Kimberly A. Wheeler
Summary
Experienced nursing leader with a strong commitment to team development and exceptional patient care across post-anesthesia care units, endoscopy suites, pain and burn clinics, and trauma/plastic surgery settings. Backed by 27 years of nursing experience, including proven leadership in supervisory, assistant nurse manager, and nurse manager roles within surgical services. Highly self-motivated and focused on process improvement, operational efficiency, and building high-performing, collaborative teams. Seeking a leadership role that values innovation, accountability, and strategic vision—while emphasizing staff well-being, retention, and a shared commitment to delivering outstanding clinical outcomes.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Nurse Manager
Novant Presbyterian Medical Center
09.2019 - Current
- Manage a 24 bay Phase 1 PACU with approximately 15,500 cases per year.
- Manage a 27 bay Pre-op and discharge/Phase 2 ACU with approximately 13,000 cases per year.
- Endoscopy suite with 7 pre-op bays, 6 PACU bays, 4 procedure rooms and one virtual room for esophageal function testing and fibroscans, averaging 5,600 cases per year. Endoscopy also has its own scope reprocessing room.
- 85-90 FTEs
- Team Member Survey with 100% participation. Satisfaction ratings: ACU- 96%, PACU- 92%, and Endoscopy- 91%.
- Improved patient satisfaction scores by fostering a team-oriented environment among nursing staff. Patient Satisfaction Scores above goal (90.27).
- Streamlined nursing operations for increased efficiency by optimizing staff scheduling and resource allocation. First case on time starts >78%, turnover time process improvement.
- Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to support professional growth of nursing staff members, including goal setting.
- Manage budgets, capital requests, new services, and controlled costs, achieving financial targets without compromising patient care quality.
- Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Developed and implemented quality improvement initiatives to provide best possible patient care and identify and address areas of concern.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by maintaining accurate records and staying up-to-date on industry standards.
- Served as a key point of contact between nursing staff, physicians, administration, and other healthcare professionals.
- Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, physicians, and patients by leveraging clinical judgment and unit management expertise.
- Manage 95 nurses and three departments by providing comprehensive nursing guidance and maintaining outstanding patient satisfaction and care standards.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the department, conducting regular risk assessments and addressing potential hazards promptly.
- Fostered improvement in staff development, personnel training, and standards of patient care. Facilitated over 115 clinical ladder portfolios since being in current role.
- Oversaw infection control procedures to protect patients from infections and keep nursing departments compliant with state regulations. Maintained SSI rates below goal.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices. I participate on HLD, Periop anesthesia, and Endoscopy Best Practice Committees.
Assistant Nurse Manager
Novant Presbyterian Medical Center
10.2017 - 09.2019
- Manage a 24 bay inpatient PACU, and a 27 bay Ambulatory Care Unit and a Pre Surgical Services department for 10 months (October 2017 to June 2018)
- Staff recruitment and hiring
- Coordinate staff education and annual competencies
- Maintain regulatory compliance
- Coach and mentor team members
- Coordinate staff engagement through shared government and leadership committees
- Implement process improvement projects in PACU and ACU
- Plan and perform monthly staff meetings
- Maintain Tier 1 teams
- Provide direct supervision to staff
- Evaluate productivity
- Follow performance management policies
- Perform performance evaluations
- Regular patient and team member rounding
- Facilitate on boarding on new team members
- Assisted several team members in attaining their clinical ladders
- Collaborate with other leaders in Novant to facilitate patient flow
- Strive for daily operational excellence
PACU RN
Novant Presbyterian Medical Center
10.2012 - 10.2017
- Provide post-anesthesia care to patients of all ages and acuity levels in an inpatient recovery room
- Dedicated to the multidisciplinary team, including mentoring and educating new nurses
- Actively participate in unit improvements and system wide committees
- Served as preceptor
- Responsibility includes charge nurse as needed
PACU RN
The Refine Institute
09.2011 - 11.2012
- Provided patient care pre and post operatively in an outpatient plastic surgery center
- Assisted with post-op clinic visits and consults
PACU Unit Coordinator
Clarian Health, Methodist Hospital
03.2003 - 06.2005
- Oversaw and managed clinical and support staff in a 14 bed outpatient recovery room and pain clinic while maintaining a high level of staff morale and professionalism
