collection
- Co-Chair TCAB committee, Disaster Preparedness, and Employee Engagement Specialist
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Provided valuable support to families during critical situations by offering emotional support, answering questions, and assisting with decision-making processes related to their loved one''s care.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Answered codes quickly and orchestrated efficient, skilled medical care.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions.
- Reduced patient wait times by efficiently triaging patients based on acuity levels and prioritizing urgent cases.
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Waldo County General Hospital
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Responsibilities included: Adult and pediatric mixed 5:1 direct patient care, Code Team, Critical Transports
- Consistently maintained accurate documentation of patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.
- Monitored hemodynamic variances to identify signs of life-threatening complications.
- Improved patient outcomes by providing comprehensive assessments and developing individualized care plans.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety, and rights of patient.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing Education
Western Governors University
06.2020
Graduate Certificate in Teaching -
University of Maine, Orono
12.
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Maine, Orono
Orono, MEEMT-Basic -
Kennebec Valley Technical College
Skills
- Budget planning and management
- Variance reporting
- Staff development and support
- Regulatory requirements; facility and staff
- Coaching and discipline
- Clinical competency in care of patients in medical surgical, critical care and emergency department setting
Accomplishments
- Rebuilt team of less than thirty-five core members for two units to over one hundred trained staff of nurses, c.n.a's and unit secretaries over two year period.
- Nurse advisor for Hanley Center of Healthcare Leadership which coaches and supports nurse leaders across multiple disciplines and specialties for growth and leadership development.
- Interviewing, placement and support of student nurse extern program in coordination with University of Maine Augusta and Coastal Healthcare Alliance.
- Member of Shared Governance Committee at Coastal Healthcare alliance providing support and insight with front line healthcare staff and leaders including multi-unit float guidelines, updated patient communication tool development, and community outreach.
- Co-development and implementation of nursing restorative program for long term patients awaiting placement to maintain strength and ensure high quality care and outcomes. This included working collaboratively with swing bed coordinator, therapies staff and documentation specialist.
Certification
- MOAB
- TNCC
- ACLS
- PALS
- BLS
- CPR
Timeline
Nurse Manager
Maine Health Waldo County Hospital
01.2022 - Current
Director Emergency Department and Nursing Supervision
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
01.2019 - 01.2022
Clinical Supervisor
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
01.2019 - 11.2019
Clinical Nurse Educator
Eastern Maine Medical Center
01.2015 - 01.2019
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Waldo County General Hospital
01.2002 - 01.2004
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Eastern Maine Medical Center
01.2001 - 01.2015
Master of Science - Nursing Education
Western Governors University
Graduate Certificate in Teaching -
University of Maine, Orono
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Maine, Orono
EMT-Basic -
Kennebec Valley Technical College
- MOAB
- TNCC
- ACLS
- PALS
- BLS
- CPR
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