KRISTEN WARE
Orange,TX
Summary
Passionate Registered Nurse with years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant, License Vocational Nurse, and Registered Nurse at a nursing and rehabilitation center. Patient-focused RN offering two-year background driving quality improvements and coaching nursing staff to reach full potential. Strong organizational, communication and multitasking abilities. Expertise in managing medical records, evaluating staff performance and developing continued care plans.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistance Director of Nursing
Focused Care at Orange
06.2022 - Current
- Leadership and supervision over a nursing unit that holds 60 beds
- Organization of lab work, scheduled appointments, medication room, medication carts, storage room, and nurses' station
- Supervision over nursing staff including RN's LVN's and CNA's
- Assessment of resident's with change in condition
- Developing and implementing nursing interventions for resident's with change in condition
- Educating nursing staff
- Auditing resident's charts
- Following through with pharmacy and dietary recommendations
- Making rounds with nurse practitioner and physicians
- Collaborating with nurse practitioners and physicians to devise individualized care plans for residents
- Assessing peripherally inserted central catheter and central lines
- Sterile dressing changes on PICC and central lines
- Discontinuing PICC line
- Drawing blood from PICC and central lines
- Inserting intravenous lines
- Implementing infection control protocol
- Educating and training nursing staff
- Delegating tasks among the nursing staff
- Assist the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action
- Keeping track of employee and resident immunization records
- Educating and assessing employees on yearly competencies
- Assisting nurses with admissions and discharge planning
- Assessing residents daily, weekly, and monthly weights
- Implementing nursing interventions to maintain or improve weight in residents
- Ensuring that there is adequate staff in the building
- Knowledge of computers and healthcare software
- Educating and informing staff of protocol by holding in-service meetings
- Checking residents meal trays to ensure proper diet is given during meal times
- Attending conference calls to maintain education and proper company protocol.
- Designed and introduced leadership development, coaching and team management model, resulting in promotion of employees into increased levels of responsibility.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Conducted routine facility inspections, identifying areas needing improvement and eliminating hazards posed to staff and residents for continued compliance with associated regulations.
- Developed policies and procedures for effective pharmacy management.
- Implemented successful healthcare program through professionalism, quality of care, medical teaching and patient satisfaction.
- Ordered all pharmacy supplies and kept check on inventory levels.
- Communicated with patients, ensuring that medical information was kept private.
- Defined testing protocols, quality assurance initiatives and clinic policies and procedures.
- Liaised with other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive patient care plans and provide highest quality of care.
- Created customized care plans, working with hospital staff and families to assess and meet individual needs.
- Discussed medical histories with patients in effort to provide most effective medical advice.
- Monitored and inspected staff processes to eliminate hazards posed for both residents and staff while ensuring continuous compliance with regulations.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
- Successfully negotiated client contract renewals to create increased revenue.
- Built and maintained positive working relationships with physicians and staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
- Monitored and evaluated nursing staff performance, providing feedback and guidance to support standards of care.
- Worked closely administration to develop and implement best practices to improve patient outcomes.
- Oversaw and approved recruitment, hiring and orientation of new nursing staff.
- Facilitated continuing education and training programs to drive staff competency and professional development.
- Collaborated with staff, management, and external groups to coordinate patient care.
- Established and monitored infection control programs to provide safe, sanitary environment to prevent transmission of disease and infection.
- Participated in management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, and resident complaints or concerns.
- Performed rounds to observe care and interview staff, residents, and families.
Registered Nurse
Focused Care of Orange
03.2021 - 05.2022
- Provide basic medical care, including taking vital signs, explaining procedures to patients, administering medications, and documentation of patient progress, or change of condition
- Obtaining and transcribing doctor's orders
- Implementing doctor's orders
- Reporting change in conditions to the doctor
- Reporting abnormal lab values to the doctor
- Obtaining labs per doctor's orders
- Performing wound care
- Assessement of the patient
- Developing care plans and nursing interventions
- Implementing nursing interventions on the care plan
- Implementing non-pharmacological nursing interventions for pain
- Holistic care of the patient
- Evaluation of patient's response to nursing interventions
- Follow facility protocol, and implement infection control
- Utilizing PPE
- Appropriate donning and doffing of PPE
- Strong leadership and supervision over certified nursing assistants and licensed vocational nurses
- Insertion of intravenous catheters
- Administered fluids and medications through IV, Mid Line, and PICC lines
- Drawing blood from PICC lines for labs
- Removal of PICC lines
- PICC line sterile dressing changes
- Filling in for DON and ADON when needed
- Provided care for COVID + patients
- Administering COVID-19 vaccination to staff and patients
- Testing staff and patients for COVID-19
- Training licensed vocational nurses
- BLS and ACLS certified.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Sustained quality standards by performing routine medication audits and upholding internal and industry best practices.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Investigated and resolved issues affecting hospital operations and patient care.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Reported findings to quality departments after conducting routine restraint audits and worked with team to devise corrective actions for deficiencies.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
- Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Worked with healthcare team to develop new dialysis treatment flow sheet and other log forms, improving clinical documentation and accountability.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
Licensed Vocational Nurse
The Meadows of Orange
09.2013 - 03.2021
- Provide basic medical care, including taking vital signs, explaining procedures to patients, administering medications, and documentation of patient progress, or change of condition
- Obtaining and transcribing doctor's orders
- Implementing doctor's orders
- Reporting change in conditions to the doctor
- Reporting abnormal lab values to the doctor
- Obtaining labs per doctor's orders
- Performing wound care
- Implementing nursing interventions on the care plan
- Implementing non-pharmacological nursing interventions for pain
- Holistic care of the patient
- Follow facility protocol, and implement infection control
- Strong leadership and supervision over certified nursing assistants.
