Kelly Barker
WDM,IOWA
Summary
Strategic nurse leader with extensive clinical oversight and operational management experience. Proven ability to implement innovative solutions that enhance patient care, including virtual nursing initiatives. Strong collaborator with a successful track record in navigating complex healthcare environments to achieve compliance and quality metrics.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Nurse Director Multi Complex
MercyOne Des Moines/West Des Moines
01.2024 - Current
- Harness data and insights to inspire change and improve patient care.
- Partner with senior leadership to drive high-quality, patient-centered care across all locations.
- Champion compliance with The Joint Commission and all regulatory standards.
- Shape and implement cutting-edge operational plans and policies.
- Build and lead a top-tier team with a focus on recruitment, retention, and professional growth.
- Oversee budgeting and performance, ensuring efficient resource use.
- Developed a team of leaders from minimal resources to lead and direct inpatient units without leadership coverage, minimal accountability, and poor metric outcomes.
- Increased patient volumes by 1500 visits for same time last year.
- Successfully developed processes and implemented virtual nursing on five (5) units during times of significantly impactful staffing constraints and leadership transition.
Nurse Manager
Unity Point Health
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Recruit, retain and evaluate nursing staff.
- Designate specialty staff personnel in accordance with collaborative care model of healthcare.
- Act as a liaison between staff and interdisciplinary teams.
- Assist families and patients during escalating situations as well as with traditional concerns related to patient satisfaction.
- Oversee day-to-day operations and budgets.
- Ensure the facility they work in is compliant with current laws.
- Improve the quality and efficiency of the level of care delivered to patients.
- Empower nursing staff to invest and engage in adherence to quality and performance metrics to maximize patient and staff satisfaction, communication, and outcomes.
Chief Nursing Officer
Decatur County Hospital
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Direct oversight of patient care and clinical development for inpatient, outpatient, utilization review, social services, emergency services, surgical services, and EMS services.
- Led strategic and operational direction for clinical care areas, ensuring compliance with hospital guidelines and regulatory requirements.
- Decreased length of stays from 5 days to 3.3 days and reduced number of 30-day readmissions by 19% through careful care coordination and utilization review project.
- Implemented patient experience team to enhance CMS survey outcomes and optimize reimbursement.
- Developed and maintained the Quality Improvement Committee to enhance patient outcomes.
- Achieved Chest Pain Accreditation status through the American College of Cardiology designating the hospital as the first and only critical care hospital in the state of Iowa.
- Achieved Chest Pain Certification through the American Association of Cardiology in conjunction with American Heart Association. First critical access in state to achieve this designation.
Nurse Manager
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Nurse manager on 48 bed inpatient unit and 24 ambulatory orthopedic clinics.
- Decreased length of stay on inpatient side and increased patient satisfaction in the outpatient clinic.
- Tasked with opening a 13-bed unit to house ER overflow with 96 hours' notice.
- Worked alongside care coordination nurses and utilization review to decrease inpatient length of stay successfully through the careful development of discharge process, bed flow efficiency and team collaboration among Internal Medicine Team and three Carver College of Medicine Residency teams.
Staff Nurse
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Staff nurse on 48 bed inpatient acute medical unit.
- Primary care, assessment, and evaluation of medically complex patients.
- Collaborated with social work and physician teams to develop and implement individual treatment plans for patients with diverse social and medical issues.
- Advocated for patients by providing health education and nursing care that promoted wellness and improved quality of life.
- Average patient/nurse ratio 6:1.
- Active committee member and committee chairperson for NICHE and Pain Shared Governance Committees.
Staff Nurse
SSM Health DePaul Health Center
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Functioned as a staff nurse in 25-bed inpatient acute medical and post-surgical units, offering comprehensive patient care.
- Ensured effective patient care by managing a nurse-to-patient ratio of 5:1.
- Primary care, assessment, and evaluation of medically complex patients and post-surgical patients.
- Collaborated with social work and physician teams to develop and implement individualized treatment plans for patients with diverse social and medical needs.
- Advocated for patients and empowered them through health education and nursing care, enhancing their wellness and quality of life.
Education
Master of Science - Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN12-2028
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Healthcare Leadership
Aspen University
Colorado06-2027
MBA - Business Administration
Maryville University
Missouri05-2016
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Maryville University
Missouri01-2015
Bachelor of Science - Psychology/Sociology
Saint Louis University
Missouri01-1996
Skills
- Market strategy
- Operational management
- Clinical leadership
- Quality improvement
- Regulatory oversight
- Clinical coordination
- Patient engagement
- Data analysis
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Financial planning
- Team leadership
- Leadership development
- Staff development
- Discharge and transfer procedures
- Evidence-based practice
- Patient care
Licenses Certifications Affiliations
- Iowa RN License, 148780
- Iowa Nurses Association, Foundation Board of Directors Secretary, 2022-2024
- CMSRN, 10/26/15
- Delta Epsilon Sigma Scholastic Honor Society, Maryville University, Psi Chapter, 2015
- Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society, 2015
- Academy of Medical Surgical Nursing, Legislative Advisor, 2018-2021
- American Nurses Association, Inaugural Year Mentor Program Leader, 2022
Timeline
Nurse Director Multi Complex
MercyOne Des Moines/West Des Moines
01.2024 - Current
Nurse Manager
Unity Point Health
01.2023 - 01.2024
Chief Nursing Officer
Decatur County Hospital
01.2021 - 01.2023
Nurse Manager
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics
01.2018 - 01.2021
Staff Nurse
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics
01.2017 - 01.2018
Staff Nurse
SSM Health DePaul Health Center
01.2016 - 01.2017
Master of Science - Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Capella University
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Healthcare Leadership
Aspen University
MBA - Business Administration
Maryville University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Maryville University
Bachelor of Science - Psychology/Sociology
Saint Louis University