Karen Jones

As the employee health coordinator, I worked to ensure the health and wellness of employees at Adventist Health Mendocino Coast.

• I medically clear incoming employees, such as staff, contingent workers, contracted workers, business partners, and volunteers. Ensuring they meet the necessary medical requirements for their employment.
• I update necessary vaccines for both new hires and all staff members.
• With the assistance of an employee health associate, I provide necessary N95 testing and CAPR training to employees in clinical roles.
• I track compliance for annual screenings such as Tuberculosis and fit testing.
• I assist in our interactive process to determine if accommodations are appropriate.
• I track and investigate all workplace violence incidents and report them appropriately to OSHA.
• I teach monthly TEAM (Techniques for Effective Aggression Management) Advanced Training classes to all staff members considered high-risk, which currently accounts for 75% of our staff.
• I schedule Ergonomic evaluations, assist with virtual assessments, and help obtain the necessary equipment for employees.
• I track compliance for required classes, such as TEAM training and Safe Patient Handling Program.
• I attend and participate in various meetings, including Environment of Care, Nurse Leadership Council, Policy Committee, and Workplace Violence Review.
• Organized annual company-wide flu vaccination clinics, reducing instances of seasonal illnesses among staff members.
• Maintained detailed records for all employee health-related incidents or concerns, facilitating accurate reporting and necessary follow-up actions.
• Directed recordkeeping and paperwork preparation in line with OSHA requirements.
• Train associates on the Safe Patient Handling program and injury prevention program.

• Registered Nurse III working in a critical access hospital. An 8 bed Emergency Department seeing a variety of patients from those with critical injuries to those requiring minor care. I also see persons in mental health crisis.
• Champion to develop new programs such as MAT program in our Emergency Department.
• Demonstrated strong clinical reasoning skills when assessing patients'' conditions, initiating appropriate interventions, and escalating concerns to physicians as needed.
• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
• Improved patient outcomes by consistently providing high-quality emergency care and implementing evidence-based nursing practices.
• Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients presenting with diverse medical conditions in the Emergency Department.
• Reduced patient wait times by efficiently triaging patients based on acuity levels and prioritizing urgent cases.
• Optimized patient flow within the Emergency Department by collaborating with charge nurses in coordinating bed assignments and discharges according to capacity constraints.
• Delivered necessary IV and venous medications to control symptoms and provide effective treatments.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction by delivering compassionate, culturally sensitive care tailored to individual needs and preferences.
• Acted as a resource for colleagues by sharing clinical expertise, participating in educational opportunities, and serving as a preceptor for new nurses joining the Emergency Department team.
• Answered codes quickly and orchestrated efficient, skilled medical care.
• Upheld professional nursing standards and ethical principles when advocating for patients'' rights, respecting their autonomy, and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
• Promoted a safe and supportive environment for both patients and staff members by adhering to infection control protocols, maintaining equipment, and following safety guidelines.
• Communicated openly and collaboratively with all healthcare staff to organize successful patient care.
• Prevented potential medication errors by diligently verifying orders, double-checking dosages, and administering medications according to established protocols.
• 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.
• Educated patients and answered questions about health condition, prognosis, and treatment.
• Contributed to improved departmental performance metrics through prompt documentation of assessments, interventions, and patient responses in electronic medical records.
• Contributed to improvement of patient care procedures through feedback and participation in departmental meetings.
• Administered emergency medications to stabilize patients, improving chances for recovery.
• Improved patient satisfaction by providing empathetic care and clear communication during treatment.
• Conducted patient assessments to determine care priorities, improving treatment outcomes.

• Registered Nurse III working in a critical access hospital. An 8 bed Emergency Department with a variety of patients, from those that are critically ill to minor issues, and mental health crisis issues. Responsible for all aspects of care from time of arrival to discharge, admission or transfer. Perform callbacks to patients, assessing level of improvement, answering any questions they may have.

• Registered Nurse in a Medical/Surgical/Pediatric ICU. Managed a variety of critically ill patients. Responsible for managing interventions and goals for patients. Served as a member of Hemodialysis team in which we would dialysis acute and chronic patients within the hospital.

• Worked on a primary care Neuro focused unit. Nurses were primary care givers for 3-4 patients. Typically, they had head injuries, or strokes or some type of spinal problem. I worked side by side with many therapies, and often sent our patients to rehab units to further their recovery. I also managed ophthalmic patients recovering from retinal type surgeries. Often these patients required special positioning after surgery. I also worked with cancer patients recovering from radical neck procedures. I worked with a team to develop a teaching program for the families caring for these patients at home. These patients went home with tracheostomy and feeding tubes, so their caregivers needed to be confident with caring for these many devices.