- Minimized staff and patient infection risk by cleaning and disinfecting equipment instruments.
- Obtained patient vital signs and input/output measurements from inpatients.
- Evaluated patients to identify and address wounds, behavioral concerns, and medically relevant symptoms.
- Comforted and counseled patients and families throughout care process.
- Monitored, tracked, and conveyed important patient information to healthcare staff to help optimize treatment planning and care delivery.
- Delivered updates in patient status to charge nurse, recording changes in medical records.
- Offered immediate assistance in emergency and routine paging situations to evaluate needs and deliver care.
- Educated patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
- Performed routine evaluations of each patient's status, needs, and preferences.
- Answered incoming phone calls from patients to provide basic assistance and triage medical concerns.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Administered controlled narcotics, inserted IVs, and performed catheterizations.
- Documented patient vitals, behaviors and conditions to communicate concerns to supervising nurse.
- Managed patient care through closely monitoring respiration, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels.
- Documented accurate and complete patient information to address patient problems and expected outcomes.
- Assisted with admissions, appointments, transfers, and discharges.
- Cared for wounds, provided treatments, and assisted with procedures.
- Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
- Gathered lab specimens, ordered testing, and interpreted results to diagnose patients.
- Responded to patient requests with appropriate clinical and personal assistance.
- Used aseptic techniques to provide sterilized wound care and dressing applications.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team of healthcare and social service providers to address patients' needs through effective intervention and care planning.
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Harbor Hospice
11.2018 - 05.2019
- Provide basic medical care, including taking vital signs, explaining procedures to patients, administering medications, and tracking patient progress
- End of life care
- Palliative care
- Reporting changes in patients to the RN
- Receiving, transcribing, and implementing doctor's orders.
- Assessed patients' temperature, pulse, and blood pressure and recorded in electronic medical records.
- Documented patient vitals, behaviors, and conditions to communicate concerns to supervising RN.
- Used aseptic techniques to provide sterilized wound care and dressing applications.
- Responded to patient requests with appropriate clinical and personal assistance.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team of healthcare and social service providers to address patients' needs through effective intervention and care planning.
Certified Nursing Assistant
The Meadows of Orange
01.2011 - 09.2013
- Provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living
- Ensuring safety of patients during meal times
- Ensuring proper diet being given to patients
- Assisting with meals
- Ensuring safety during showers
- Encouraging patients to use call lights for assistance and answering call lights promptly
- Turning and repositioning to prevent any skin breakdown
- Encouraging fluids during rounds to promote hydration status
- Reporting any changes in patient's condition to the nurse.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Checked patient vitals such as temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX05.2024
Associate of Nursing - undefined
Lamar State College- Orange
Orange, TX12.2020
Licensed Vocational Nurse - undefined
Lamar State College- Orange
Orange, TX08.2013
High School Diploma - undefined
Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School
Orange, TX06.2011
Skills
- Motivated Attitude
- Patient Advocacy
- Excellent Organizational Skills
- Honesty and Integrity
- Trauma and ER Experience
- Teamwork Skills
- Ventilator Management
- Oral Intubation
- Tracheostomy
- Wound Care
- PICC Lines
- Intravenous Lines
- Mid Lines
- Medication Administration
- Medication Preparation
- ACLS
- BLS
- Time Management
- Communication Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Infection Control
- Planning
- Implementation
- Assessment
- Evaluation
- Managing Cardiac IV Drips
- Telemetry Monitoring
- Patient Education
- Recruiting and Hiring
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Clinical System Monitoring
- Quality Improvement
- Process Improvement
- Shift Scheduling
- Clinical Leadership
- Long-Term Care
- Quality Control
- Behavioral Health
- Professional Development
- Care Coordination
- Case Management
- Healthcare administration
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Clinical assessment
- Staff Evaluation
References
- Melanie Askari LVN smelanie1986@yahoo.com, 409-920-8316
- Micah Oden LVN micah.oden@gmail.com, 337-842-9852
- Tudy Polk RN DON 409-313-4547
- Gina Simar RN simarga2121@gmail.com 409-882-1971
- Sharla Davidson RN 409-656-9680
- Mandee Tucker MSN RN 409-289-0367
Timeline
Assistance Director of Nursing
Focused Care at Orange
06.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse
Focused Care of Orange
03.2021 - 05.2022
Licensed Vocational Nurse
Harbor Hospice
11.2018 - 05.2019
Licensed Vocational Nurse
The Meadows of Orange
09.2013 - 03.2021
Certified Nursing Assistant
The Meadows of Orange
01.2011 - 09.2013
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Lamar University
Associate of Nursing - undefined
Lamar State College- Orange
Licensed Vocational Nurse - undefined
Lamar State College- Orange
High School Diploma - undefined
Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School
Similar Profiles
Shelby WallaceShelby Wallace
CNA at Focused Care at OrangeCNA at Focused Care at Orange
Danielle SullivanDanielle Sullivan
LVN Charge Nurse at Thrive Skilled Pediatric CareLVN Charge Nurse at Thrive Skilled Pediatric Care
Regina LeBlancRegina LeBlanc
LVN Charge Nurse at Focused Post Acute Care OrangeLVN Charge Nurse at Focused Post Acute Care Orange
Gregory RodriguezGregory Rodriguez
Plumbing Apprentice at All Purpose PlumbingPlumbing Apprentice at All Purpose Plumbing
Tiffany FineTiffany Fine
Substitute Teacher at West Orange Stark Elementary SchoolSubstitute Teacher at West Orange Stark Elementary School