Kristie Cowart
Gallatin,TN
Summary
Accomplished healthcare professional with a proven track record of excellence in clinical skills and maintaining a highly productive, efficient, and quality-driven environment. Adept at overseeing daily operations across multiple healthcare facilities, employing strong communication skills and an analytical, meticulous approach to ensure optimal performance. Recognized for innovative, customer-oriented solutions and skilled in integrating new healthcare delivery systems while restructuring workflows to effectively navigate complex regulatory environments. Committed to enhancing patient care and operational efficiency through strategic planning and implementation.
Overview
1
1
Certification
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse
HCA Tristar
Hendersonville, TN
04.2026 - Current
- Administered medications and treatments in compliance with established protocols.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported changes to healthcare team.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans.
- Educated patients and families on health management and recovery processes.
Clinical Nurse Director 4, Emergency Department
Our Lady of the Lake, A Division of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady
Baton Rouge, LA
07.2022 - 12.2025
- Promoted to improve operational efficiency and quality of care for the Regional and North Baton Rouge Emergency Departments. Challenged to improve clinical operations, revitalize declining morale and build a clinical infrastructure capable of accommodating year-over-year increases in patient volumes currently at 220+ per day.
- Oversees and manages 225+ clinical and support staff in patient care activities while maintaining regulatory and organizational policy and best practices.
- Oversaw daily operations of 65+ beds emergency department at regional Level 1 Trauma Center and a satellite location for a large academic medical facility, focusing on timely and efficient throughput, patient satisfaction, and promoting excellent patient care based on best practices and organizational goals.
- Developed training and education programs for both newly graduated registered nurses and level 1 trauma trained nursing specialists.
- Lead continuing, new graduate and new hire formulation, reconciliation, organization and completion of education and training, for all staff.
- Managed a multimillion-dollar budget to oversee care and operations for census of 80,000+patient visits annually.
Clinical Nurse Director, Urgent Care
LSU Health A Division of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady
Baton Rouge, LA
09.2016 - 02.2024
- Coordinate the review, revision, and creation of Operational Policies within the Urgent Care.
- Maintains exceptional communication between department managers, medical and nursing staff by attending monthly meetings and synchronizing interdepartmental functions.
- Oversees and manages 50+ clinical and support staff in patient care activities while maintaining a high level of staff morale and professionalism.
- Developed and implemented improvements to billing system to maximize efficiency, reduce delinquency and increase accuracy.
- Created and maintained computerized record management systems to record and process data and generate reports.
- Implements additional staffing based on evaluation of productivity and increased patient daily census 200+.
- Provided on-call support all times of day and night for nursing staff.
- Continuous improvement of knowledge, skills and performance based on feedback and self-identified professional developmental needs.
- Coordinates with other departments and customers to keep operations running smoothly and solve both routine and complex problems.
- Ensures HIPAA and JCAHO compliance.
- Skillfully manages facility operations as a functioning nurse manager for a multi-million-dollar healthcare unit.
- Accurately documents all elements of nursing assessment, treatments, medications, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
Charge Nurse Pediatric PACU
Our Lady of the Lake
Baton Rouge, LA
12.2013 - 09.2016
- Complete care and charge nurse responsibilities of the post-operative pediatric and adult patient.
- Reviewed and improved many unit policies and procedures.
- Collaborated with other departments managers and staff to improve procedures and patient flow between units.
Registered Nurse Adult and Pediatric Emergency Departments
Our Lady of the Lake
Baton Rouge, LA
05.2013 - 09.2016
- Complete care, including but not limited to triage, assessment, care and discharge of adult and pediatric emergency room patient including the Level 1 trauma patient of all ages.
Registered Nurse, PICU/Burn Unit
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge, LA
01.2013 - 09.2016
- Complete care of the pediatric critically ill and pediatric burn patient, including but not limited to wound debridement, sedation, uncontrolled diabetes, respiratory distress, sepsis, and complications of smoke inhalation.
Registered Nurse Emergency Department
Children’s Hospital Oakland
Oakland, CA
04.2010 - 12.2012
- Complete care, including but not limited to triage, assessment, care and discharge of the pediatric emergency room patient including the Level 1 trauma patient of all ages.
Registered Nurse Emergency Department
St. Luke’s Hospital
San Francisco, CA
04.2009 - 12.2012
- Complete care, including but not limited to triage, assessment, care, and discharge of the emergency room patient of all ages, including patients with significant drug and alcohol use and abuse and a large homeless and impoverished population.
Registered Nurse Emergency Department
River Parishes Hospital
Laplace, LA
09.2005 - 03.2009
- Complete care, including but not limited to triage, assessment, care, and discharge of the emergency room patient of all ages.
Charge Nurse Emergency Department
Children’s Hospital
New Orleans, LA
12.2004 - 08.2008
- Complete care of the pediatric emergency room patient, including but not limited to triage, assessment, care and discharge planning and implementation. Charge nurse duties and responsibilities in a 32-bed ER with an average daily census of 160-250 patients.
Registered Nurse, PICU
Children’s Hospital
New Orleans, LA
05.2003 - 08.2008
- Complete care of the critically ill pediatric patient, including but not limited to patients with cardiac surgeries, ECMO, kidney and liver transplants, respiratory distress and chronic lung diseases, orthopedic injuries, neurologic deficits, and sepsis.
Education
MSN -
Chamberlain University
08-2021
BSN - undefined
Southeastern Louisiana University
05-2003
Skills
Executive leadership & organizational strategy
Emergency & trauma operations management
Staff development & retention initiatives
Fiscal management & cost control
Quality, compliance & regulatory excellence (JCAHO, HIPAA)
Patient throughput optimization & service line growth
Accomplishments
Baton Rouge District Nurses Associate Honoree - 2020
Lake Lean Waste Walk Award - 2016-2017
Nationally recognized contributor to Sepsis Care Improvements in Emergency Department patients
Certification
- CPN, Certified Pediatric Nurse
- Member of ANA, LSBNA, BRDNA, Government Affairs committee for LA ENA
Timeline
Registered Nurse
HCA Tristar
04.2026 - Current
Clinical Nurse Director 4, Emergency Department
Our Lady of the Lake, A Division of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady
07.2022 - 12.2025
Clinical Nurse Director, Urgent Care
LSU Health A Division of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady
09.2016 - 02.2024
Charge Nurse Pediatric PACU
Our Lady of the Lake
12.2013 - 09.2016
Registered Nurse Adult and Pediatric Emergency Departments
Our Lady of the Lake
05.2013 - 09.2016
Registered Nurse, PICU/Burn Unit
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
01.2013 - 09.2016
Registered Nurse Emergency Department
Children’s Hospital Oakland
04.2010 - 12.2012
Registered Nurse Emergency Department
St. Luke’s Hospital
04.2009 - 12.2012
Registered Nurse Emergency Department
River Parishes Hospital
09.2005 - 03.2009
Charge Nurse Emergency Department
Children’s Hospital
12.2004 - 08.2008
Registered Nurse, PICU
Children’s Hospital
05.2003 - 08.2008
BSN - undefined
Southeastern Louisiana University
MSN -
Chamberlain University
RECOGNITION
Baton Rouge District Nurses Association Honoree 2020, Lake Lean Waste Walk recognition 2016-2017, Tier 1 Employee Engagement 2017-2021