Karen Orridge
Registered Nurse
Augusta,Georgia
Summary
Adaptable Chief Nursing Officer possessing 7 years of extensive experience as Chief Nurse Ambulatory Care in hospital setting. Dynamic and educated with clear articulation and communication skills. Represents nursing department to senior management and delivers quality nursing management. Talented at proactively addressing problematic situations in stressful settings and resolving disputes fairly. Enthusiastic healthcare leader eager to care for patients while overseeing facility responsibilities including budgets and inventory. Proven history in leading teams and achieving high-quality patient care, outcomes and quality measures. Works productively with healthcare leaders and facility management to achieve program success.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
CHIEF NURSE AMBULATORY CARE
CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC
AUGUSTA, Georgia
01.2015 - Current
- Executive level responsibility for administrative, budgetary, programmatic responsibilities for Ambulatory Care Nursing Team; and personnel management for 166 employees spanning Primary Care, Medicine Specialty Clinics, Vaccination clinic, Telehealth, Aiken, Athens, and Statesboro Community Based Outreach Clinics
- Provided clinical and administrative oversight into regulatory programs for accreditation with Joint Commission and various other regulatory program Site Visits for Programs with areas such as Telehealth, Primary care, and Oncology
- Developed departmental and service wide policies, standard work documents, and standard operating procedures to improve delivery of nursing practice in acute clinical settings
- Developed education and competency-based programs for annual training programs within service
- Utilized principles of Lean Six Sigma training in rapid process improvement projects
- Facilitated development of shared governance models to promote performance and quality metrics based on nursing sensitive indicators
- Support High Reliability Organization (HRO) standards, supporting culture of safety
- Collaborates in establishment of and supports system for recognition of accomplishments and achievements by employees
- Role model standards of professional practice, assess, implements, and evaluate professional standards of clinical practice and ensure compliance accrediting and regulatory bodies
- Actively support and role-model Veteran centered care concepts
- Develop and implements and maintain formal and informal communication systems with wide constituency of colleagues
- Provides leadership in development, implementation and review/revision of policies, protocols, procedure, standards of care, and competencies for complex and diverse integrated programs and evaluates operations outcomes
- Knowledgeable of SAIL, VSSC, SHEP, and Press Ganey
- Previously served as Chair of Nurse Professional Standards Board
- Developed departmental and service wide policies, standard work documents, and standard operating procedures to improve delivery of nursing practice in acute clinical settings
- Developed education and competency-based programs for annual training programs within service
- Utilized principles of Lean Six Sigma training in rapid process improvement projects
- Managed and mitigated risk management issues for service that resulted in developed of standard work processes
- Developed, implemented, and evaluated standards of care for Veteran population consistent with current best nursing practice
- Developed and coordinated strategic planning for human and technology resources to meet changing demands for Veteran population for Nursing Service and Ambulatory Care Service
- Served as mentor and longstanding member for facility RN Nurse Professional Standard Board with responsibilities for appointment, retention, promotion considerations, and performance awards for Title 38 RNs
- Analyzes critical incidents reports through Joint Patient Safety Reporting System for development of action plans and to identify system and/or procedural interventions to improve performance
- Participated in Whole Health Initiatives within Primary Care Service with use of personal health inventories to identify goals, and meditation activities.
