Karen Walters BSN RN PCCN

• Provide supplemental nursing care for patients of all levels of acuity in hospitals across the greater Chicago area. (Saint Bernard Hospital)

• Provide supplemental nursing care for patients of all levels of acuity in hospitals across the greater Chicago area. (Mercy, Ingalls, South Shore, Sinai Holy Cross)

Educated patients on procedures and facility processes.

• Prepared rooms according to specific endoscopic procedures.
• Inspected facilities and maintained excellent hygiene and safety by decontaminating equipment and sanitizing surfaces.
• Pulled supplies for specific patient needs and treatments.
• Conducted pre-op calls to review specific instructions prior to surgery and post-op calls to improve patient satisfaction, answer questions and address new or worsening symptoms.
• Performed patient assessment, VS monitoring, IV insertion and other routine procedures and documented in electronic medical record to support interdisciplinary care.
• Administered medication to patients according to facility protocols.
• Recovered patient from anesthesia to perform discharge teaching.
• Studied contraindications, lab results, allergies, and potential interactions before administering patient medication and treatments according to physician orders.
• Adhered to strict safety measures by carefully determining proper dosages before administering medications.
• Accurately documented all elements of nursing assessment, including treatment, medications, IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
• Provided skilled, timely, and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
• Monitored patient condition, including interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings, and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.

• Apply structured auditing criteria to abstract medical records, follow defined procedures for saving approved medical record documentation and accurately enter results of chart audits into the healthplans database, Quality Spectrum Hybrid Reporter (QSHR).
• Abstract medical record documentation submitted for HEDIS measures, used annually for reporting to National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The HEDIS measures are used to assist in measuring quality of healthcare provided to health plan members.
• Maintained productivity level with less than a 5% error rate in record abstraction and data entry on an ongoing basis.
• Comply with HIPAA, Diversity Principles, Corporate Integrity, Compliance Program policies, and other applicable corporate and departmental policies.
• Maintain complete confidentiality of company-related business.
• Maintain effective communication with management regarding development within areas of assigned responsibilities and perform special projects as required or requested.

• Partnered with team of registered nurses to achieve overall well-being of all patients.
• Facilitated patient satisfaction by greeting patients in a timely manner and establishing the purpose of their admission and the expected plan of care.
• Applied NANDA nursing diagnoses and related treatment for patients with chronic and acute health problems such as MI, arrhythmias, asthma, COPD, and pneumonia.
• Achieved high staff morale and retention through effective communication, prompt problem resolution, proactive team leader practices, and facilitating a proactive work environment.

• Provided supplemental nursing care for patients of all levels of acuity in hospitals across the greater Chicago area.

• Assumed primary responsibility for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care for assigned patients.
• Worked closely with other medical staff, including physicians to determine individualized plans of care for each patient.
• Performed regular assessments on patients to evaluate their health conditions while they were in the ICU.
• Participated in clinical team conferences to discuss patient progress, issues and needs.
• Followed all policies and procedures and hospital regulations to ensure compliance and patient safety.
• Routinely collaborated with department managers to correct problems and improve services.
• Continually improved knowledge, skills and performance based on feedback and self-identified professional developmental needs.