KATHLEEN DUENAS
Chandler,USA
Summary
Seasoned Registered Nurse with high degree of personal flexibility, well-developed communication, and skilled at multitasking and prioritizing patient needs and daily assignments. Just over 12 years of diverse experience in direct patient care, staff supervision, and department operations. Offering expertise with Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, Home Health Infusion, Rehabilitation and Medical Surgery specialties. Dedicated to promoting quality patient care and satisfaction and offering experience in nursing and healthcare administration. Possesses proven track record of developing and implementing comprehensive nursing policies, providing excellent leadership and mentoring, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.
Overview
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Nursing and Direct of Social Services
Christian Care Rehabilitation Center
04.2025 - Current
- Directed daily nursing operations for inpatient rehabilitation units, ensuring delivery of high-quality patient-centered care.
- Led and mentored nursing staff, including recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, performance management, and professional development.
- Collaborated with physicians, therapists, case managers, and executive leadership to improve patient outcomes and care coordination.
- Maintained compliance with CMS, Joint Commission, state, and federal healthcare regulations.
- Implemented quality improvement initiatives focused on patient safety, infection prevention, readmission reduction, and patient satisfaction.
- Managed departmental budgets, staffing plans, productivity standards, and resource allocation.
- Developed and enforced nursing policies, procedures, and clinical best practices.
- Monitored clinical performance metrics and utilized data-driven strategies to improve operational efficiency and patient care outcomes.
- Served as a liaison between nursing staff, administration, patients, and families to promote communication and exceptional service.
- Directed the social services department within an inpatient rehabilitation setting.
- Coordinated comprehensive discharge planning to ensure safe transitions of care for patients and families.
- Collaborated with physicians, nurses, therapists, and case managers to develop individualized patient care plans.
- Provided emotional support, counseling resources, and crisis intervention services to patients and families.
- Ensured compliance with CMS, Joint Commission, HIPAA, and state and federal healthcare regulations.
- Assisted patients and families with community resources, insurance coordination, long-term care placement, and financial assistance programs.
- Developed departmental policies, procedures, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Advocated for patient rights, dignity, and access to appropriate care and support services.
- Maintained accurate documentation and reporting standards while supporting positive patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Assistant Director of Nursing
Arizona State Veterans Home
04.2024 - 04.2025
- Assisted in overseeing nursing operations and clinical staff within a VA healthcare facility.
- Supported implementation of nursing standards, policies, and evidence-based practices to ensure exceptional patient care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care plans and improve veteran health outcomes.
- Provided leadership, coaching, and performance management for nursing personnel.
- Assisted with staffing coordination, scheduling, budgeting, and workforce planning.
- Ensured compliance with State/VA policies, federal regulations, accreditation standards, and patient safety initiatives.
- Participated in quality assurance, risk management, infection control, and performance improvement programs.
- Responded to patient concerns and supported initiatives to improve patient satisfaction and service excellence.
- Acted as a resource and support system for nursing staff during operational and clinical challenges.
- Creating, maintaining, and daily management of staff schedules including contracted staff
- Managing the Psychotropic Program for the home to ensure best practice of psychotropic usage for veterans.
RN Case Manager
Aspen Infusion
Chandler, AZ
03.2022 - 04.2024
- Use clinical tools, data and other information to complete assessments of patient needs
- Create individualized and comprehensive case management and treatment plans
- Determine insurance eligibility for various treatments and treatment programs
- Clearly explain the reason for prescribed treatments and treatment plans to patients
- Communicate with patients, physicians and insurance companies to secure successful outcomes
- Document complex medical information to outline and improve health results
- Follow case and quality management processes in compliance with regulatory guidelines and company procedures
- Assessing new patients by gathering information, reviewing diagnoses and analyzing medical test results
- Developing complete plans of care to address the needs of patients
- Educating patients about their care plan and health care options and helping them make key decisions
- Assisting in clinical coordination for patient doctors visits, therapies and other medical services
- Revising care plans based on patients' progress and input from physicians and other medical providers
- Updating patient medical records after each contact
- Offering emotional support for patients and their families
Registered Nurse
Banner Healthcare
Mesa, AZ
02.2018 - 03.2022
- Worked on units such as Medical Surgery, PCU, Emergency Room, and Outpatient Rehabilitation in multiple Banner facilities
- Evaluated patient during admission, hospital stay and through discharge
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures
- Submitted accurate documentation, reporting and in-depth nursing observation to support continuity of total patient care
- Collaborated with other departments and medical staff to support provision of highest standard for total patient care
- Administered and maintained comfort, treatment, medication, intravenous infusion and health care to support patient needs
- Promoted patient and family teaching to enhance patient understanding of needs and potentially accelerate recovery
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety and rights of patient
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
HealthSouth Rehabilitation
Glendale, AZ
03.2015 - 02.2018
- Assisted patients with long-term physical disabilities and chronic illnesses by creating personally tailored recovery plans
- Helped clients adapt to altered lifestyles while providing therapeutic environments for clients and families
- Conducted comprehensive patient assessments and evaluated patient care plans
- Provided educational and informative resources for nursing staff, patients and clinical staff
- Designed and implemented treatment strategies based on scientific nursing theories promoting physical, psychosocial and spiritual health
- Coordinated patients' discharge planning needs with members of healthcare team
- Accurately documented treatment, 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
- 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
- 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
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale
- Applied nursing expertise to meet needs of Trauma Brain Injury patients in challenging Rehabilitation environment.
Registered Nurse
Ridgecrest Healthcare
Phoenix, AZ
10.2014 - 03.2015
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action
- Managed care from admission to discharge
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans
- Collected blood, tissue and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments
- Led successful team comprised of RNs, LPNs and ancillary staff
- Audited charts and reviewed clinical documents to verify accuracy
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Pima Medical Institute
Mesa, AZ05-2014
Bachelor of Science - Kinesiology
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ05-2011
Skills
- Nurse education and training
- Leadership and guidance
- Quality improvement
- Strong work ethic
- Professional development
- Process improvements
- Budget management
- Policies compliance enforcement
- Staff recruitment and retention
- Staff scheduling
- Healthcare regulations compliance
- Clinical operations management
- Critical thinking
- Employee coaching
- Documentation and reporting
- Policy development
- Nursing staff supervision
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Behavioral health
- Schedule preparation
- Team supervision
- Strategic planning
- Effective multitasking
- Case management
- Process improvement
- Clinical leadership
- Attention to Detail
- Treatment Recommendations
- Compassionate and Caring
Certification
- Licensed Registered Nurse, 2014-10-01, Current
- Basic Life Support, Current
Timeline
Director of Nursing and Direct of Social Services
Christian Care Rehabilitation Center
04.2025 - Current
Assistant Director of Nursing
Arizona State Veterans Home
04.2024 - 04.2025
RN Case Manager
Aspen Infusion
03.2022 - 04.2024
Registered Nurse
Banner Healthcare
02.2018 - 03.2022
Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
HealthSouth Rehabilitation
03.2015 - 02.2018
Registered Nurse
Ridgecrest Healthcare
10.2014 - 03.2015
Bachelor of Science - Kinesiology
Arizona State University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Pima Medical Institute