Kari O'Hara
Great Falls,MT
Summary
Dedicated Registered Nurse with over 15 years of experience in cardiovascular care. Skilled in documentation, patient assessments, and interdisciplinary collaboration, driving significant improvements in patient safety and quality of care through evidence-based practices. RN worked with multiple surgeons who performed procedures such as cardiac bypass, stents, carotid endarterectomy, thoracotomies and pericardial windows.
Dedicated Registered Nurse with expertise in medication administration, patient assessments, and critical care. Proven ability to enhance patient outcomes through evidence-based practices and effective interdisciplinary collaboration.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
DaVita
Great Falls, MT
11.2025 - Current
- Administered medications and treatments according to established protocols.
- Monitored patient vitals and reported changes to healthcare team promptly.
- Assisted with patient education regarding treatment plans and lifestyle modifications.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive patient care.
- Maintained accurate patient records using electronic health record systems.
- Supported infection control procedures to promote patient safety and wellness.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives to enhance care delivery standards.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
- Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the unit.
- Streamlined medication administration processes for increased safety and accuracy during busy shifts.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex cases.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
- Reported findings to quality departments after conducting routine restraint audits and worked with team to devise corrective actions for deficiencies.
Cardiovascular Registered Nurse
Benefis Healthcare System
Great Falls, MT
05.2009 - 11.2024
- Administered comprehensive cardiovascular assessments and monitored patient vital signs for optimal care outcomes.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for diverse patient populations.
- Educated patients on cardiovascular health, treatment options, and lifestyle modifications to enhance recovery.
- Utilized advanced cardiac monitoring systems to track arrhythmias and adapt interventions accordingly.
- Implemented evidence-based protocols that enhanced patient safety and reduced hospital readmission rates.
- Conducted quality improvement audits to ensure adherence to clinical standards and regulatory compliance in cardiovascular services.
- Promoted a positive work environment on the cardiac unit through effective communication, active listening, and conflict resolution skills.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for optimal patient care and treatment plans.
- Contributed to the development of evidence-based nursing protocols by participating in continuous quality improvement initiatives on the cardiovascular unit.
- Treated patients with coronary heart disease and provided post-operative care following bypass surgery or heart transplant procedures.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by consistently delivering compassionate, culturally sensitive, and personalized nursing care.
- Monitored patient vital signs using electrocardiograms and other advanced equipment to foster telemetry care.
- Improved patient outcomes by providing comprehensive care to critically ill cardiovascular patients.
- Increased efficiency in patient admissions by developing streamlined processes for obtaining medical histories and initiating interventions promptly upon arrival to the unit.
- Cultivated a learning environment within the cardiac unit by sharing current research findings and best practices with colleagues during unit-based educational sessions.
- Managed hypertension, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias and other heart conditions by evaluating and monitoring pacemakers and defibrillators.
- Collaborated with cardiologists to diagnose causes of arrhythmias and offered pacemakers, ablation, medications and other interventional treatments.
- Performed physical exams to diagnose chronic and acute cardiac diseases and interpreted laboratory results or cardiac tests to formulate treatment plans.
- Consistently maintained regulatory compliance within the cardiovascular unit through meticulous adherence to established policies and procedures.
- Actively participated in case conferences to discuss complex patients'' needs and develop holistic care plans accordingly.
- Prevented complications in post-operative patients through vigilant monitoring of vital signs and early intervention as needed.
- Facilitated successful transitions between shifts by conducting thorough bedside report handoffs that included detailed information about patients'' current conditions, recent interventions, pending tests or treatments, and anticipated needs during the next shift.
- Maintained accurate electronic health records to ensure timely communication of vital information across medical teams.
- Safely administered medications while adhering to strict protocols for dosage calculation, administration techniques, and documentation requirements.
- Streamlined workflow in the cardiac unit by effectively prioritizing tasks and delegating responsibilities among team members.
- Served as a role model for professional nursing practice through consistent demonstration of ethical behavior, accountability, and commitment to ongoing professional development within the field of cardiovascular nursing.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
- Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
- Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions.
- Worked with healthcare team to develop new dialysis treatment flow sheet and other log forms, improving clinical documentation and accountability.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT05-2009
Bachelor of Science - Horticulture
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT05-2004
Skills
- Medication and IV administration
- Medication administration
- Direct patient care
- Patient assessments
- Documentation and charting
- Strong clinical judgment
- Patient education and counseling
- Patient care
- IV setup
- Intravenous therapy
- Physical assessments
- Patient care planning
- Licensed RN
- Critical care
Certification
BLS License - 2026
- Licensed RN - 2009
Timeline
Registered Nurse
DaVita
11.2025 - Current
Cardiovascular Registered Nurse
Benefis Healthcare System
05.2009 - 11.2024
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Montana State University
Bachelor of Science - Horticulture
Montana State University