Karen De Souza
Registered Nurse
Arleta,CA
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven Registered Nurse with over 20 years of diverse clinical experience across perioperative, surgical, acute care, and community settings. Recognized for leadership excellence as a charge nurse, preceptor, and interdisciplinary team collaborator. Skilled in driving quality improvement initiatives, implementing patient safety measures, and managing workflow efficiencies in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. Currently seeking a leadership opportunity that leverages clinical expertise, operational oversight, and team mentorship to promote patient-centered outcomes and organizational excellence.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
KAISER WH – HSU SURGERY CENTER
12.2022 - Current
- Serve as Relief Charge Nurse and Preceptor; Co-lead of UBT and designated Urology liaison.
- Oversee staffing and surgical scheduling, contributing to operational efficiency and patient flow.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to support seamless care transitions and optimize safety via NKE handoffs.
Registered Nurse
KAISER WH – PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES
04.2019 - 12.2022
- Performed circulating and scrubbing roles in high-acuity cases across general, ortho, cardiac, gyn, and urology specialties.
- Served as preceptor, charge relief nurse, and UBT member; completed AORN Perioperative 101.
- Maintained readiness for emergency OR procedures (30-minute call window).
Registered Nurse
KAISER PANORAMA CITY – ACUTE CARE
10.2015 - 04.2019
- Delivered direct nursing care in med-surg/oncology, telemetry, family-centered care, and OTU.
- Spearheaded unit-wide fall prevention education using Hester-Davis model.
- Co-chaired Magnet and Professional Development initiatives; mentored novice nurses.
- Led QI test-of-change projects improving departmental outcomes.
Registered Nurse
LAVANDA HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE
06.2015 - 02.2017
- Managed admissions, discharges, wound care, IV therapy, med reconciliation, and patient teaching in home-based settings.
Licensed Vocational Nurse
KAISER PANORAMA CITY – DERMATOLOGY & SURGERY
02.2002 - 09.2015
- Served as Mohs coordinator, scrub nurse, and cosmetic liaison; provided UV light therapy.
- Supported facial reconstruction and outpatient surgical recovery; safety & Thrive ambassador.
- Assisted with advanced cosmetic procedures including Botox, Restylane, Sculptra, and laser surgery.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing Science
12-2018
- Honoree of Magna Cum Laude
No Degree - Psychiatric Nursing
11-2025
- Honoree of the National Society of Leadership and Success
- 3.84 GPA
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing
01.2017
GPA: Summa Cum Laude
Associate of Science in Nursing - Nursing
01.2014
Skills
- Leadership & Supervision
- Relief charge nurse, preceptor, UBT co-lead, staff scheduling & coordination
- Quality & Safety
- Experienced in JCAHO compliance, risk mitigation, and Magnet-related initiatives
- Clinical Excellence
- Advanced perioperative and post-surgical nursing (CNOR-certified)
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Team liaison in surgical, acute care, urology, and oncology units
- Strategic Communication
- Astute decision-making, documentation, and handoff via NKE (nurse knowledge exchange)
- Operating room safety
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Patient positioning
- Patient safety
- Maintaining sterility
- Scrub nurse skills
- Patient advocacy
- HIPAA compliance
- Clinical assessments
- Medication administration
- Infection control
- Preoperative checklists
- Patient and family education
- Patient charting
- Relationship building
- Circulating nurse skills
- Chart updating
- Adapting to change
- Decision-making
- Emergency response
- Instrument passing
- Care standards development
- Patient needs assessment
- Process improvement
- Verbal and written communication
- Surgical support
- Patient care management
- Pain management plans
- Blood transfusion
- Pre-surgery assessments
- Attention to detail
- Procedure room preparation
- Student precepting
- Accurate documentation
- Delegation and motivation
- Care coordination
- Certified in CPR/AED
- Training staff
- Documentation
- Patient and family advocacy
- Patient care assessment
- Clear patient communication
- Medical procedure preparation
- Strong clinical judgment
- Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS)
- CPR/AED
- Acute care expertise
- Pediatric advanced life support (PALS)
- Needs assessment
- Direct patient care
- EMR / EHR
Accomplishments
- Patient Transfer - Safe patient transfer with enhanced technology and positioning devices.
Affiliations
- American Nurses Association (ANA) Member
Certification
- Registered Nurse – CA #RN95067554 | Exp. 2026-11 (Unrestricted)
- Public Health Nurse – CA #PHN553085 | Exp. 2026-11
- Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) #1779625 | Exp. 2028-12
- Nurse Manager Certificate – 2016
- ACLS, BLS, PALS – All Active
- AORN, ONS, ANA – Active Member
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Registered Nurse - KAISER WH – HSU SURGERY CENTER
12.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse - KAISER WH – PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES
04.2019 - 12.2022
Registered Nurse - KAISER PANORAMA CITY – ACUTE CARE
10.2015 - 04.2019
Registered Nurse - LAVANDA HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE
06.2015 - 02.2017
Licensed Vocational Nurse - KAISER PANORAMA CITY – DERMATOLOGY & SURGERY
02.2002 - 09.2015
Los Angeles Pierce College - Associate of Science in Nursing, Nursing
West Coast University - Master of Science, Nursing Science
Walden University - No Degree, Psychiatric Nursing
West Coast University - Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Nursing
Leadership Highlights
- Charge Nurse & Preceptor – Guided staff during peak operations and new hire onboarding.
- Committee Leadership – Co-chair for Magnet, QI test of change, and professional development projects.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration – Acted as liaison between surgeons, urology, anesthesiology, and support teams.
- Staff Educator – Led inpatient education on fall prevention and care coordination.