NURSE MANAGER PRIMARY
CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC, WOMEN'S
AUGUSTA, GA
01.2012 - 11.2015
- Supervises team of 53 members comprising 28 teams provide clinical expertise and oversight for team members to include Aiken Community Based Outreach Clinic (CBOC)
- Served as Acting- NM for Telehealth and assisted with opening of new Statesboro Primary Care Telehealth Outreach Clinic
- Member of Interdisciplinary team for Primary Care
- Serve as liaison for physicians, staff, patients and family members with collaboration on Mental Health issues
- Serve as Acting-Associate Nurse Executive in absence of Primary Care ANE
- Effectively balanced workflow to prevent overtime use
- Mentors, supports, and encourages growth of professional staff
- Facilitates unit orientation for new team members
- Completes annual Proficiency and Performance Appraisals and maintains appropriate deadlines
- Maintains strict compliance of employment laws by working with Employee relations and Union/Labor relations organizations
- Member of Health Promotion Disease Prevention Committee
- Contributed to Joint Commission survey preparation by ensuring patient charts complied with documentation, assessing functionality of equipment, and assisting with compliance of safety goals
- Contributed to B. Allen survey and OIG survey to include Aiken CBOC
- Identifies, develops, and implements alternative and innovative organizational structures, programs, policies, and processes to accomplish mission
- Identifies innovative ways to make optimal use of limited resources in establishing high priority programs including liaison for Primary Care to Mental Health
- Responsible for allocating resources, including funds, staff, equipment and plant, in effective manner responding to changes in budget plan, office environment issues, VHA and program office priorities,
- Utilizes full range of approaches including HR authorities, contracts, sharing agreements,
- To achieve desired outcomes
- Served as secretary and now currently Co-Chair of Nursing Professional Standards Board
- Promoted and executed staff development activities, inclusive of unit based standard operating procedures for Primary Care Service
- Restructured physical layout and workflow processes within multiple clinics to provide more Patient/Family Centered Environment
- Assisted in development and evaluation of HEDIS (Outpatient metrics) for service, with intricate role in revision of standardized templates to meet performance and quality metrics
- Provided preventative care and telephone care management for patients with chronic disease processes
- Triaged symptomatic patients in walk-in clinics to provide
- Provided individual and group education classes
- Participated in quality improvement activities to meet quality metrics for preventative care measures
- Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly and monthly reporting
ACTING-ASSOCIATE NURSE EXECUTIVE MENTAL
CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC
Augusta, Georgia
10.2014 - 03.2015
- Coached and mentored Nurse Managers for Mental Health and Rehab during tenure as acting ANE for service
- Ensured all prior pay period exceptions were completed in timely manner and held each nurse manager to standard of accountability to maintain
- Worked with nurse managers for both inpatient mental health, rehab services, blind rehab, treatment team programs, and outpatient services to complete performance reviews in timely manner to assure zero late proficiencies for service
- Collaborated with program support personnel to ensure all nursing resources were accounted for and correct on staffing methodology for each unit
- Instrumental with getting new hires recruited and filled in outpatient mental health clinics
- Worked with mental health nursing and provider teams to come to common ground on team notes and interdisciplinary team meetings to reach goals
- Served in mediation during tenure as acting ANE of Mental health
- Employee was pleased with outcome
- Coordinated with Interdisciplinary team members of Disruptive Behavior Committee to ensure process continued to run smoothly without disruptions and no delays; each team member review certain number of cases to decrease backlog.
- Developed team communications and information for meetings
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships
- Collaborated with team members to achieve target results
- Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly and monthly reporting
NURSE MANAGER
SPINAL CORD INJURY UNIT, CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC
Augusta, Georgia
03.2008 - 11.2012
- Supervised team of 25 members; provide clinical expertise and oversight for team members
- Member of Interdisciplinary team for SCI and successfully coordinated opening of new 11 bed acute care unit on SCI
- Managed care for complex group of patients on SCI to include medical as well as mental health issues for inpatient and outpatient settings
- Manage care of ventilator dependent patients, up to four, to include vent weaning and coordination of rehab activities
- Provide intermittent managerial coverage for two of other 30 bed SCI units
- Serve as liaison for physicians, staff, patients and family members
- Serve as Acting-Associate Nurse executive in absence of SCI ANE
- Effectively balance work flow to prevent over-staffing and limit overtime use
- Mentors, supports, and encourages growth of professional staff
- Facilitates unit orientation for new team members
- Completes annual Proficiency and Performance Appraisals and maintains appropriate deadlines
- Maintained strict compliance of employment laws by working with Employee relations and Union/Labor relations organizations
- Member of Veteran and Family Centered Care Committee in order to facilitate move of patient and family centered care on spinal cord unit
- Member of Health Promotion Disease Prevention Committee
- Contributed to Joint Commission survey preparation by ensuring patient charts complied with documentation, assessing functionality of equipment, and assisting with compliance of safety goals
- Identified, developed, and implemented alternative and innovative organizational structures, programs, policies, and processes to accomplish mission
- Identified innovative ways to make optimal use of limited resources in establishing high priority programs including Mental Health
- Responsible for allocating resources, including funds, staff, equipment and plant, in effective manner responding to changes in budget plan, office environment issues, VHA and program office priorities
- Utilizes full range of approaches including HR authorities, contracts, sharing agreements
- To achieve desired outcomes
- Balanced various stakeholder needs, including those of patients, staff, affiliates, Labor Partnership and Veterans Service Organizations to optimize outcomes
- Member of Medical Center Veteran and Family Centered Care Committee
- Member of Nursing Professional Standards Board
- Augusta Facility Flu Campaign Coordinator for VISN 7for past two years
- Provided restorative and rehabilitative care for paralyzed veterans in nurturing and safe atmosphere
- Served as preceptor/mentor for new employee orientation to unit/department
- Served as RN Team Leader and coordinated delivery of care to multiple Veterans with assistance of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Technicians by ensuring that competence level of nursing care was adequate as it relates to evidence based practices
- Served as Wound Care Champion for Veterans with both hospital and community acquired pressure injuries
- Served as member of interdisciplinary team and provided updates to medical providers about changes in patient's conditions and executed medical orders in timely manner to ensure efficacy of treatment modalities
STAFF NURSE
CRITICAL SOLUTIONS MEDICAL STAFFING
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
02.2008 - 01.2016
- Worked at Select Specialty hospital since 2/23/08 as contract registered nurse
- Maintained ACLS; carried team of 5-6 patients
- Maintained skills and expertise to care for patients with acute or chronic respiratory disorders; mechanical ventilator dependence; COPD, and Emphysema
- Maintained skills and expertise to care for patients cardiac/heart failure; renal; neuro/post trauma; infectious disease; wound care; or any other medically complex treatment needs.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring and specimen collection.
