N
Open To Work
Karen Patterson
Cherokee County Nursing Center
Fort Payne,AL
Work Preference
Job Search Status:
Open to work
Desired start date:
Immediately
Desired Job Title
Registered Nurse
Work Type
Full TimeContract Work
Location Preference
Remote
Important To Me
Work-life balanceFlexible work hoursPersonal development programs4-day work week
Summary
Accomplished Registered Nurse with expertise in medication administration and patient care at Cherokee County Nursing Center. Enhanced patient outcomes through compassionate care and infection control, reducing falls by 30%. Skilled in team coordination and patient advocacy, driving quality improvement initiatives and mentoring junior staff for optimal healthcare delivery.
Work History
Registered Nurse
- Administered medications and treatments according to established protocols.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported changes to healthcare team.
- Assisted with patient assessments and developed care plans collaboratively.
- Educated patients and families on health management and post-discharge care.
- Implemented infection control procedures to maintain a safe environment.
- Coordinated multi-disciplinary team meetings to enhance patient outcomes.
- Mentored junior nurses in clinical best practices and patient care standards.
- Led quality improvement initiatives to optimize nursing workflows and efficiency.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- 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.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in nursing care and emerging trends in healthcare delivery.
- 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.
- Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Contributed to interdisciplinary team meetings by presenting relevant clinical data about patients'' progress toward reaching established goals of care.
- 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.
- Demonstrated expertise in wound management techniques resulting in accelerated healing times for patients with complex wounds or pressure injuries.
- 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.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- 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.
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
- 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.
- Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Performed frequent checks on life support equipment and made necessary adjustments to preserve optimal patient conditions.
- Sustained quality standards by performing routine medication audits and upholding internal and industry best practices.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
- Investigated and resolved issues affecting hospital operations and patient care.
- Reported findings to quality departments after conducting routine restraint audits and worked with team to devise corrective actions for deficiencies.
- Worked with healthcare team to develop new dialysis treatment flow sheet and other log forms, improving clinical documentation and accountability.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Associate of Science - Nursing
Skills
Medication and IV administration
Medication administration
Direct patient care
Patient assessments
Documentation and charting
Patient assessment
Strong clinical judgment
Patient education and counseling
Clinical judgment
Patient and family advocacy
Infection control measures
Patient care
Wound care
Patient monitoring
Compassion and empathy
IV setup
Intravenous therapy
Care planning
Patient management
Professional bedside manner
Care plan development
Physical assessments
Patient care planning
Patient evaluation
Telemetry monitoring
Family education
Licensed RN
Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification
Taking vitals
Critical care
Collecting vitals
Nursing staff leadership
Medication distribution
Tracheostomy care
Precepting
Patient discharge
Lab result interpretation
Team coordination
EMR systems
Performing ekgs
Complex Problem-solving
Proper catheter insertion/removal
Intake and discharge
Emergency response
Maintaining privacy
Relationship building
Vaccine administration
Chart updating
Diabetes management
Insulin medication assistance
EMR / EHR
High level of autonomy
Procedure preparations
Chronic disease management
Medical assessment
ADL assistance
Patient counseling
Staff supervision
Personal care needs
Patient relations
Diabetes and nutrition education
Chest pain management
Emergency procedures
Treatment Planning
Emotional awareness
Data collection
HIPAA education
Emergency care
Administering immunizations
Emotional intelligence
Health screening
Cardiac care
Acute care expertise
Medical recordkeeping
Hospice and palliative care
Long-term care
Case management
Geriatric nursing
Oxygen saturation standards
Mobility assistance
Removing sutures
Palliative care awareness
FLUENT IN LANGUAGE
Medical records management
Managing deadlines
Mental health nursing
Preventive health
Family advocacy
Seizure management
Feeding assistance
At-risk patient care
Medical evaluation
Software use
Appointment scheduling
Call triaging
Home health care
Supply restocking
Evaluations
Home care
Setting up referrals
Additional Information
Ala care Home Health Oneonta, Alabama
Employed September 1990-1995
Indeoendant patient care coordinator and case manager and direct patient care
Riverview Regional Medical Centre Gadsden,Alabama
1985-1990
CCU director patient care coordinator
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Cherokee County Nursing Center
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University of Alabama At Huntsville
Bachelor of Science from Nursing
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Gadsden State Community College
Associate of Science from Nursing
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