Karin Swinney
Registered Nurse, MHA, BSN, PHN
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Experienced Nurse Educator specializing in emergency response, crisis intervention, and regulatory compliance. Recipient of the Special Recognition Award (2022) for a life-saving emergency intervention during a critical medical event. Proven ability to supervise interdisciplinary teams, enhance nursing education, and implement strategic healthcare programs that improve patient outcomes and staff competency.
Expert in policy development, performance audits, and quality improvement initiatives to ensure regulatory adherence and optimize healthcare delivery. Recognized for strong leadership, mentorship, and effective communication, fostering collaboration across disciplines to drive sustainable improvements in healthcare settings.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
8
8
Years of professional nursing experience
Work History
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)/Perioperative Nurse
California Hospital Medical Center
01.2018 - 11.2019
- Supervised and coordinated post-anesthesia care, ensuring adherence to evidence-based pain management protocols.
- Conducted comprehensive patient assessments, monitored vital signs, and managed high-acuity conditions, including ventilator support and complex wound care.
- Led emergency response interventions, optimizing recovery outcomes for critically ill patients.
- Spearheaded quality improvement initiatives, contributing to a 15% reduction in patient discomfort scores and a 25% improvement in patient satisfaction.
- Provided staff education and competency development, facilitating nursing simulation training and evidence-based practice projects.
- Enforced medication administration protocols, ensuring regulatory compliance and reducing errors.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to implement initiatives that enhanced staff retention, morale, and patient safety.
Unit Supervisor– Clinical Psychiatric Acute
Silver Lake Medical Center
06.2015 - 11.2019
- Supervised a team of psychiatric nurses, ensuring compliance with hospital policies and regulatory standards (JCAHO, CMS).
- Reduced emergency response times by 30% through the implementation of streamlined communication protocols and staff training in crisis intervention.
- Led training and mentorship programs, providing ongoing education, competency evaluations, and support for new and existing staff.
- Developed and enforced policies related to patient care, crisis response, infection control, and psychiatric nursing best practices.
- Conducted performance evaluations, identified staff development needs, and implemented targeted improvement plans.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, social workers, and security personnel, to enhance patient outcomes and staff safety.
- Directed quality improvement initiatives, conducting audits, analyzing data, and implementing corrective actions to enhance patient care standards.
- Optimized resource allocation, managing staffing levels, equipment needs, and compliance documentation to ensure efficient unit operations.
Manager – Internal Medicine & Emergency Department
Animal Specialty Group Emergency and Specialty
06.2009 - 11.2019
- Led and Supervised interdisciplinary teams in internal medicine and emergency departments, ensuring high-quality patient care and operational efficiency.
- Led Revision of Client Consent Forms, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and improving informed consent practices. The revision resulted in a 20% increase in client satisfaction and a 25% increase in understanding, reinforcing transparency and trust in the patient care process.
- Trained and Mentored staff on clinical procedures, compliance regulations, and effective patient communication, enhancing team competency and service quality.
- Conducted Performance Evaluations and provided constructive feedback to optimize team effectiveness and professional development.
- Ensured Compliance with state and federal healthcare regulations, overseeing audits, safety protocols, and risk mitigation strategies.
Facilitated Interdisciplinary Collaboration by coordinating with specialists, veterinarians, and administrative staff to optimize patient outcomes and department workflow. - Spearheaded Quality Improvement Initiatives, leveraging data analytics to identify trends, implement corrective actions, and improve patient satisfaction scores.
Registered Nurse – Correctional Facility
State of California CDCR
12.2019 - Current
- Special Recognition Award – Life-Saving Response (2022)
Awarded for rapid assessment and emergency intervention that saved a physician’s life. - Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to implement evidence-based nursing practices, ensuring compliance with infection control, safety, and quality assurance standards.
- Support the integration of new programs, aligning with CDCR policies and state regulations to improve healthcare delivery.
- Conduct chart reviews, audits, and compliance assessments to identify process gaps for enhanced patient safety.
- Provide leadership, training, and mentorship to nursing staff, ensuring adherence to policies, best practices, and patient care protocols.
- Lead and coordinate emergency response efforts in psychiatric and medical crises, improving response times and safety outcomes.
- Act as a liaison between nursing, mental health, and custody staff to ensure seamless healthcare coordination and a safe correctional environment.
- Develop individualized care plans, educate patients on self-management strategies, and advocate for patient-centered care in a correctional setting.