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care and discharge instructions.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Gathered patient health data through interviews and observation, documenting data in electronic records.
Senior Staff Nurse- Practice Site Coordinator
MCG-HEALTHCARE, INC
Augusta, Georgia
08.2004 - 03.2008
- Joined this Academic Medical Center to work in outpatient Cardiology clinic as only registered nurse
- Outpatient clinic included Cardiology, Electro-physiology, Cardio-thoracic and Vascular surgery patients
- Assisted in planning, developing and moving outpatient Cardiology clinic to offsite building, currently known as MCG Cardiovascular Center
- (Includes Cardiothoracic surgery, Vascular surgery, and Electrophysiology)
- Cardiovascular Center has outpatient clinic visits, diagnostic studies (echo, stress echo, nuclear stress test, Holter, event monitor, and device interrogations), and phlebotomy room on site
- Responsible for onsite clinical operations of Cardiovascular Center to include, staff orientation, training and continuing education
- Provided Practice site Management in absence of Business Manager
- Responsible for allocating resources, including funds, staff, equipment, supplies, and plant, in effective manner responding to changes in budget plan
- Coordinated patient flow to assist with patient flow; assisted physicians and surgeons to prepare patients to be seen in office and prepare for diagnostic procedures; Managed assistance program for patient medications by helping patients to complete applications and referrals to their local community resources including Mental Health support
- Managed nurse call line to appropriately triage patient calls for sick visits, prescription refills, and other cardiac related issues
- Serve as liaison for physicians, staff, patients, and family members
- Participated in Patient and Family Centered Care committee
- Coordinate and participate in local community health fairs to include patient educations and blood pressure monitoring stations
- Participated on Power Chart Office team to implement training of staff, and physicians on Power Chart office and EZ script (computerized charting system at MCG health System)
- Serves as resource for staff and physicians in ongoing transition to Electronic Medical Record Responsible for quality assurance (survey readiness; monthly audits, etc.), Joint Commission readiness, and patient satisfaction.
- Identified patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with patients and families
- Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments
- Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures and nursing best practices
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care and discharge instructions
NORTHEAST BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER, Cath Lab RN
San Antonio, Texas
10.2003 - 06.2004
- Joined this Medical Center to work in Cardiac Cath lab/Special procedures unit Type of procedures performed included but not limited to heart catheterizations, PTCA's, balloon pumps, insertion SWAN GANS catheters, pacemaker-AICD-BIV insertions, electrophysiology studies, various angiogram studies, stent arterial stent placements, Embolization, Medi-port implants, permanent dialysis catheter placement, Vertebr2008-02 - 2016-01 STAFF NURSE
CRITICAL SOLUTIONS MEDICAL STAFFING, AUGUSTA
• Worked at Select Specialty hospital since 2/23/08 as contract registered nurse
• Maintained ACLS; carried team of 5-6 patients
• Maintained skills and expertise to care for patients with acute or chronic respiratory disorders; mechanical ventilator dependence; COPD, and Emphysema
• Maintained skills and expertise to care for patients cardiac/heart failure; renal; neuro/post trauma; infectious disease; wound care; or any other medically complex treatment needs vertebroplasty, and TILTS procedures - Patient population includes both inpatient to include intensive care and outpatients to include emergency department
- Maintained role as circulator by gathering and organizing equipment, instruments, and supplies necessary for performance of Cath lab and Special Procedures
- Assisted in supervising and directing other staff members during case assignments
- Responsible for on call duties when assigned and responded within 30 minutes to hospital for emergency procedures
- Assess patients' physical state; administer conscious sedation medications, cardiac medications, thrombolytic medications, and monitored patient's status before during and after procedure
- Patient population included outpatient elective procedures, inpatient, ICU patients, and Urgent/Emergent patients
- Demonstrated knowledge of EKG interpretation, basic cardiopulmonary life support, and ACLS protocols during arrest or critical situations during cases
- Provided access for Cardiology patients needing Mental Health services to cope with Cardiac conditions.
- Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork
Clinical Staff Nurse
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER ARMY MEDICAL CTR
Augusta, Georgia
03.2003 - 08.2003
- Joined this Army Medical Center and teaching hospital to work on 25-39-bed capacity surgery unit
- Patient population includes orthopedics, general surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, general medicine, urology and endocrinology
- Contributed to JCAHO preparation by ensuring patient charts complied with documentation, assessing functionality of equipment, and assisting with compliance of safety goals
- Assess patients' physical state, administer medications, assist with meals and baths, perform discharge planning and transcribe physician orders
- Maintaining patient load while managing staffing and patient issues by rotating team leader and charge duties.
Staff Nurse
MCG-HEALTHCARE, INC
Augusta, Georgia
01.2000 - 03.2003
- Joined this Academic Medical Center to work on 34-bed intermediate care telemetry unit with patients undergoing variety of surgical procedures, trauma patients, and patients with suicidal ideations until medically stable enough to transfer to psych unit
- Assess patients' physical state, administer medications, assist with meals and baths, perform discharge planning, and transcribe physician orders
- Utilize valuable experience gained from working on all three shifts to provide peers with insight regarding patient care improvement and efficient task management
- Ensured positive patient outcomes and minimize time in hospital by working with trauma team and case management to discharge patients in timely manner with proper equipment
- Contributed to JCAHO preparation by ensuring patient charts complied with documentation and assessing functionality of equipment
- Serve as member of Quality Assurance Team, preceptor for one nursing student and as resource for several RN and LPN students
- Simultaneously maintain patient load while managing staffing and patient issues by rotating charge duties
- Assisted ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) patients that included tracheotomies and suctioning
- Additionally, cared for chest tubes of Cardio thoracic patients.
- Coordinated with physicians to perform bedside procedures such as intravenous injections, vascular line insertions and bronchoscopies
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring and specimen collection
Education
MSN/MBA HC -
University of Phoenix
08.2007 - 03.2009
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
MEDICAL COLLEGE of GEORGIA
Augusta, GA 08.2001 - 05.2002
Associate of Science - Nursing
SOUTH GEORGIA COLLEGE
Douglas, Georgia 08.1998 - 08.1999
Associate of Applied Arts - Nursing
VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
01.1995 - 08.1997
Skills
Nursing staff managementundefined
Timeline
CHIEF NURSE AMBULATORY CARE
CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC
01.2015 - Current
ACTING-ASSOCIATE NURSE EXECUTIVE MENTAL
CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC
10.2014 - 03.2015
NURSE MANAGER PRIMARY
CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC, WOMEN'S
01.2012 - 11.2015
NURSE MANAGER
SPINAL CORD INJURY UNIT, CHARLIE NORWOOD VAMC
03.2008 - 11.2012
STAFF NURSE
CRITICAL SOLUTIONS MEDICAL STAFFING
02.2008 - 01.2016
MSN/MBA HC -
University of Phoenix
08.2007 - 03.2009
Senior Staff Nurse- Practice Site Coordinator
MCG-HEALTHCARE, INC
08.2004 - 03.2008
NORTHEAST BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER, Cath Lab RN
10.2003 - 06.2004
Clinical Staff Nurse
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER ARMY MEDICAL CTR
03.2003 - 08.2003
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
MEDICAL COLLEGE of GEORGIA
08.2001 - 05.2002
Staff Nurse
MCG-HEALTHCARE, INC
01.2000 - 03.2003
Associate of Science - Nursing
SOUTH GEORGIA COLLEGE
08.1998 - 08.1999
Associate of Applied Arts - Nursing
VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
01.1995 - 08.1997
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