- Managed post-operative patients through discharge
- Maintained staffing requirements
- Organized training for new nursing staff
- Participated in obtaining documents for Magnet recognition
- Attended regulatory meetings and actively participated in compliance requirements
Outpatient PACU RN
Clarian Health, Methodist Hospital
07.2001 - 03.2003
- Provided patient care to post anesthesia patient through discharge
- Assisted anesthesiologist with pain clinic procedures, mainly epidural injections
- Participated in call requirements for the inpatient recovery room
- Committee participation
Inpatient PACU RN
Loyola University Medical Center
08.2000 - 05.2001
- Provided care for post anesthesia patients
- Participated in call responsibilities
Registered Nurse
Loyola University Medical Center
12.1997 - 08.2000
- Trauma/Surgical RN
- Provided patient care to trauma and surgical patients
- Charge nurse for a 17 bed step down unit
- Preceptor for new RNs
- Burn clinic RN
Education
Master of Science - Management And Leadership
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT02-2025
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND1997
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University Of Wisconsin
Lacrosse, WI1995
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Moorhead State University
Moorhead, MN1994
Skills
- Staff Development Programs
- Effective Leadership Skills
- Regulatory compliance
- Organizational Change Leader
- Operational Efficiency Enhancement
- Effective Team Engagement Techniques
- Quality improvement
- Hiring and terminations
- Staff coaching and mentoring
- Budget management
- Positive performance reviews, with specific commendation for delivering patient-centered, quality care
Accomplishments
2025 Team Member satisfaction (100% participation) with >91% satisfaction
2025 Team obtained over 115 Nursing Clinical Ladders under my leadership
2025 Patient Satisfaction exceeding Novant goal of 90.27 in all departments
2025 Endoscopy BPET member
2025 Great 100 Nurses Nominee
2025 Magnet Recognition
2024 Team Member satisfaction (100% participation) with >86% satisfaction
2024 Remarkable Nurse Recipient
2023-current Member of HLD Best Practice Committee
2023-current Trauma Committee member
2022 Daisy Nurse Leader Recipient
2021 Next Level Leadership Program
2021-2024- Co-chair of the Endoscopy Best Practice Committee
2019- current SSI Reduction Committee
2019-current Involved in many certifications for Centers of Excellence: COEMIG, TJC DSC Spine, Bariatric, Stroke
2017-current Member of REAL. This group keeps the hospital in regulatory compliance.
2017-current Member of the Perianesthesia BPET committee. This committee is a collaborative group who makes decisions that are made throughout the corporation.
2017/June- Obtained Clinical Ladder 3
2013-current Member of Shared Governance in the PACU and the hospital wide committee. Participate actively in process improvement, education and patient and staff satisfaction.
2005-2008 Member Greensboro Medical Alliance
2006-2007 Chairperson for Moms and Tots group of Greensboro Medical Alliance
2003-2005 Magnet Committee- Staff representative in the Magnet initiative. Participated in the gathering of pertinent information to provide evidence of Clarian Hospital's potential for magnet status
2003-2005 PACU Leadership Committee- Serve as a representative to improve the communication for the unit while working in combination with the Clarian Leadership committee
2003-2005 Staff Education- Preceptor for OSC PACU Clarian Health
2003-2005 Budget committee
2002-2003 Call Committee-Primary call representative
2000-2001 Staff Liaison for Fall and Restraint Committee
1996-1997 Student Representative- Nursing curriculum advisor board
1996-1997 Treasurer of Student Nurses Association, NDSU
1996-1998 Member, Information & Education Review Committee, Cass County Public Health, Fargo, ND
Certifications
- ALS certification
- PALS certification
- BLS certification
- Licensed Registered Nurse in NC, License number 205290, 2/28/2027
References
References References available upon request.
Timeline
Nurse Manager
Novant Presbyterian Medical Center
09.2019 - Current
Assistant Nurse Manager
Novant Presbyterian Medical Center
10.2017 - 09.2019
PACU RN
Novant Presbyterian Medical Center
10.2012 - 10.2017
PACU RN
The Refine Institute
09.2011 - 11.2012
PACU Unit Coordinator
Clarian Health, Methodist Hospital
03.2003 - 06.2005
Outpatient PACU RN
Clarian Health, Methodist Hospital
07.2001 - 03.2003
Inpatient PACU RN
Loyola University Medical Center
08.2000 - 05.2001
Registered Nurse
Loyola University Medical Center
12.1997 - 08.2000
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University Of Wisconsin
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Moorhead State University
Master of Science - Management And Leadership
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
North Dakota State University
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