Katelyn Carter
Irondale,AL
Summary
Certified registered nurse first assistant known for excellent work ethic. Proficient in peri-operative skills and critical care thinking. Adapts quickly to changes to provide excellent patient outcome, strongly believes in patient advocacy and following the institutional philosophy.
Overview
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant
UAB Neurosurgery
Birmingham, AL
09.2022 - Current
- Work alongside attending neurosurgeons and neurosurgery residents providing direct patient care in the operating room. Hemostasis, suturing incisions, wound management, instrumentation, exposure, and intervening if complications arise.
- Supported vascular exposure surgeons during anterior spine neurosurgery procedures.
- Developed and implemented warming protocol for spine surgery patients undergoing long deformity cases, maintaining normothermia during procedures to improve postoperative outcomes.
- Precepted RNFA students and new graduate PAs, enhancing their navigation skills in the OR.
- Participated in quality control meetings, analyzing infection rates in spine surgery compared to orthopedic surgery.
Registered Nurse
UAB Neurosciences ICU
Birmingham, Alabama
07.2019 - 07.2023
- Managing postoperative neurosurgical and trauma patients; Critically ill patients who are post op neurosurgery, head trauma, brain tumors, neurovascular injuries, stroke, seizures, and neurological disease. Prepared, monitored, and adjusted specialized equipment such as continuous dialysis, arterial pressures, intracranial pressures, ventilators, and IV drips and responded to life-saving situations.
- Managed critically ill patients in the coronary care unit, cardiac ICU, medical ICU, trauma burn ICU, and surgical ICU.
- Guided families through organ donation process, offering emotional support and crucial information to facilitate informed decision-making.- assisted in guiding patients family in the organ donation process.
- Precepted nursing students from multiple colleges in Alabama and oriented new graduate nurses in neurosciences ICU, fostering their development and integration into the team.
Registered Nurse- OR
UAB Hospital
Birmingham, Alabama
09.2016 - 08.2022
- Performed circulating and scrub roles for neurosurgery cases, including craniotomies, aneurysm clippings, EVD placements, and complex spinal surgeries, ensuring optimal patient care and surgical efficiency.
- Executed ventriculoperitoneal and ventriculostrial shunt placements and replacements, tumor resections, and biopsies, contributing to successful surgical interventions for complex neurosurgical conditions.
- Leveraged expertise in Alphatec, Depuy-Synthes, Stryker, Medtronic, K2M, and NuVasive spine instrumentation to support surgical teams and improve patient outcomes.
Education
Registered Nurse First Assistant program -
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Birmingham, AL08-2021
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama12-2017
Associates degree - Nursing
Jefferson State Community College
Hoover, Alabama08-2016
High school diploma -
Oxford High School
Oxford, Alabama05-2010
Skills
- Surgical instrumentation
- Postoperative management
- Quality control analysis
- Wound care
- Hemostasis techniques
- Patient monitoring
- Critical care nursing
- Team collaboration
- Effective communication
- Patient advocacy
- Educational mentorship
- Clinical assessments
- Postoperative care
- Patient education
- Process improvement
- Patient safety
- Critical thinking
- Case review
- Surgical assistance
Certification
CNOR Certification 4/2022, ACLS, BLS & PALS Certified, CRNFA certified 5/2025
Timeline
Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant
UAB Neurosurgery
09.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse
UAB Neurosciences ICU
07.2019 - 07.2023
Registered Nurse- OR
UAB Hospital
09.2016 - 08.2022
Registered Nurse First Assistant program -
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Associates degree - Nursing
Jefferson State Community College
High school diploma -
Oxford High School