- Maintain accurate electronic health records (EHR), tracking patient outcomes and ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
Nurse Instructor
California Rehabilitation Center
05.2024 - 07.2024
- Supervised and mentored nursing staff, overseeing performance evaluations, competency assessments, and professional development to ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.
- Led and coordinated training programs, including orientation, In-Service Training (IST), and continuing education, ensuring staff proficiency in clinical and correctional healthcare procedures.
- Developed curriculum and instructional materials, utilizing evidence-based practices and adult learning principles to enhance clinical skills and policy adherence.
- Directed interdisciplinary training initiatives, collaborating with healthcare leadership and supervisors to align education programs with institutional needs and audit findings.
- Oversaw classroom and hands-on training sessions, providing individualized coaching and corrective action plans to address performance gaps.
- Managed training records, compliance documentation, and reporting, ensuring adherence to institutional, state, and federal licensing requirements.
- Led quality improvement initiatives, conducting audits, chart reviews, and process evaluations to enhance nursing education and healthcare delivery.
- Supervised policy development and implementation, ensuring staff compliance with patient safety protocols, emergency response procedures, and correctional healthcare regulations.
- Implemented instructional technology solutions to optimize training effectiveness, staff engagement, and competency tracking.
- Administered training resources, schedules, and materials procurement, ensuring efficiency and readiness in program delivery.
Mental Health Educator
State of California CDCR
05.2020 - 05.2023
- Collaborate with Mental Health Program leadership and Nurse Instructors to develop, implement, and assess training programs for correctional mental health nursing staff.
- Conduct competency evaluations and validations to ensure adherence to the Mental Health Services Delivery System (MHSDS) Program Guide.
- Provide consultation and training on mental health treatment, psychotropic medications, group dynamics, and crisis intervention strategies.
- Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and state regulations through audits, quality improvement initiatives, and performance monitoring.
- Maintain and organize training records, education calendars, and compliance reports, ensuring adherence to institutional, licensing, and accreditation standards.
- Lead interdisciplinary training initiatives, incorporating evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and staff competency in psychiatric care.
- Facilitate individual and group training sessions, addressing critical topics such as suicide prevention, behavioral de-escalation, and emergency response.
- Participate in policy development, revision, and implementation to enhance mental health care services in correctional settings.
- Serve as a subject matter expert, providing technical assistance and mentorship to nursing staff to improve patient-centered care delivery.
Education
Master of Science - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN 06.2020 - Current
Master of Arts - Health Administration- Organizational Leadership
West Coast University
Anaheim, CA 11.2016 - 04.2018
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
West Coast University
North Hollywood, CA 06.2014 - 06.2016
Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, CA 06.2013 - 06.2014
Skills
Nursing Consultation & Compliance Oversight
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Company CultureCareer advancementPersonal development programsAccomplishments
🏥 Healthcare Program Implementation & Subject Matter Expertise
- Led the integration and staff training of ISUDT, EMRP, and NLTG programs, enhancing patient care and regulatory compliance.
- Served as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Emergency Medical Response (EMRP) and Nurse-Led Therapeutic Groups (NLTG).
👩🏫 Leadership, Mentorship & Staff Development
- Supervised and mentored nursing teams and interdisciplinary staff, fostering collaboration, competency, and professional growth.
- Developed and led inclusive training programs, ensuring accessibility and engagement for diverse learning styles.
- Certified T4T Trainer, equipping staff with leadership and instructional skills.
🚨 Emergency Response & Risk Mitigation
- Conducted training and process evaluations, reducing emergency response times by 30% in high-acuity mental health units.
- Strengthened patient and staff safety protocols through crisis intervention training.
📊 Regulatory Compliance & Quality Improvement
- Led policy development, audits, and corrective action planning to ensure adherence to federal and state healthcare regulations.
- Spearheaded data-driven quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient care, workflow efficiency, and healthcare delivery.
Qualifications Summary
🎓 Master of Health Administration (MHA) – Organizational Leadership | West Coast University
🔹 Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) & Public Health Nurse (PHN) – State of California
🔹 Basic Life Support (BLS) Certified
🔹 Certified T4T Trainer – Equipped to provide instruction, training, and mentorship.
🔹 Expert in Emergency Medical Response (EMRP) & Nurse-Led Therapeutic Groups (NLTG)
🔹 Extensive experience in policy development, regulatory adherence, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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