Kristina Kitchens
Oak Grove,Louisiana
Summary
Dedicated Registered Nurse with 17 years of extensive experience in triage and care coordination, adept at navigating fast-paced hospital environments and home care services. Recognized for maintaining composure under pressure while effectively managing challenging interactions, demonstrating a strong ability to adapt quickly to new tasks and technologies. Committed to fostering meaningful relationships with patients, families, nursing staff, physicians, and other stakeholders through exceptional communication skills and dynamic time management. Proven track record of delivering high-quality care while prioritizing patient needs and enhancing overall healthcare outcomes.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
Delhi HomeCare
Delhi, LA
07.2023 - Current
- Manage rural home health agency for multi-state organization.
- Maintain state and governmental regulations for home health care delivery
- Managed admission of patients to home health service and ensure compliance with all insurance and Medicare guidelines
- Responsible for hiring and maintaining excellent staff to deliver safe, efficient care to home bound patients
- Quality and compliance with documentation to ensure effective reimbursement to maintain operational budget
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness and drive mission fulfillment.
- Oversaw budget management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and financial sustainability.
- Evaluated performance metrics to inform decision-making and improve service delivery outcomes.
- Oversaw financial management, ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability for the organization.
- Guided staff through periods of organizational change, maintaining morale and engagement during transitions.
- Promoted a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging professional development opportunities for staff members.
Director of Nursing
West Carroll Memorial Hospital
Oak Grove, LA
07.2016 - 04.2023
- Communicated with patients, ensuring that medical information was kept private.
- Planned and assigned workload to 40+-person nursing staff to direct patient care.
- Facilitated continuing education and training programs to drive staff competency and professional development.
- Performed rounds to observe care and interview staff, patients, and families.
- Established and monitored infection control programs to provide safe, sanitary environment to prevent transmission of disease and infection.
- Established new policies and updated existing policies to improve standard of care for patients.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Built and maintained positive working relationships with physicians and staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
- Worked closely administration to develop and implement best practices to improve patient outcomes.
Assistant Director of Nursing
West Carroll Memorial Hospital
Oak Grove, LA
04.2015 - 07.2016
- Conducted routine facility inspections, identifying areas needing improvement and eliminating hazards posed to staff and residents for continued compliance with associated regulations.
- Facilitated continuing education and training programs to drive staff competency and professional development.
- Oversaw and approved recruitment, hiring and orientation of new nursing staff.
- Built current EMR and educated staff to use of new system
Staff Nurse
West Carroll Memorial Hospital
Oak Grove, LA
04.2014 - 04.2015
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care, and discharge instructions.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
Director of Quality Improvement
Morehouse General Hospital
Bastrop, LA
11.2011 - 02.2014
- Also Director of Education, Infection Control, and Clinical Informatics
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Implemented best practice policies for patient education and patient and staff safety.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
- Built, maintained, and trained staff of computer EMR
- Conducted all new hire orientations
- Conducted annual compentency evaluations and training for all hospital staff
- Responsible for hospital wide infection control
Registered Nurse, OB
Morehouse General Hospital
Bastrop, LA
08.2010 - 10.2011
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Managed laboring patients to ensure safe delivery both mother and baby
RN Floor Nurse
East Carroll Parish Hospital
Lake Providence, LA
06.2009 - 08.2010
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined next course of action.
- Oversaw delivery of care for patients on medical-surgical unit, providing direct care, delegating nursing assignments and supervising team comprised of nurses, LPNs, technicians, and unit clerks.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA05.2009
High School Diploma -
Forest High School
Forest, Louisiana05.2005
Skills
- BLS, ACLS, and PALS Certification
- BLS instructor
- TNCC certified
- Acute Care
- Home Care
- Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
- Nursing Protocols
- Critical Thinking
- Quality Assurance
- Emergency Response
- Staff Scheduling
- Quality Improvement
- EMR Software
- Operations management
- Staff management
- Public speaking
Timeline
Executive Director
Delhi HomeCare
07.2023 - Current
Director of Nursing
West Carroll Memorial Hospital
07.2016 - 04.2023
Assistant Director of Nursing
West Carroll Memorial Hospital
04.2015 - 07.2016
Staff Nurse
West Carroll Memorial Hospital
04.2014 - 04.2015
Director of Quality Improvement
Morehouse General Hospital
11.2011 - 02.2014
Registered Nurse, OB
Morehouse General Hospital
08.2010 - 10.2011
RN Floor Nurse
East Carroll Parish Hospital
06.2009 - 08.2010
High School Diploma -
Forest High School
Associate of Science - Nursing
Louisiana Tech University